jasonmallory

Hi!

I have notices a couple of time now that when there is a light to moderate rain, the windshield wiper on the drivers side is strange! When the wiper moves up and over, it will catch a stream of water on pull some of that water back down with it as it goes back down. (Basically, it drags water back across the window making it hard to see for a moment when driving on the road.) My wipers are still in new condition. Is anyone else noticing this?

I asked my MB dealer about this and my service advisor said this is actually a design problem on this vehicle. The "tilt" of the windshield is at such an angle that water streams up the left hand side and cannot blow off fast enough and the wiper then catches it. He stated the GLK is the only SUV in their line that does this. He said the C class will also do this at just the right speed in the rain. Has anyone else asked about this?

Thanks!

HDRyder9

Its the rainy season here in Florida so I drive in rain almost every day. I haven't noticed the particular situation you're describing but I will certainly be on the look out for it. Just one more thing to stress about.

My biggest rain annoyance is the wipers squeak and stutter after being on for a few minutes. Hitting the windshield with washer fluid quiets them for a few strokes but it starts right up again. My windshield must be either too clean or too dirty.

gsrjc

I haven't noticed it with my wipers. Take it to the dealer and have them change it out for you.

Jkrn2003

Yes mine does that too. I thought it was bad wipers but I guess that's just how it is.

GLKKa2H

Absolutely! And the bad part is that in heavy rain and wind, at "fair" driving speeds, the amount of water makes 1/3 of the windshield (almost) non-transparent - from left! Not to speak of during darkness.

During these conditions I would say it really is a safety issue

We confronted our SA with our experience after a trip last fall, where I some times felt "loss of sight" i.e. getting close to become a danger in the traffic, and thus had to slow down. After an assessment of the issue he accepted our statement that it IS a design issue, as the height of the A-column (and "tilt" of the windshield, as you wrote) prevents the water from being blown off the left side of the windshield.

And as in your case, the SA went to over to a C-class, looked at it for a moment and made the statement that this issue applies for that one too.

Your finding is an issue on a German GLK forum as well, with a S204 owner confirming it's presence.

Jkrn2003

If it's suppose to be like this, I wonder why some of us have problems and others don't.

NYCGLK

Sometime it does, sometime it doesn't. Not too bad to bother me tho.

GLKKa2H

As written: "in heavy rain and wind, at "fair" driving speeds", meaning in combination. Believe me, I have tried it. During heavy rainfall, at a (fair) driving speed (50 mph), when strong winds come in from left and pushing the water over the windscreen.

The action is reinforced by the effect of the A-column disabling the water from being "drained" over it to the left, as on "normal" windshield design. When the wiper moves over to the left, it pushes the water towards the A-column. Then the wiper drags the collected water with it across the windshield on its way back to the right, leaving the 1/3 of the left-hand part of the windshield literally non-transparent.

Jkrn2003

I've had this problem in normal rain with minor winds traveling at 40mph. Should I go get this checked at the dealership?

GLKKa2H

I don't think a check is necessary as the issue is related to design rather than being a fault. However could you discuss the problem with them at the next visit, to note their response.

I am afraid we have to live with the problem, the threadstarter and you with your experiences, and me with my "worst case scenario", where I feel that traffic safety is at stake.

The effect of the water may be eased a little by keeping the windshield as clean as possible, but cannot be eliminated.

rmfnla

I have yet to use the wipers; I don't expect it will rain here in L.A. for another 2 or 3 months.

gsrjc

what if you put rain-x on the section beside the A-pillar?

F18BEN

We are having a tropical storm right now and my wipers are performing perfectly. No issues as mentioned above.

montreal-uk

Noticed both problems. Water being dragged back and juddering of the wipers which is bay far the most annoying. Super clean windscreen, rain-ex - nothing seems to make much difference. Like the other poster said, it's fine to start, and then just attract knocking etc.. Squirt of the wash fluid stops is for a moment or two. Bloody annoying.

MKenM

I have been dealing with the annoyance for a year and a half. It's great to hear that it's a design flaw. I absolutely amazes me how MB comes up with the stuff that they do so they don;t have to do anything. And do you think that MB will do anything about it if everybody complains. I agree with GLKK2H it is a safety issue. And you don't have to be driving too fast just enough rain for the wiper to suck it back across the windshield.

chillertwist

Yep, got the same problem.

Kbach

me too....has to be some modification to stop this.

allanX204

Maybe it is the design of the wiper blades. Could it be that it creates some kind of vortex that the water is pulled back with the wiper. Maybe an open design would eliminate it.
Maybe someone is handy enough to test this theory.

chillertwist

maybe MB should test a bunch of theories, and once they find one that works, issue a recall and fix our damn wiper blades. just a thought

dlinjuly2009

https://mbworld.org/forums/glk-class...er-blades.html

GLKster

It rains alot here in BC, Canada. My GLK does this alot, 1/3 of the windshield will be covered with rain and it is a safety issue. I am bringing my GLK in for Service-A tomorrow, I will ask the SA and see what he will say. Was quoted about $300ish for Service-A.

rmfnla

We just got our first rain of the season and I have not noticed any problems with the wipers' performance.

They do tend to "jutter" a bit in really light rain but all wipers do that.

mr.mbenz

any update? I am told that the A service is close the 400 mark + taxes
I was advised that there is an "adjustment" can be made on the "tilt" angle. This is in relation of the wiper's contact with the windshield.

GLKster

Total cost for Service A = $290.73 before taxes (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
- 146.50 labor
- 24.80 oil filter
- 78.40 Mobil1 5w40 x 8 liters
- 1.19 sealing ring
- 10.71 cleaning compound
- 3.72 washer solvent
- 12.59 fuel additives
- 12.82 shop supplies
They quoted me approx $365 ........ so, I am happy that it is below approx.

Driver wiper drags rain across windshield, hard to see when raining hard
MB response: changes wiper blades
My response: I am happy I got 2 free wiper blades, but I know the problem is design of the windshield.