When I use the wipers it takes a couple of seconds for the wet film to clear. When the wipers run contiuously the film is there all the tine. None of my other cars have this problem. Is the glass in heated screens different? I have cleaned everything thorougly and all is well until first wash. I have tried two brands of washer fluid. It is quite maddening.

 

You may have a film of oil or silicone on your windshield.

The old trick to cure this was to pour a can of Coca Cola over the windshield, wipe with a paper towel and then rinse with fresh, clean water.
Vector

 

I have used two types of traffic film removers and it is all right until I use the windscreen washer again. But yes the old coke trick is worth trying. I'm running out of ideas

An interesting fact is that exactly where the RH wiper turns back there is no film!

 

hmm, coke to strip the winshield - I learned something today!

Thanks!

 

Vinegar, ammonia and lemon juice work as does old newspaper ( really). Stainless steel wool for stubborn dirt.

North Americans have access to two excellent degreasing products for window glass. Bon Ami, also sold in GM dealerships as Auto Glass Cleaner, and Windex which is vinegar and ammonia in water. Best results are achieved by degreasing with Bon Ami and then cleaning the Bon Ami residue off with Windex.

Windshield washer fluid with"RainX" brand additive should be avoided. This stuff puts a glycerine residue on the glass to cause the rain to bead up and, in theory, blow off. This is largely total BS. Even when it works as advertised the residue builds up and the wipers eventually streak.

Jaguar factory screen wash is not good where road dirt may include winter salt and oil residues. Calcium chloride "road salt" is particularly hard to clean off.

 

Or try clay bar on your windshield if you have some around. It's amazing the junk that comes off your windshield onto the clay bar. Afterward, I use paint cleaner and then synthetic wax. Basically, whatever I do to the paint when I'm polishing the car, I do to the windshield. And my wipers glide across the windshield like magic.

 

Maybe it is something in your washer bottle, perhaps put in there by mistake.
I would drain all fluid, refill with correct mixture, flush some through, and see if that fixes it.

 

I do this too. It really cleans the windshield of bug stuff and road debris.

Excellent suggestion!
Vector

 

I use NuFinish car polish on my car. (The best!) I also wax my front and rear windows with it. Seldom have to use the wipers and when I do, the wipers clean the water off exceptionly well.

 

My thoughts have turned that way too, but I have shrunk from doing the job: Empty, flush with something including vinegar, re-empty, flush again including running it through the washing system, flush with fresh water and refill with a quality brand washer fluid (not bothering to mix it myself). Grmf.

 

Really! Could be that new teenage tech at Jiffy Lube who topped off your washer bottle with brake fluid, antifreeze or power steering fluid by mistake, lol!
Vector

 

Seems some of my posts disappear into bit heaven ????

OK, new development, when the car was in for repairs after being dinged by an errant Merc the painters didn't cover everything properly so the screen got clear lacquer mist on it which in turn was taken off the day after with thinner and paper, finally cloth with thinner.

Question is can vigorous rubbing with thinner and paper damage some kind of treatment of the glass? Alternatively is it possible that a very thin residue is left on the screen only showing up when soap breaks the surface tension of the water on the screen?

 

Only diamond can damage glass. My vote is for remaining residue. Clean the screen with stainless steel wool.

 

Will try on the remote lower corner. Sounds risky to me but here goes

 

0000 Steel wool with soap! You have to have something to lubricate the steel wool or it will scratch your windshield.

Nothing but a diamond can damage glass? Come on now......
Vector

 

I mean by rubbing on it. Quartz crystal can be an issue and high pressure sandblasting will certainly etch glass which is essentially what rock chipping is when the rocks are small enough to qualify as sand. But, generally speaking only diamond is hard enough to actually scratch glass by hand pressure alone.

 

Believe me, steel wool will scratch glass if you use it without soap or some kind of lubricant.
Vector

 

Seriously?

 

Dealerships do it all the time ... but always with very light pressure, lots of soap and water.

 

Yep. Dry steel wool and lots of pressure == scratches on glass.