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IanR
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Location: Daleys Point
Posts: 27
 
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In May, as part of a couple of weeks camping in Central NSW, we had to travel a couple of hundred Ks on wet, muddy tracks.
After the second puddle covered the screen the wiper blade sheered away from the strip which attaches blade to wiper arm. Tried to remove arm (luckily, passanger side) but tapered spline was too tight. No alternative other than to keep going and keep using wiper (only when absolutely necessary). After about 150k got to Hillston and rang LR assist from public telephone (no mobile reception) - they suggested I drive another 250k to closest LR dealer in Wagga Wagga.
I got Hillston NRMA to remove arm with puller. By this time windscreen was badly scratched.
Days later LR dealer in Newcastle replaced arm and fitted new blade ($A33). They put in warranty claim for replacement windscreen. They didn't think I had much chance of success (surprise, surprise).
Questions:
1. Is wiper blade failure a common occurance?
2. Has anyone had a successful warranty claim for damage to windscreen caused by wiper blade failure?
3. Are there any better after market blades available in Australia? - expeditionexchange in USA quoted $US30 to ship 2 only 22" Silblades to Australia.
This sort of thing worries me when planning trip Sept 07 to Googs Track and Flinders and then April-Jul 08 - Broken Hill, Innaminka, Birdsville, Simpson Desert, Alice Springs, Tanami, Bungle Bungles, Broome, Gibb River, Mitchell Plateau, then back to NSW via NT and north/central QLD - what good will LR assist be if something significant fails?
At least I will add wiper blades to the spare parts box for the trip - might need to get a bigger off-road trailer!
Then today the SRS Airbag warning light came on - another 3 hour round trip to dealer in Newcastle, plus waiting time 'S' TDV6, Air suspension, Terrain Response, Active rear diff, Safari Snorkel, Opposite Lock rear wheel carrier, OL drawer system, Cargo Barrier, Dual batteries with Rotronics isolator, GME 3440 UHF. Codan NGT HF, Asus UMPC running TrackRanger. Cooper LT245/70R17 STs when off-road. Tow Ultimate off-road camper.
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 Tue Jun 05 2007 5:06am |
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PCH
Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Location: Anywhere but work
Posts: 752
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IanR,
I've never read about a wiper blade sheering off but it doesn't mean it isn't common but I suspect not a common problem that many of use have had on this Forum.
Good luck with getting a warranty on the windscreen.
Did they fix the SRS warning light fault. I had a similar problem and it kept on reoccuring after 3 visits and finally it was discovered that the steering rotation connector was faulty and repalced and all is fine now.
Chris Rocky the 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier towing Bullwinkle the 2006 Kimberley Karavan Limited
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| Tue Jun 05 2007 5:37am |
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DiscoAtom
Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 113
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IanR - It is an unusual problem you have had - first I have heard of.  The more common problem is the squeaking wiper blade which there have been several threads on this subject. '06 Disco 3 TDV6 SE Buckingham Blue
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| Tue Jun 05 2007 11:36am |
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amoir
Joined: 01 Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 9
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I had a wiper blade sheer off in mild drizzle a couple of weeks ago. It didn't gradually split as wipers usually do, but sheered off within a minute or so. No hassles as I was in Sydney anyway, but I now keep spares for remote trips.
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| Thu Jun 07 2007 1:12pm |
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Geoff Rogers
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 12
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Hello IanR,
Yes, it is a common problem. Both mine and my business partner's Disco3 wiper blades have sheared off exactly as you describe. Mine on the West Coast of SA, no dealers nearby but Black Forest Land Rover shipped a replacement pair overnight to the Post Office. This was in April last year. This year the other Disco 3's driver side wiper blade sheared off along the base. The actual blades are adhered to the blade base by glue, which separates, I think because the blades do not wipe smoothly over the glass but instead "judder", and make a horrible noise. You can see the blade gripping and releasing as it passes across the glass; no amount of windscreen cleaning fixes this. I was told by the local LR dealer to "bend the wiper arm" so that the angle it wipes at is more acute. I did this and it fixes trhe problem for a short time and then returns. They are poor blades.
I have gone through three sets of wiper blades in 2.5 years. It must be a problem because last week I purchased a new set of blades and their construction is subtly different to the replaced blades; the top-most rubber wind deflector thingy is now placed along the centre line of the blade as compared to at the rear on the old type.
These newer blades seem to sit better on the glass. No more juddering as the blades wipe. Time will tell, but I do believe that the wipers are an area of weakness or poor design.
Have others had this problem as well?
Cheers,
Geoff Rogers.
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| Fri Jun 08 2007 6:13am |
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wopac5
Joined: 20 May 2007
Location: Karratha
Posts: 79
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Guys,
Don't know why there is a problem.
I have taken off the original floppy arms and put them away, a bought a pair of generic arms with blades from K-mart and fitted them.
total cost $15.00 and replacement blades available from anywhere.
Tony
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| Sat Jun 09 2007 2:03pm |
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Rob Bruce
Joined: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 540
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Wopac5
What is the brand, part number of the blades you purchased from K Mart ?
This may be a good solution.
Do they cover the same area of the windscrene ?
Rob Bruce
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| Mon Jun 11 2007 7:23am |
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wopac5
Joined: 20 May 2007
Location: Karratha
Posts: 79
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I have replaced the blade assembly, which is the floppy bit that hooks onto the metal drive arm and holds the blade.
They are a standard 760mm replacement. (Aunger I think but there are various brands, but all do the same thing).
When in K-mart next, go to the motoring section and you will find replacement blades and assemblies.
The assemblies are complete with various attachments for different types of assemblies, from hook to pin through type.
Simply select the hook attachment that is long eneough to clip on to the arm, then snap it onto the assembly and there you go.
Only mod I found was the outer edge of the new assembly may need a tweak to set it firmly on the glass in the rest position. If you do nothing, then at the start of a wipe the blade will miss the first inch of its arc.
Tony
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| Mon Jun 11 2007 8:31am |
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Rob Bruce
Joined: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 540
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Thanks for the tip,I will check them out when next in town 
Rob Bruce
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| Mon Jun 11 2007 9:08am |
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wopac5
Joined: 20 May 2007
Location: Karratha
Posts: 79
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My Bad...
size is 560mm not 760mm
I just checked the packaging...760 would clean the roof as well.
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| Mon Jun 11 2007 1:43pm |
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bashir
Joined: 04 Jan 2005
Location: Shell Cove, Australia
Posts: 141
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i've replaced my windscreen wipers three times, drivers side twice and passenger once.
first time the drivers side had the glue issue after 3 months and was replaced under warranty. initially i enquired about buying a new one and at this time (Aug '05), they wanted $55 a blade !!
the passenger side needed replacing around 6 months ago, but LR service said LRA wasn't replacing them under warranty anymore so I bought a new one for around the $30 mark. at the same time I thought i should check the driver's side again and there were parts of the blade where is it was starting to come off the backing, so I bought two and replaced both at the same time.
very annoying, but at least I can buy two now for roughly the same price as one back in '05 ! 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE (Apr '05 Build)
Adriatic Blue with Alpaca Leather
SatNav, Sunroof + Alpine, Steel Bar and Driving Lights, Door protector strips, LH & RH Weathershields
Disco3.co.uk stickers front and rear
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| Thu Jun 14 2007 6:49am |
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caverD3
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1932
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At Alto today, (juddering on start up and vibration at idle to 2000rpm) and juddering blades again. They were replacing some wipers that had spit on another D3, LR have no solution and they are frustrated with the OEM wipers and are looking for an after-market alternative. Pointed them to this site and the k-mart option. Getting there is half the fun
TDV6: Adaptive Headlights, Electronic Rear Diff.ARB Bar.Blaupunkt speakers, JVC powered Subwoofer, Removable Snorkel, Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch.
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| Thu Jun 14 2007 12:46pm |
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garryc
Joined: 08 May 2007
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 115
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Love this site. Went straight out and bought the Aunger 560mm set from Big W for AU$15.85 The list on the packet includes Range Rover 1995 and on and there are various plastic bits to adapt to different wiper arms Thanks for the advice. S White, TdV6, air suspension, 110ltr Long Range tank, Kaymar wheel carrier, aux. battery, adjustable cargo barrier, LR snorkel(waterproofed), reversing and front camera, Cooper tyres and tyre sensors, Codan NGT. VKS-737 Sierra2367
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Global Warming, Global Cooling, all Land Rover weather
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| Tue Jun 19 2007 6:55am |
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Baggy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: sydney.....in the land of oz
Posts: 136
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...............for the last 2 weeks that juddering noise every time the wipers run across the windscreen is driving me crazy  ...............but we DO need the rain !!
BigW here I come!! '06 TDV6 SE - Zermatt Silver....love it!
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES.......Eat more BEEF!
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| Tue Jun 19 2007 12:18pm |
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jonesy63
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Didn't we have a lovely time, the day we went to ...
Posts: 256
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Ok... mine has started juddering too. Are the Aunger blades a long term solution or do they also start juddering (due to the angle of the arm) after a period of time?
Cheers,
Rob
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| Wed Jun 20 2007 4:41am |
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