Heavy Snow destroy Windshield wiper assembly

[MtCyberDad]

Be getting some pretty wet and heavy snow fall in MT lately.

CT Windshield Wiper: 0
MT Winter: 1

It completely self destructed. Tore itself apart. Luckily no scratches on the windshield.

I spent about an hour trying to reassemble it. Learned a lot about how it's constructed. It's basically held together by about 8 compression clips and primary connect is like a super clip. The blade backbone is two pieces of metal that really don't want to be parallel to each other. The rubber is threaded between them in a simple groove.

I once took about a starter pully on a engine and this reminds me of that nightmare.

All in all, it's very weak for the leverage it has to deal with.

If you live in a heavy winter state, my advice is leave auto-wiper 'off' during winter. It can decide to swipe before you have the windshield cleaned of snow ( especially if you in and out of your truck getting gloves or setting defrost ). Also, I will be ordering a backup, as there's no chance of replacing this within 500 miles.

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[tmeyer3]

Was this the new wiper design or the OG?

 

[REM]

Normally I would point and laugh at someone trying to use the wiper as a shovel, but accidently leaving it on "auto" is very easy to slip up with.

Hopefully Tesla has a really great retrofit coming for the wiper. We have a 1kW motor to work with, so I am hopeful.

 

[MtCyberDad]

Was this the new wiper design or the OG?

Not sure, took delivery 10/31/2024. Foundation Beast.

 

[tmeyer3]

Not sure, took delivery 10/31/2024. Foundation Beast.

Oh, that's borderline. Would be interested to know if you ever find out! I saw HUGE (non-snow pack) improvements with the new wiper design. Was being hopefully optimistic

 

[MtCyberDad]

Normally I would point and laugh at someone trying to use the wiper as a shovel, but accidently leaving it on "auto" is very easy to slip up with.

Hopefully Tesla has a really great retrofit coming for the wiper. We have a 1kW motor to work with, so I am hopeful.

I think it should be warranty, at least a free wiper. I tried to submit a service request, but the only way to work with their system is to schedule a service appointment. The nearest center is 7 hours from me. Some serious rough edges with CT service communication for those of us not near a service center.

 

[tmeyer3]

I think it should be warranty, at least a free wiper. I tried to submit a service request, but the only way to work with their system is to schedule a service appointment. The nearest center is 7 hours from me. Some serious rough edges with CT service communication for those of us not near a service center.

SCs are typically pretty automated, even when you're close. I had 2 broken windows from vandalism and they replaced it for free. I haven't complained since

 

[MtCyberDad]

I just don't want to 'schedule' a service appointment if i'm not showing up. But I have no one to talk to, this was a direct state delivery. I guess I can just call the 'closest' service center and try to talk to a service writer equivalent.

 

[Gundo]

I actually ran into another CT owner at a supercharger in Hudson, NY who had done this exact same thing - had heavy snow on windshield and auto-wiper setting enabled. Wiper arm swiped and caused wiper blade to come off.

Be careful out there - seems like motor/arm delivers more torque than wiper blade can handle if wiper blade blocked.

 

[REM]

I think it should be warranty, at least a free wiper. I tried to submit a service request, but the only way to work with their system is to schedule a service appointment. The nearest center is 7 hours from me. Some serious rough edges with CT service communication for those of us not near a service center.

yeah, agreed. I would be stern but fair with them. Mention that having the wipers on auto is what caused it since you knew not to run the wipers when heavy ice and snow is on there.

 

[REM]

SCs are typically pretty automated, even when you're close. I had 2 broken windows from vandalism and they replaced it for free. I haven't complained since

It was probably their first replacement, so they did it as a courtesy since they needed to validate their work. which doing the first one takes longer (and may include a couple mistakes. sometimes).

 

[tmeyer3]

It was probably their first replacement, so they did it as a courtesy since they needed to validate their work. which doing the first one takes longer (and may include a couple mistakes. sometimes).

Except I was in and out in 2 hours. But, yeah, maybe! I had no right to expect it to be done for free.

 

[koolio]

FWIW, I've been told that Tesla Engineering back at HQ is aware of the wiper issue (specifically, the inabilty to keep the windshield clean from salt slush) and is actively working on identifying how it can be fixed.

Tesla always makes their cars better, whether via software or hardware, so I do expect them to fix it and hopefully address this issue at the same time.

 

[Gundo]

This is great news - salt slush fix would be very welcome

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