Windscreen wipers and MOT..

HomelessHopeless

Hello!

I had a pair of front wipers fitted at Halfords on Saturday. My partner was driving/sitting in the car while I paid. I didn't inspect them.

Drove the car today and noticed the passenger wiper extends beyond the windscreen, and when I used them to driver one doesn't clear the windscreen as high (though my vision isn't obstructed).

I went onto Halfords online, and couldn't find a pair for mine, they are sold individually. The set they fitted did not come up when I put my reg number in. Live Chat confirmed these blades are not recommended for my car.

It's being MOT'd in a couple of weeks, and I've read that incorrect blades are a fail.. do you think it's worth going back to Halfords with, or am I worrying over nothing?

Aylesbury_Duck

HomelessHopeless wrote: »

Hello!

I had a pair of front wipers fitted at Halfords on Saturday. My partner was driving/sitting in the car while I paid. I didn't inspect them.

Drove the car today and noticed the passenger wiper extends beyond the windscreen, and when I used them to driver one doesn't clear the windscreen as high (though my vision isn't obstructed).

I went onto Halfords online, and couldn't find a pair for mine, they are sold individually. The set they fitted did not come up when I put my reg number in. Live Chat confirmed these blades are not recommended for my car.

It's being MOT'd in a couple of weeks, and I've read that incorrect blades are a fail.. do you think it's worth going back to Halfords with, or am I worrying over nothing?

Classic Halfords.

It sounds like they're on the wrong way around even if they would work on your car. On some models the driver's side wiper is longer than the other side's wiper.

Swap them over and see if they fit the windscreen. If you have it MOT'd as they are, it probably will fail, especially if the driver's side isn't clearing enough for visibility!

HomelessHopeless

Thanks.. I know, should have gone somewhere else!

The drivers' side wiper is longer than the passenger (19" v 17"), but the screen clearance is a good inch or two lower (not low enough it obstructs vision). The one's he took off to replace are clearly different lengths.. the passenger one is (was!) much shorter..

What a nuisance!

AdrianC

Have you actually measured the passenger one?

Nasqueron

I bought a replacement wiper from Halfords for my car, I noticed it was sticking a bit and eventually not moving as it was too long and getting caught on the top of the car. Tried sanding it down to get it under but no dice. Bought one online elsewhere which works fine.

HomelessHopeless

Hi AdrianC, yes I have, it's a nadge over 17". I don't have the old one to compare it to (he took it), the one the chat agent said was for the passenger side is 13"..!!

Nasqueron I think I could end up doing the same..!

Ganga

If near to where you live take it back and request that they correct their mistake.

AdrianC

HomelessHopeless wrote: »

Hi AdrianC, yes I have, it's a nadge over 17". I don't have the old one to compare it to (he took it), the one the chat agent said was for the passenger side is 13"..!!

What car are we talking about?

HomelessHopeless

It's a Ka, 2009 - the newer shape.

I called them up and they are going to replace both for free, as the drivers' side should be 24" not 19" as was fitted, so both were incorrect. They don't sell a twin pack of front wipers for it (a lesson hard learned!).

I'd ordinarily have gone to the garage but I had just lost the drivers' side wiper and they weren't open!

AdrianC

So 24" driver's side, 14" passenger side.

HomelessHopeless

Yep, definitely not the 19"/17" that were fitted (AFTER they had put my reg number into the computer instore..!).

They're swapping for the Bosch SP13 which is 340mm, my partner has measured an older one he discovered in the garage and it's the same length.

I don't usually go in blind and would have gone to the garage or ordered online if I had two intact wipers