Ok, I've owned several Cougars and the windshield wipers skip/chatter in the rain on ALL THE COUGARS. WTF? :mad:
New wipers and very clean windshields have already been attempted. I always use the slowest speed safely possible to ensure the wipers don't go over dry glass.
Let me know if you find a solution. Both of my cars do this to varying degrees. The nicest wiper blades money can buy don't solve it. :(
When I get a new car they don't chatter for several years. Once they start they don't stop.
They chatter because the blade doesn't flop over to the other side when they change direction.
I have heard that getting an OEM wiper from the dealer will fix it, but I have never tried that.
Have you guys tried running a clay bar across the windshield? Or some Comet/powdered bleach?
In 20 years of owning these cars, the only time I've ever had chattering wipers, it was due to the blades. My dad taught me the Comet trick when I had my first '84, and it's been something I've practiced with every car since...haven't had any issues. Recently I switched to using a clay bar as it does the same job but there's no powdery mess to deal with. You'd be shocked at how much those things will pick up from the glass.
I suppose you could always swap out wiper arms from another car (Cougar, T-Bird, Mark VII for sure). Maybe there's something going on with spring tension here...
well try a razor on the window go side to side not up and down, if that don't help get new arms, can get at any good auto parts place, spring tension has probably ed out on ya.
how much do the clay bars cost? and where do you get them most of the time?