GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Can anyone recommend a set of wiper blades for my wifes 2005 Vibe that will last for more than a year and where to buy them online. I apply Rain-X but it's not alway enough!Jeff (SoPaRider) form PA

YOur supposed to keep them clean. Every week or so, you should rub an alcohol wipe down the blade edge to clean off any dirt or imperfections. I know a guy who has a very expensive set of Valeo (I think) wipers on his Valvo still. They last forever if taken care of...I didnt look up the correct sizes but these are nice. I may look into a set of these eventually...http://www.google.com/products...CMAY#h ... 90...D8HH8

I recommend Trico Neoform. Cheap, but high quality. My sister, step-mom and now I have these blades and they are great! Lower profile than Rain-X blades. I also recommend going for the Rain-X window cleaner + rain repellant. But you should also give them a wipe of alchohol every now and again. I know that I'll have to, with winter coming.

...you do NOT have to replace the WHOLE windshield wiper ASSEMBLY, just the rubber BLADES!...Toyota sells both wiper ASSEMBLIES as well as just BLADES...buy the blades and save yourself some money....that's what I've done for both of our Vibes, the wifes' 2004 and my 2009.

What do blades cost at a dealer? My experience has been that the entire assembly on sale at a normal retailer is not much more than the blades at a dealership. And the entire assembly is sometimes easier to replace.

http://www.silblade.comI have a set of their wiper blades that are now 8 years old.They are just now starting to show signs of needing replacement.Before using them get a bottle of comet cleanser. Clean the window with glass cleaner then get the window wet with some water. apply the comet, and scrub the window with a paper towel.Rinse off the comet and clean the window again with window cleaner.Then put the new wiper blades on.DO NOT USE RAIN-X.To maintain them. Once a month use a Damp papertowel, wet down with WATER. NOTHING ELSE. Wipe the blade and clean the window with a good glass cleaner.

Stay away from pure BEAM type blades. They tend to lift off at high speeds. The 09-10 have a monstrous size driver-side wiper, not sure if it the same on the first gen, but I'm sure this is the reason for lift off. For me, I like the factory wipers. I second, DO NOT USE RAIN-X. I HATE it, makes it all streaky and filmy at night time.

Quote, originally posted by 09vGT » I second, DO NOT USE RAIN-X. I HATE it, makes it all streaky and filmy at night time. THIS!!! ^^^^^X2 with hating rainX!I use the factory wipers in summer and the rubber boot covered ones in winter. The winter wipers are useless above 120km/h!

FWIW, here's the Toyota part numbers for replacement 2004(assy) and 2009(rubber) inserts:85214-68020 (2009 Matrix, 17-inch), RUBBER, WI - $6.0985214-42050 (2009 Matrix, 26-inch), RUBBER, WI - $9.3285214-12090 (2004 Matrix, 10.5-inch), BLADE, RR - $10.92...replacement rubber blades are roughly 60-70% of replacement cost for a whole wiper assembly.

I'd just buy the wipers for the 09-10 model. I have them on my 04. $11.67 ea. They look modern and work great. Rainex and michelin beam wipers have that big hump in the middle.

...the 03-08 blades are different lengths than the 09-10 blades:03-08 Blades = 21" & 18", 10½" rear09-10 Blades = 26" & 17", 10¾" rear

I tried my old ones from the '09 on the '04 and they worked great so I got another set for the '04. The original '04 set has a smaller driverside but the 26" and 17" work identical to the '09; been on it for 4 months.The 09 wipers have a drawback, the 26" wiper slings water drops onto the passengerside. Happens to the '09 and '04.They look sleek!!!

I'm surprised by all the hate for Rain-X! I've been using it since the 1980's. I love driving on the highway in downpours without any need for the wipers at all. I also love how it makes winter frost much easier to remove.IF you want to use Rain-X, you have to follow the instructions when applying it! 1. Buy the liquid in the bottle. The wipes are not effective.2. Apply to clean dry glass.3. For best results, apply it twice the first time, following package instructions: After applying, let it dry to a haze, and use a damp cloth to remove the haze. Paper towels are less effective.4. Re-apply at least once a season, or whenever you notice the streakiness beginning in the high-wear spots (near the driver's side windshield A pillar)5. Use Rain-X washer additive and/or Rain-X washer fluid to maintain the effectiveness longer.6. Rub the wiper insert edges with a damp cloth to remove dirt & grit at least once a month.7. DO NOT EVER USE THE FILTHY SCRUBBERS, SQUEEGEES AND LIQUID FROM THE SELF-SERVE FILLING STATION KIOSK!!! If you apply Rain-X regularly, plain water and a paper towel will do a better job.I always use the Toyota inserts from the dealer with the original blades. With Rain-X they always last more than a year. I've replaced the rear wiper insert 3 times in 8 years.

Quote, originally posted by KITT222 »I recommend Trico Neoform. Cheap, but high quality. My sister, step-mom and now I have these blades and they are great! Lower profile than Rain-X blades. I also recommend going for the Rain-X window cleaner + rain repellant. But you should also give them a wipe of alchohol every now and again. I know that I'll have to, with winter coming. +1 on the Trico NeoForms.-1 on the Rain-X. Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver »THIS!!! ^^^^^X2 with hating rainX!I use the factory wipers in summer and the rubber boot covered ones in winter. The winter wipers are useless above 120km/h!My only real personal experience with this stuff was quite negative also. I would not recommend Rain-X or their beam blades. I tried the Latitudes on my Mazda and it was LESS than 6 months before they drove me crazy. And as KITT222 states, they look kinda' stupid too, and are a little more expensive than others... like the NeoForms. Thumbsdown on the Rain-X Latitiudes for me.We are on our 4th set of NeoForms. Three cars (second set on the Mazda)/6 yrs. Here in Texas you don't worry so much about your exhaust system rusting out as you do your wipers being baked by the sun within 6 months. The first set on my Mazda lasted me 2-1/2 yrs before starting to make noise and get difficult.

I have found that rain-x ruins normal wiper blades quicker. And after a month the blades chatter.The reason why I said not to use it for the silblades is because their wiper already adds a coating to the window.