I just started a post and edited it since its been asked.
I hate it! Noises dont really bother me but this is! It makes the noise for half of the sweep. Its been doing it for 2000-3000miles.

Only thing I was going to try is that blade conditioner that comes with new blades.

I mean these wipers are suppose to last for a while and wipe clean WITHOUT noise. Anyone try to get them warrantied? Dont feel like spending $25 a blade. Im at 8200miles.

 

There is a TSB (# 07-018) on FIT wiper noise...should be warranty.

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-018.PDF

 

I brought my car in and had the wiper arms replaced under warranty. They replace the wiper arms, not the blades in case some were wondering as per that TSB.

Well, my wipers make more noise now. At first it was ok. Now they drive my crazy. Full sweeps, the passenger side arm skips and screams aross the entire windshield. At times, I scream with it!!!!!

I need to go back in and have my wiper blades changed. This is ridiculous!

 

Personally, I think it is that funky Fit wiper design, they have quite a curve to them, the conventional wiper blades work, excluding the Bosch film issue earlier in this thread.

The Honda ones have NEVER cleared my windsheild well.

 

I fixed it today. I pulled the blade insert out, flipped it upside down and it sweeps clean and makes no noise. I jumped with gleeee.

 

Hmm, anyone know what the stock tension should be? One car I owned in the past (cannot remember which) had in its factory manual how to check the springs to ensure proper tension, it involved the use of what looked like a spring postal or fisherman's scale! You measured the tension required to achive lift.

I have read the posts above and I am considering Valeo or Bosch Icons for the car (I am at 30K and almost 1.5 years with the car and need to buy wiper set number 4).

I bought some Michelin on a whim, but did not install tjem. They are Chinese wipers sold by WallMart under the Michelin moniker...and appear to be actually more expensive than the Valeo.

 

Our Fit, built Feb. 2007, does not have noisy wipers. Yet.



But, something that has permanently worked on our past cars, has been to change the angle of the blades to the glass. I'm sure this is what quiets the blades down after reversing them...they have taken a "set" by being pressed against the glass too long.

I wrap the flat part of the arms in cloth to prevent scratching, then with two adjustable wrenches an inch or two apart, just twist the section of arm to change the angle.

Note that this method would not work on the rear wiper as the arm is made of plastic!

 

Thanks for this bulletin. I bought wipers 4 months after having the car and reversed them too. The sound came back like they're skipping accross the window. I've put up with it for over a year and I'm done. I brought the pdf you put up and the parts are on order. $33+ each.
No arguments and no funny stuff saying there isn't a TSB.
Thanks again. Let you know what happens with mine.

 

Mine still do it also. Its actually worse now that my wipers have some time on them. I hate it.

 

in looking at the TSB - the spring tension is a factor on the blades skipping. Rather than messing with the TSB and potentially making the problem WORSE (I read somewhere - someone got it done at the dealer and the wiper noise was now ALL the time vs SOME of the time) I just replaced the driver's wiperblade with a smaller length.

I went down to a 21in blade - less pressure req'd to keep a 21in blade to the windshield and still adequate visability.

been 2 months now and no noise whatsoever. I used the Trico Exact Fit 21-1 on the dside / 15-1 on the pass side.

I was going to try the NEW trico NEOFORMbut it's $25+ea...

 

Wow, I also hated that problem. Swapping the passengers blade as recommended really worked. Thanks!!!!

Considering that all Fits have been coming from the dealer that way, this should really be a sticky. I'm sure all our members can benfit and save money from this.

 

Where did you find a 15" Bosch icon wiper? Can't seem to find any online.

 

The "fix" does nothing for the wiper noise. I had my arms changed and it did nothing. Maybe for a fee weeks. I changed the wiper arms and its fixed.

 

Problem went away for a little bit after the TSB was done. I thought it was solved boy was I wrong. Recently raining not sure if cold had to do with the inefficiency of the blades at taht time. Is it really the tension or just cheap blades now?
So I guess I'll be reading up on what to replace the blades with. Can I keep the original covers that came with it? Do they make it more aerodynamic?

 

Gentlemen,
Please try the Valeo wipers from Tirerack.com. Best things money can buy. the only thing is that you need to select a 05 Acura TSX and have them change the 26" blade to a 24". I put them on just this past Thursday and it started pouring rain here in San Diego. Wipers were quiet and clean! No fitting issues and install in 5 minutes. Try em. They are also Buy one get one free! 27.00 (shipping included) for 2 high quality blades.

 

you guys having the problems: have you tried just cleaning your windshields and the wipers?

yesterday it rained really hard in SoCal and my wipers were chattering like the f*cking world was ending. i remembered the service bulletin about not enough pressure on the wiper arms and i decided to give the honda dealership a call to get it fixed too. after i made the appointment to bring it in later that day, i was driving and i thought about it a little bit (and i could be completely wrong here) and i thought maybe the arm pressure really isn't to blame. before you guys burn me at the stake for being wrong, this was my reasoning.

when i was younger, i found out if i pressed down really hard on a squeegee while cleaning a window, it tended to hop more than if i just gently dragged it across. i don't know if this makes any sense scientifically but it led me in the right direction haha. anyway i thought about this for a minute or 2, then decided to pull into a gas station before i got onto the freeway and clean my windows. lucky for me they had made the wash solutions super soapy that day cuz it hurt my nose just standing over my windshield with the squeegee in my hand. i cleaned the windshield and used the paper towel soaked in the soap solution to clean my wipers. after like 15 runs through the wiper with the paper towel, it was finally clean enough. then i hopped in the car and drove through the rain for another hour and the chatter was gone the whole time. and the wipers wiped as clean as new in my opinion. it chattered like 4 or 5 wipes out of like...400 or something, so i would say the problem is fixed now? give it a try is all i'm suggesting before you hand your car in to get groped and grubby-handed by the dealership. my wipers are the same ones that the car came with over a year ago and i hadn't cleaned them the whole time i'd had the car since it rains here only like once every FOREVER. if you do clean the wipers make sure you clean both sides of the blade and it might work like new!

if you guys have tried this already or clean your wipers regularly than disregard everything i just said. i'm kinda just killing some time because i've been doing homework all day. i hope this helps somebody out there like it helped me though. and good night!

 

Forgot to follow up on this as my mother passed away a few days after going to the dealer......

....anyhow, had the wiper arms switched out per the TSB (as my car was the 900th for the US market) with new ones and installed new (Honda) blade inserts, and not a bit of skipping or noise since.

EDIT: And they clean better too!

 

I have had my Fit for two years and having this problem since day 1. Tried flipping the blade and it works for a short while and the skipping starts again. All along I just ignored it but a few days ago I decided to take a better look, I noticed that about an inch at the inner tip of the passenger blade isn't flipping when the arm swings upward and that's what's creating the noise. So I trimmed away that tiny bit about 1/16" x 1" off the inner tip of the blade so it barely touches the windshield and the noise is gone. Since it's so small and close to the bottom part of the windshield, it doesn't affect your vision. So far so good.

 

Hey - wish I saw this thread before I replaced mine prematurely...oh well.

Last fall I went on a mission to find aftermarket wipes that actually fit the Fit. You guys/gals who have the 07/08's have it easy because the sizes are common (except for the rear blade). If you have an 09 (or 10) the sizes are more difficult to find in the newer-style, frameless beam blades - but I found the one option that is available currently. 14" is the real challenge because no one except Trico makes one. 28" are not stocked at many places:

09-10 Honda Fit; Trico NeoForm 28" Driver Side, 14" Passenger Side & 14" Trico Exact Fit Rear Integral Blade

07-08 Honda Fit; Trico NeoForm 24" Driver Side, 16" Passenger Side & 14" Trico Exact Fit Rear Integral Blade

Anyway, I ended up getting them online last fall and I have to say the NeoForms work great!! Very quiet, swipe clean and they look cool. Super easy install. The Exact Fit Rear Blade looks just like the factory origional and snapped right onto the special arm.

I'm not ready to replace them yet, but I just got an email from wipers123.com and Trico has a $15 rebate on NeoForms through 5/15/10. They also sent me an additional $5 instant coupon "springreturningcustomer" (orders over $30) not sure when it expires... Take it if you want it! Godspeed - LOL

 

Gold star to doctordoom.

Rubbing alcohol (pref 91%) on the blades, and use a soft, abrasive, but non-scratch cleaner (such as Bon Ami) on the glass. Windex is just not going to cut it. After thoroughly cleaning the glass, use Windex or similar to remove all traces of cleaner. Depending on how much rain you encounter, you may need to do a deep cleaning like this anywhere from monthly to yearly. Ozone kills rubber. If you always park outside in a smoggy area, wipers aren't going to last long. If you live in clean air in a place where it rarely rains, and the car is always garaged, the wipers should last a long time.