Posted on 08/15/2022 5:27:31 AM PDT by Red Badger
The gas station squeegee has nothing on this.
Jeep has developed a new type of windshield wiper designed to clear dirt and mud from the glass in just one wipe.
The Clean Sweep: Jeep is a new accessory kit available from the Mopar parts catalog for the current generation Wrangler and Gladiator trucks.
The package includes new wiper arms and blades with 12 laser-cut holes that spray washer fluid as they sweep across the windshield.
The traditional spray nozzles are deactivated, and the fluid is rerouted to the blades through tubing that comes with the package.
When the washer is activated, fluid begins flowing a beat before the wipers start to move, creating a leading edge of liquid that helps clear the glass.
Some other vehicles feature spray nozzles located on the wiper arms to create a similar effect, but Jeep's 12-hole blade design is less common and similar to one used by Mercedes-Benz.
Jeep said the technology will help eliminated the "blind seconds" that are often created when traditional wipers smear debris across a windshield for a couple of passes before they start clearing it away. This is particularly useful off-road for driving through the sorts of puddles and other muck the Wrangler and Gladiator were designed to tackle.
The kit is available now and priced at $140, including two sets of blades. Pricing for additional blades has not been released.
Jeep also addressed the topic of forward vision last year when it introduced a new line of Mopar windshields for the Wrangler and Gladiator made from the sort of chip-resistant Gorilla Glass used on smartphones.
However, it may be Jeeps hold their value better than other FWD vehicles.
I got excellent values on my last three: Dodge with Cummings Diesel 3/4 ton 4WD PU, Nissan Titan 4WD PU; and Mitusbishi Outlander 4WD SUV.
It’s been a few years but the USFS district manager told me Jeep was the most troublesome vehicle they purchased.
I am very familiar with Gorilla Glass.
First, it is not indestructible.
Second, any glass can have manufacturing flaws that lead to cracking like what happened to the Gladiator owner. He will probably get it replaced under warranty.
I bet they don’t work in a snowy winter climate. None of the newer systems are reliable in those conditions. That is when it pay to go back to metal squirt tubes on the hood area. At least if those do freeze they are easy to thaw. Anywhere plastic is used then you are at the mercy of waiting for a warm day before you can use your washers again.
Have you checked a mirror lately?
The latest problem is the oil cooler on the 3.6. If you do your own oil changes, it might be better. The oil cooler is plastic and if some over-zealous tech over tightens it, it cracks. There is an aftermarket aluminum oil cooler that now has a 3-4 week waiting period as a replacement.
“You can spend $100K for a top-of-the-line Jeep.
I’ve never understood that phenom. I’m not at all an off-road 4x4 guy, but even a low end CJ-5 is a very expensive vehicle.
My landlord has a 1974 4x4 Wagoneer pickup that’s in very good shape, but the engine is very tired and smoky and will not pass CA smog. Cars (of every mfr) of that era had the maximum number of smog pumps and air pumps installed. It really needs a full engine rebuild/replace, which he priced out at $6K. Of course, he sees them for sale for $35K-$50K in tip-top condition, so that’s what he thinks he has.
Bingo!
You should have heard my wife holler when I took our 99 GC down Pucker Pass in Canyonlands - Dead horse Point
My 99 GC engine siezed up around 103K miles.
Had it rebuilt and it lasted to over 200K.
Count them on the road.
They are EVERYWHERE!
Have you priced the new Grand Wagoneer?
I have a feeling that those little holes are going to clog really fast...
“Have you priced the new Grand Wagoneer?”
No, but I’m not that interested. But I’ve looked and it’s a deluxe SUV (Grand) and not surprising that it edges up towards $60-80K. A 1974 Wagoneer is a straight ahead open bed 60’s-70’s pickup truck.
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