New wiper blades in France (1 Viewer)

mikebeaches

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We travelled through the tunnel last Thursday evening. Our 200-mile drive from home to Folkestone was wet, so used the wipers all the way. For about the last 20-odd miles there was a loud 'slap', 'slap', 'slap' sound from the driver's-side wiper.

During the crossing I checked the wiper to discover a large split at the end of the rubber blade. And although we were heading all the way to the Med I thought - no problem, just pop in to any Fiat, Citroen or Peugeot dealer to buy replacements (we have a Fiat X250 cab). In the meantime I cut a bit of gaffer tape to try to hold the blade together.

Next morning we chanced upon a Citroen dealer, who produced a set of blades. To be on the safe side I asked if they would fit them. A mechanic was despatched without delay and proceeded to try to fit the new blades - but without success!

After much head scratching I was told that the wiper blades would only fit a left-hand drive vehicle - ours is RHD. And so it wouldn't be possible! :cry:

We had already travelled another hour in torrential rain before trying the Citroen dealer, and the gaffer tape was doing its job. So after being told we needed right-hand drive wiper blades, we decided to press on. In fact for another two days of torrential rain (oh, and some snow).... The gaffer tape is still holding - though not sure if it will last another three-and-a-half weeks, until we return to the UK. Suppose it depends on the weather. :RollEyes:

At least the weather has been warm and sunny for the last two days where we're staying at the moment (about 40 miles north of Beziers and the Med coast).

Would welcome any suggestions about buying new wipers in France for RHD vehicle.

Thanks, Mike

PS I shall be carrying spares in future. :Blush:
 

pappajohn

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just replace the rubber insert/blade, not the full blade.

any decent mechanic should be able to do it in a few minutes a side.

my Chrysler needed a new rear blade and the cost is a small mortgage.

just dug out a spare 17" blade in my garage, removed and cut the rubber to length and swapped the rubber.

but, if you have one piece silicon blades you're stuffed
 
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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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just replace the rubber insert/blade, not the full blade.

any decent mechanic should be able to do it in a few minutes a side.

my Chrysler needed a new rear blade and the cost is a small mortgage.

just dug out a spare 17" blade in my garage, removed and cut the rubber to length and swapped the rubber.

but, if you have one piece silicon blades you're stuffed

I'll have a closer look in the morning, but I think they are one-piece. :Angry:

Years ago on older vehicles I used to just buy new 'rubber inserts' to save money. Although fiddly to fit, they could be carefully wriggled in.

I'm doubtful it's going to be possible on these wipers, but will have a look.

Thanks, Mike

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DP+JAY

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Most French supermarkets sell wiper blades,Just measure the lengths & buy the same lengths, no probs. The bigger the supermarket the more choice.
 

stcyr

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Not sure if I'm missing the obvious here, but how can wiper-blades be right or left-hand drive? Surely it doesn't matter which way the arms point? I recently bought blades for the car (rhd) in Carrefour, and a set for the MH (lhd), at the same shop.... :whatthe:
 

icantremember

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I'll have a closer look in the morning, but I think they are one-piece. :Angry:

Years ago on older vehicles I used to just buy new 'rubber inserts' to save money. Although fiddly to fit, they could be carefully wriggled in.

I'm doubtful it's going to be possible on these wipers, but will have a look.

Thanks, Mike

We currently have exactly the same problem ....... came over on 1st May and went through the same process with Peugeot dealers to no avail.

Have managed to get along with the damaged blade using it as little as possible and hopefully it will last until Friday when we cross back to the UK ...... plenty of rain forecast:Doh:

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Heyupluv

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I have a English right hand drive Citroen....I have changed one if not two blades over here in France
These places "Feuvert" are all over France....they are a motorshop...like Halfords, they sell exhausts, tyres, batteries, oil, radios, sat navs,trailers, and many other car parts...
Ask the person serving to either check or fit it for you ...that's what they did for me, they fitted the wiper blade...at no extra cost...and the one they fitted on mine was very very good..

Then there are the supermarkets..BUT you have got to know it will fit as you pay for first:Doh:

.

Look on the web for there nearest shop to you:thumb:

Mel


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Rapide561

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Hi

We had this issue the other way round, a left hand drive Fiat MultiJet in the UK! We had to get some ordered using the chassis number. Parts arrived next day.

On a similar theme, we used an Opel dealer for Vauxhall Corsa parts in Italy - again parts were next day.

So I think your real solution is to order some and stay putt for a couple of days til they arrive.

We carry spares now for this reason. I wrongly assumed both LHD and RHD were the same but on the opposite side, how wrong I was.

Russell
 

JockandRita

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Our wiper arms are for LHD, but the blades are common for both LHD and RHD.

The one piece silicon blades are probably directional, and therefore not interchangeable. :Sad:

Good luck with the gaffer tape Mike. :winky:

Cheers,

Jock.

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spitfire

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If you go to either supermarket or Feu Vert or Norauto. Buy a single blade without spoiler and job done. We have never had a problem finding blades for our old car which was rhd. Avoid dealers !! They hum and haw , spend forever discussing it and if they find the right one charge you an arm and a leg !!
 

stcyr

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Well, I've yet to come across a vehicle with wiper blades that are specifically for left or right-hand drive - the blades all clip on in the same manner and wipe the screen identically in both directions... it doesn't matter which side of the screen the wiper arms park ... well, not on any of the hundred + vehicles I've owned, whether trucks, cars or MHs ...
 
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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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Well, I've yet to come across a vehicle with wiper blades that are specifically for left or right-hand drive - the blades all clip on in the same manner and wipe the screen identically in both directions... it doesn't matter which side of the screen the wiper arms park ... well, not on any of the hundred + vehicles I've owned, whether trucks, cars or MHs ...

Wow! Thanks everybody for all the helpful suggestions.

Just on the point of RHD v LHD - I had absolutely no idea there could be a difference, but on this 2010 Fiat X250 cab there is, apparently. :shout:

The N/S & O/S blades are different lengths, just as on many modern vehicles. But it seems the manufacturer, in their wisdom, has designed the fitting mechanism so they can't be mixed up, presumably in error? Hence you have the issue with whether the vehicle is RHD or LHD, and in France I don't believe many dealers stock parts specifically for RHD vehicles. :cry:

I think they call it progress. :winky:

However, I really appreciate the ideas of other places I could try to find a replacement, or alternatively order them for 24-hour delivery.

Oh, and I kind of feel slightly better that I'm not the only person to have experienced the problem. When I got the Fiat handbook out to read about changing the wipers it said something along the lines of 'Check regularly, and in any case change them at least every year'. Never heard of that before. My Citroen C5 is coming up to 8 years old and the original wipers are still in perfect condition. My wife's Citroen C3, on the other hand, had its third set fitted at six years old (and less than half the mileage of my car). But every year??

As I said previously, I'll carry spares in future. ::bigsmile:

Thanks again. any other thoughts welcome.

Mike

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paulmold

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Whatever you do don't buy from main dealer. I've just changed the blades on my Skoda Octavia (flat blades) and on our Symphony (early Boxer, standard blades). Skoda wanted £18 pair, Ebay £4.59 inc postage. I too used to buy just rubbers for the old style blades but at £4.35 inc postage from Ebay for a pair of complete blades, I don't think I could get the rubbers alone for that price.
 

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