Wipers skip on frosty mornings — run the defrost first
Wiper size
Wipers hopping across a cold windshield? Warm the glass with the defroster first. Cold, stiff rubber and frost make blades skip and wear.
On cold mornings, windshield wipers often skip and chatter because the rubber is stiff and the glass has a thin layer of frost. Warming the glass first helps a lot.
Stop wipers skipping on cold mornings
- Start the car and run the front defroster on high for a few minutes.
- Lift each blade gently to make sure it is not frozen to the glass.
- Spray washer fluid rated for freezing weather before the first wipe.
- Run the wipers only once the glass is wet and clear of frost.
- If they still skip once the glass is warm, check the blade age and size.
Do not pour hot water on a cold windshield. It can crack the glass.
More help
- Same niche: Clear ice before you run the wipers · Windshield wipers — switch to winter washer fluid before a freeze · Windshield wiper blades — winter beam vs summer conventional · New wipers still streak or chatter · Windshield wiper blades — mist washer fluid before the first wipe · All windshield wiper guides
- Related fixes elsewhere: Dryer vent — clear snow from the outdoor vent hood