Wiper Distraction on new 05's

[PAezb]

I recently drove around town in a steady all-day rain last week in my 05 Outback XT. I started to get distracted and annoyed as the passenger side wiper sweeps too far into the driver side field of view - so I'm having to look through 2 wiper sweeps (driver and passenger) on each pass. I think what bothers me most is that the passenger wiper sweep stops close to the center field of view on the driver side. The wipers themselves are not as slim in profile as on my 96, so they much more distracting in the field of view. Has anyone else noticed this on their 05?

 

 

Anyone know if the sweep range can be independently adjusted for either wiper? I may have to see what the dealer service department says but I thought I ask here first as this seems to be a really annoying problem (to me anyways) to an otherwise all-round excellent vehicle.

 

Paul

[Setright]

Rain-X the windscreen and your wipers will never need to run beyond "intermittent".

[urabus retserof]

I never noticed it. They can be adjusted, but are limited by the sweep to the right. If it is already going to the limit of the window, then you're pooched. There are slim profile replacement wipers on the market.

[PAezb]

I never noticed it. They can be adjusted, but are limited by the sweep to the right. If it is already going to the limit of the window, then you're pooched. There are slim profile replacement wipers on the market.

Thanks for the suggestions. I may try both the Rain-X (which I have used before with great results), and aftermarket wipers. Actually, the slower intermittant settings do make it less distracting. But I think the Subaru engineers might need to "tweak" the left range sweep for the passenger side wiper - to me it is not acceptable as it is.

[sios]

Mine's an Impreza Outback Sport but, yeah, I know what you're saying about the righthand wiper intruding into driverside space. Maybe it's better for rightside steering wheel cars, unless they switch the wipers around.I thought it a case of being about a small car, since I drove a small (though larger) truck before.

Using Rain'X, too, and it definitely helps with the intermittent setting, except there are times it must be continuous (night, heavy rain, traffic in front).

Just hasn't been something that bothers me, actually, only that I had noticed the difference from my old truck.

[gbhrps]

PAezb,

 

Is your passenger side wiper parked correctly when the wipers are turned off? If it could be lowered in its parked postion, then it wouldn't sweep through your driver's side as much. Its easy enough to do. Just undo the nut on the wiper arm with the system off, wiggle the arm off the shaft and reposition the wiper blade lower down the glass, and retighten the nut. Then again, maybe its already as low as it can be positioned.

[PAezb]

Yeah, they're "parked" correctly. The arms are pretty easy to take off and put back on - I've done it with my '96 OB to repaint them. Actually, I notice yesterday that the '96 wipers come over almost as far as the '05, but they're a thinner profile, so they don't seem to bother me.