Seems like a small thing given everything this car has given me. I just decided to use this car come rain or come shine, and garage it only for the winter to avoid the salt. After a year of ownership, this is probably only the third time it has been driven in the rain. I noticed that the wipers make a heck of a lot of noise. It squeeks and rattles like a cheap car!! I thought at first that maybe its just a dirty windshield, but I drove for an hour in a heavy downpour. It squeeled and rattled just as bad the whole time. Everythting seems to check out fine, with all armatures and joints tight.

Is it me or is this one of the 996 quirks? Everybody else get this?

 

Mine did it too, I complained and the dealer put in new ones. The new ones seem to be ok.

 

Same here, I just started driving my 996 in the rain and get a loud scrubbing sound from the wiper blades. First thing I did was replace them, but to no avail. My 12 year old says park it in the rain and let them run all day to break them in, maybe not a bad idea but I haven't tried it yet.

 

I had the same experience driving my C4S back to Los Angeles from the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival. It rained the entire way and the car handled everything (including fog over the San Marcos Pass) perfectly, except for the d*#n windshield wipers. I'll be hitting the dealer as soon as he can schedule me in!!!

 

PIAA wipers and windshield "treatment".

All the way from Memphis to Tallahasee in rain and no sqeeks.

 

INteresting. I have found that if you regularly clean then with alcohol, it keeps them softer and then you don't have any noise.

 

From the recent TSB (March 7, 2003):
Wiper Blade Noise - Squeaking and Rubbing

Vehicle Type: 911 Carrera (996) / 911 Carrera 4 (996) / 911 GT3 (996)
Model Year: As of '99 (X)

Concerns: Noises from the wiper blades (rubbing, squeaking).

Information: It is possible that noises (rubbing, squeaking) may occur during the wiping process with the previous wiper blades.

As of the introduction date stated below, the vehicles are equipped with modified wiper blades.
Introduction - December 6, 2002, from the following VIN's:
99 43S 62 2009 996 Coupe USA
99 13S 63 5451 996 Targa USA
99 93S 65 2129 996 Cabrio USA

Important!
While these blades are designed to reduce wiper noise, the build up of dirt, oil and diesel fuel on the windshield will contribute to any wiper blade making a noise. Make sure the windshield washer fluid used is adequate enough to remove these noise contributors.

Parts Information:
Part Number Description
996 628 901 08 New/ Set of wiper blades (includes left and right wiper blade, for all vehicles)

996 628 901 05 Previous / Set of wiper blades (includes left and right wiper blade, for left-hand drive vehicles), No longer available after existing supplies are used up.

 

As always, Loren to the rescue!!

Thanks.

 

Hi all,

My squeaky wiper problems are history with Rain-X. Visibility is excellent at all speeds because the water beads and flows away, the faster I drive the clearer the windshield.

During an 8h drive thru snow, salty mist, and rain, I used my wipers only once at a red light.

Every two months, wipe on, let dry, then wipe off. Easy!