Questions and Answers

Nissan Maxima Pain In The Glass Q. I have 1991 Nissan Maxima which I bought in 1993, I am very happy with the vehicle (135,000 miles now) except for one problem. Ever since I have this vehicle, when I use the wipers I get a film on the windshield. I have cleaned glass with everything thing from Comet to alcohol to glass cleaner to Barkeepers Friend to acetone.

Changed wiper blades and arms many times. Used commercial cleaners on blades new and old. Nothing works, the film is always there. Its like a fog effect on windshield. I am almost to the point after all these years of thinking the glass is defective. If I use the washer on the windshield after two strokes of wipers fog is back. I dread driving in the rain, which we have plenty of here in Florida. Can you help?

Dan

A. I have seen this a lot in Nissan windshields. Japanese windshield glass is not made the same way we make windshield glass here in the US. I don't know what they do, but it is different. If you notice after a few years you'll see tiny pits all over the windshield. The Japanese glass is so soft, that over time they get "sand blasted". look on an older American car and you will see that it won't have these pits.

I had the same thing with my wife's Nissan Stanza and my Nissan Van. When I replaced the windshield in her Stanza because of hail damage, I used a windshield that was made in the US and I never had that problem again.

One other thing you can try is to clean the windshield with, and don't laugh, Topol Tooth Polish. It is a very mild compound and it will remove some of the pits and maybe even that film. I've had some success with it over the years.

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