We’ve seen them offered on several production models between the 70s and 2000s. Since then, almost nothing. THE headlight wipers, or “headlight washers”, which, as the name implies, allowed to clean dirt and lighten the glass of car headlights, became widespread in the 1970s. The idea at that time was to provide better visibility in harsh weather conditionssuch as rain, snow or fog.

It is SAAB that is the big initiator and offers it on its popular sedan 99 in 1970. The timing system consists of a retractable ballet that is mechanically activated and cleans the block horizontally. First, most headlight washers mechanical systems relatively simple. They are controlled manually by the driver using a lever or pusher manual, located at the control point. We see it appearing, for example, on Volvo 200 seriesTHE Renault 4 and Renault 6there Lada Niva or Opel Senator.

Electronic then automatic

After a while, manual systems are being replaced by electric ones. They are activated by pressing a button, allowing the driver to activate them with a simple switch or button. mercedes presented him on his sedan W124, Vauxhall on VectraBMW is on its way Series 3 E30 and Series 5 E28 (among others). Since the latter include models with double round headlights, then The chosen system is quite ingenious. A “V” shaped wiper located between the two headlights cleans both at the same time during dispatch windshield washer fluid ! In the 1990s, automatic systems were introduced. They are able to automatically detect the presence of rain or dirt on the headlights and activate the headlight washers accordingly. THE Ford Sierra, Mercedes S-Class (W140) AND Volvo 850 eg inherit it.

After all, the system is not that efficient

They would last for a while in the early 2000s (Volvo likes it very much, as evidenced by the new V70, which was released in 2000). Eventually, their records are mixed. Seen as “gadgets”, they are expensive and difficult to replace. Worse, we blame them to dilute the water more than to drive it away. Finally, they turned out to be really useful for off-road or for remove dirt and dust. They were gradually replaced by simple sprayers windshield washer fluid. Spit under very strong pressure, this is enough to clean the optical unit even without a brush. THE modern complex systems even allow, thanks to rain sensors, to adapt the light intensity of the headlight continue to see clearly even in rainy weather… Finally, “headlight wipers” are a A typical example of technical progress. Once mechanical and electronic, now they are automatic and intelligent!

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