Wipers

Hyundaitech (or anyone else that knows),

Are refills available from Hyundai for the Sonate wiper blades? I
noticed that my local Wal-Mart stores no longer carry refiles. You have
to pay three times as much and buy a complete blade.

My original wiper blades are about shot after 8 months and I'm wondering
what my options are.

Matt

 

Matt, have you called your local dealership's parts department?

That may be your best bet.

 

Have you tried the auto parts stores Matt? I don't know what they have for
refills anymore myself, because I went to winter wiper use years ago, and it
seems that when I have to replace them it's either during the winter or just
as winter is approaching so it always seems I'm buying them instead of the
basic wiper or a refill.

 

Not yet as I have a hard time catching them open. They close at 5:00
and I get done work at 5:00. That is my plan when I get a chance, but I
was curious what others had done.

Matt

 

I've only checked one, Autozone, and they had only blades as well.
Maybe the manufacturers don't sell refills alone anymore.

Matt

 

It appears that most don't. IIRC, Trico still does, but you may have to
buy their complete arms first, then the refills from then on.

 

I replaced mine about 2 months ago at the dealer!

 

You may have difficulty finding refills that fit the Hyundai blades
anywhere except the dealer. Most aftermarket blades don't have
interchangeable refills with the factory blades.

If you're under 12k miles, you should be able to get a new set of blades
or refills under warranty. My guess is they'd just give you new blades
because the inserts can be a PIA to install. Many dealers don't even
stock the refills.

 

No kidding? I never thought that a wear item like wipers might be covered.

Matt

 

1 year/12k miles. After that you're on your own.

 

I appreciate the tip. I'll check with my dealer and see if they will
honor that.

Matt

 

My dealer told me they would cover ANYTHING for 12 months as Hyundai wants
to build good will and a good reputation with their customers. Unwritten
warranty he said.

 

Actually, according to their web site, it is a written warranty.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/global/warranty/warranty.aspx

You may have to expand the 5 year/60,000 mile section, but right at the
bottom it mentions wear items and then wipers specifically just as
hyundaitech said a day or two ago.


Matt

 

Hyundaitech (or anyone else that knows),

Dealership should be able to get them for you but they are available
from a lot of auto-parts stores. Not sure who is out in your area but
try Murrays, AutoZone, AutoPart Plus. I recently replaced my '02
Sonata wipers with a near pair for around $15.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

Are refills available from Hyundai for the Sonate wiper blades? I

Oops, stike that. I did not get refills but rather the snap-in
replacements. They're better than wasting time with refills. Trust me.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

I've used refills for 20 years until they recently became all but
unavailable. It is just wasteful to fill landfills with blades that are
in great shape other that a thin strip of rubber.

I thought I could get mine replaced under warranty, but I forgot about
the 12,000 mile part of the 12/12,000 warranty. My Sonata has more than
13,000 already...

Matt

 

I had about a 60% success rate with refills. Too often they broke, did not
fit well, or cause some form of aggravation when installing them. They
should be easy enough to change and cheaper to buy.

Neither should the metal frames end up in landfills. Steel is easily
recycled. Getting it there is the problem. Our town does not accept metal
for recycling

 

Likewise, I live in a location (very rural) where no recycling at all is
supported. Everything goes into the back of the garbage truck and goes
directly to a local landfill. That is one reason I prefer to waste as
little as possible as I know that it likely will not be recycled, at
lesat in the short term. Maybe some day it will be economical to dig up
old landfills for the recyclables, but I don't think that day is in the
near future.


Matt

 

....didn't know the refills were hard to find, but its almost time for
winter blades anyway at my local!