[Tombolian]

I used Aquapel a few weeks ago, and even in slow traffic, I don't need to use the wipers because when the Aquapel makes all of the water into virtually perfect half-spheres (don't quote me on that), I can see through/ around them almost perfectly.
As for the chatter, doesn't it happen in all cars, depending on lots of factors like blade material, brand, angle, force, etc? I had bad chatter on my Camry for years and 'fixed' it by buying the right set of blades (more expensive, better material, whatever) and presto! Perfect swiping with no chatter.
I dunno, ymmv.

 

[PNWmisty]

Later to the game here, in late November, but now that it actually has rained and I've actually used my wipers, the chatter/stutter is awful, rendering the wipers almost useless. The manual actually says to clean the blades with rubbing alcohol, and I did that. Still no improvement. Pretty much as you say, only the highest speed - (4) - stops the stuttering and it's smooth as silk. But that's not really a solution.

In the meantime, I'm reduced mostly to wiping manually via the left stalk button. Having to manually actuate every single wipe, in a $50,000 car, is ridiculous. It would be ridiculous in a $2,000 used car, too. They gotta fix this.

Our wipers chattered upon delivery pretty badly on slow swipes with the wipers set to auto. It went away after I waxed the car and used the same microfiber cloth I used to buff out the wax to polish the windscreen. I just dry buffed it and the chatter has never returned. It's like the glass was too clean and the blades were getting too much grip. The very small amount of wax seems to act as a lubricant so the blades glide smoothly. And the view in the rain is very clear and streak-free. After a rocky start with the wipers, everything has settled down and is working beautifully.

 

[Rick Steinwand]

When I ceramic coated two months ago, I also did the roof and windshield. I get the chatter, but to be honest, it doesn't bother me that bad. When my windshield quits shedding water, I know it's time to recoat the body. I will try cleaning the blades tho.

 

[plankeye]

My wipers chattered some and became much worse. I had ceramic coating done including windshield. Still same chatter. Chatter even more when the windshield and blades are cleaner. I put on new wiper blades. No chatter since.

Where did you get the blades and what make/model are they? Or did you get them from Tesla? If so, it seems to me that they should offer them as a warranty claim, since the originals sucked so bad.

 

[plankeye]

Later to the game here, in late November, but now that it actually has rained and I've actually used my wipers, the chatter/stutter is awful, rendering the wipers almost useless. The manual actually says to clean the blades with rubbing alcohol, and I did that. Still no improvement. Pretty much as you say, only the highest speed - (4) - stops the stuttering and it's smooth as silk. But that's not really a solution.

In the meantime, I'm reduced mostly to wiping manually via the left stalk button. Having to manually actuate every single wipe, in a $50,000 car, is ridiculous. It would be ridiculous in a $2,000 used car, too. They gotta fix this.

FWIW, mine have actually gotten better over time. And, oddly, they seem to do better in the cold. Right now my biggest issue is the squeak noise I get at each end of the wiper stroke, where the blade is stopping and changing direction. But even that has gotten somewhat milder/quieter. I think as the blades get worn, it is helping to fix both issues. But, if getting the blades that @scaots got fixes it completely, I'd even pay for that solution, even though I think Tesla should.

 

[Rick Steinwand]

FWIW, mine have actually gotten better over time. And, oddly, they seem to do better in the cold. Right now my biggest issue is the squeak noise I get at each end of the wiper stroke, where the blade is stopping and changing direction. But even that has gotten somewhat milder/quieter. I think as the blades get worn, it is helping to fix both issues. But, if getting the blades that @scaots got fixes it completely, I'd even pay for that solution, even though I think Tesla should.

I was in the same boat as you, treated my windshield with ceramic and had chatter. Took an alcohol pad and wiped both wipers and all is good (or at least much better). Wiping down the wipers with an alcohol pad is part of my winter routine.

TBH, I thought the stock wipers were fine.

 

[GDN]

Been intending to come find this thread. November build AWD, last week 3 days of rain off and on in Dallas. Wipers were just almost perfect. Never once a single chatter, whether on full time or whether on intermittent and a wipe every few seconds, never a single chatter.

The one place I hold reservation is when they first come on, sometimes they come on high even if nothing is falling much, but the windshield has water on it. It's a bit random when they first come on. They will do 5 or 6 fast wipes, then settle into routine or at least slow down.

Didn't get the other car out of the garage, so not sure how they are behaving.

 

[Rick Steinwand]

The one place I hold reservation is when they first come on, sometimes they come on high even if nothing is falling much, but the windshield has water on it. It's a bit random when they first come on. They will do 5 or 6 fast wipes, then settle into routine or at least slow down.

I remember 3 months ago when leaving work and it had rained earlier in the day, where I'd get about 30 seconds of fast wipes, when two slow would have been more than enough. Now the quirk I notice is during the soap-down session in the car wash, where sometimes the wiper will wipe right away and other times it takes 20 or more seconds of the windshield covered with soap before a wipe will occur. I see both each time I get a wash.

 

[BGMo]

Anyone had experience with using a product like RainX on a Tesla windshield?
With non-Tesla cars I have both good and not-so-good experiences with RainX

 

[scaots]

Where did you get the blades and what make/model are they? Or did you get them from Tesla? If so, it seems to me that they should offer them as a warranty claim, since the originals sucked so bad.

I recommend just getting them from Tesla. I haven't seen any recommendations on quality replacement wipers that fit right. I actually bought Bosch Icon blades because that is what I have always used. They didn't fit so I carefully removed the blades and put them in the Tesla wipers, also had to cut a little notch for the way the Tesla blades fit in one of the clip ends. It was quite a pain. If you do it get a size larger and cut it down because the Bosch blades were a tiny bit shorter (but didn't really matter). See my post here... https://teslaownersonline.com/threads/auto-wipers-not-ready-for-prime-time-mar-‘18.6208/post-165232

 

[Coco]

My auto wiper setting only wipes when the windshield has so much water on it that I can’t see anything through it. The guy at the service center said it’s due to the fact that they are not really rain sensing but using the front camera to detect water. He said it’s a known problem and that they just don’t work well. Not a good answer for a $60k car.

 

[garsh]

My auto wiper setting only wipes when the windshield has so much water on it that I can't see anything through it. The guy at the service center said it's due to the fact that they are not really rain sensing but using the front camera to detect water. He said it's a known problem and that they just don't work well. Not a good answer for a $60k car.

It works very well when you also have a hydrophobic coating on the windshield. I definitely recommend you use something.

 

[Rick Steinwand]

It works very well when you also have a hydrophobic coating on the windshield. I definitely recommend you use something.

When I ceramic coated the paint, I also did the windshield. I initially had some skipping of the wipers in the rain, but that went away when I wiped them down good with alcohol pads.

 

[chinokie]

Where do you use RainX other than the windshield? Outside mirrors, side or rear windows, Roof?

On my previous car I used the RainX windshield washer fluid. I liked it but it left a residue on my black hood near the jets. It probably would have cleaned up with a polish but I never bothered.

Just curious what others are doing.

 

[Bizzutrick03]

Read your user manual. Don't think you can use rain-x on the windshield because of the AP cameras.

 

[Jason@FreshStartDetail]

We've installed Glassparency on at least 10 Model 3s so far with no ill effects.

 

[Jetstreamsky]

I wonder if this would be a good solution (pun unintended) for the side windows if applied along the bottom inch or so, so they don't stick in the bottom weather seal when it's icy.

 

[MelindaV]

Read your user manual. Don't think you can use rain-x on the windshield because of the AP cameras.

it specifically is talking about windshield wiper fluid with additives, not the glass coatings like regular RainX

@chinokie - I've used RainX on the windshield, roof, rear window and side window.
The first day or so after applying it, the wipers will stutter, then will go back to acting smoothly following.

 

[Jason@FreshStartDetail]

I wonder if this would be a good solution (pun unintended) for the side windows if applied along the bottom inch or so, so they don't stick in the bottom weather seal when it's icy.

This is a great thought!
As an installer it's hard for me to provide real-world testing results on this since I don't own a Model 3 myself. However what I've noticed on my personal and company vehicles is that glass treated with Glassparency is much easier to scrape the frost/ice off than non-coated glass. The ice just doesn't adhere as strongly as non-coated glass.
I'll have to ponder a way to do some testing on this because I also have a few Porsche Boxster clients that complain of the same thing when it gets icy outside; their windows don't scroll down like they're supposed to due to the ice freezing them in place.
Thanks for the idea!

 

[Jetstreamsky]

You’re welcome, if you get any feedback good or bad please let us know.

If you have a sample or can recommend something similar, I could try it out and see if it helps.