Wiper blades are one of the most neglected components on vehicles today. Many blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, worn or otherwise in obvious need of replacement. Others may look okay, but do lousy jobs of wiping when put to the test.

Most experts say wiper blades should be replaced every six to twelve months for optimum performance and driving visibility. That’s because wiper blades don’t last forever. Exposure to sunlight and ozone causes the rubber to age, even if the wipers aren’t used much. 

As a set of blades age, they lose much of their flip-over flexibility and they’re less able to wipe cleanly. They may develop a permanent set (called “parked” rubber) or curvature which prevents full contact with the windshield. The sun bakes and hardens the rubber. Then when the wipers are needed, they streak and chatter because they’ve taken a set and won’t follow the curvature of the windshield. 

Cold weather can affect blade life, too. Freezing temperatures makes rubber hard and brittle, which increases the tendency to crack and split. The holders can also become clogged with ice and snow, preventing the holder from distributing spring tension evenly over the blade. The blade “freezes up” and leaves streaks as it skips across the glass. 

Heavy use can be hard on wiper blades, because dust, abrasives, road grime and even bug juice wear away the edge that the blades need to wipe cleanly. 

How well the wiper blades perform also depends on the condition of the wiper arms and holders. A blade’s wiping ability is affected by the amount of spring tension on the wiper arm, the number of pressure points or claws that hold the blade, and the design of the blade itself. If the springs in the arms are weak (which is more apt to be a problem in older vehicles), the wipers may not be pressed against the glass firmly enough to wipe cleanly. Replacing the blades won’t make any difference because the problem is weak arms not bad blades.

Ultimately, any blade that’s chattering, streaking or doing a lousy job of wiping is a blade that’s overdue for replacement. The same goes for any blade that is cracked, torn, nicked or otherwise damaged. 

If you have replaced your wiper blades and chattering or streaking persists, visit the Crown Nissan Service Department in St. Petersburg to have one of our technicians inspect your wiper blades and wiper arms to ensure your continued safety on the road.

Source: [Yahoo Autos]

About six months after it annihilated a field of 17 vehicles and won our 2009 Car of the Year, the Nissan GT-R has finally landed in our long-term fleet. As you may know, it is COTY protocol for a winner to return to us in factory-fresh form for a year-long test, to see firsthand if our love wanes or grows and if our judgment was sound or — gasp! — flawed.

And if you’re wondering why it took half a year for us to get our hands on one, well, the answer is threefold: Low volume (about 2000 per year), high demand (the 2009s sold out about as quickly as the GT-R hits 60), and the fact that Nissan wasn’t exactly clamoring to lend a supercar to a bunch of lead foots for 12 months all were factors. So we waited. And waited. And waited. Our patience paid off, though, and a few months ago we received one of the first $84,040 2010 models. Representing a $2950 price hike over the 2009, the ‘10 GT-R has five more horsepower, a new control module for the six-speed dual-clutch auto, a reworked suspension with retuned springs and Bilstein dampers, darker wheel finishes, and standard side and curtain airbags.

Our tester came in Premium form ($2250: Bose audio, Bridgestone RE070Rs, heated front seats) with two additional options-a hand-polished Super Silver paint job ($3000) and carpeted floormats ($280). Total ticket: $87,320.

One feature not present on the 2010 is launch control, electronic trickery that not only made the 2009 blindingly quick (we’ve seen 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds), but also tempted too many overzealous owners to abuse it while saying, “Hey, watch this!” As a result, Nissan was burdened with warranty issues and pulled it for the second model year.

Not that it really matters. Our long-termer needed just 3.5 seconds to hit 60 and 11.9 seconds at 120.1 mph to eclipse the quarter mile. The GT-R’s handling and braking did not disappoint, either, registering 0.98 of maximum lateral grip, 24.4 seconds at 0.81 g through the figure eight, and a scant 103 feet halt from 60 to 0. Perhaps most impressive, the GT-R puts up these astonishing numbers while delivering 16/21 mpg city/highway fuel economy, thus avoiding the gas-guzzler tax (a claim an M3 can’t even make).

Source: [Motor Trend]

Nissan is planning to bring its new Juke compact crossover to North America, which will slot in just underneath the Rogue in the Japanese automaker’s lineup. Somewhere between a crossover and an MPV, this new model is inspired by the Nissan Qazana, which debuted at last year’s Geneva Auto Show. The only details we have on it are the photo above, but from that it certainly seems to target models like the Kia Soul.

The decision to bring this smaller crossover to North America seems to be a part of a larger plan by Nissan to be at the forefront of the current downsizing in the U.S. auto industry, while it also shows the automaker’s interest in lowering development costs through the use of more global platforms. Prior to this announcement, Nissan has also said it will deliver two new small cars to the U.S., based on the replacement for the Nissan Micra.

Along with the Juke, Nissan will bring seven other new models to North America in 2010 and early 2011, including the M37 and M56, the 40th Anniversary Edition 370Z, the Infinti QX56, the NV 2500 commercial vehicle, the Leaf electric car, a new Infiniti variant (presumably the G25) and the all-new Quest minivan.

The Nissan Juke could debut in production form as early as the Chicago Auto Show this month, but a more likely debut for this global platform is the Geneva Auto Show in March.

Source: [Auto Guide]

Nissan says it will provide a one-stop buying experience for Nissan Leaf electric-car customers — including arranging for an electrician to install a home-charging unit and get the required local permits to do the work.

The all-electric Leaf is to go on sale in some U.S. markets in December. It’s a pure electric: When the batteries are dead, the car simply won’t go.

Nissan plans a 100-mile range. Government data show roughly 75% of Americans drive 40 miles a day or less, but automakers believe many potential electric-car customers have “range anxiety.” 

Carlos Tavares, chairman of Nissan Americas, said in a session with reporters at the Detroit auto show Monday that the car company has hired AeroVironment to supply the home charger and installation services.

The best-known electric, the Chevrolet Volt, is to go only 40 miles, but has a gasoline engine that can recharge the batteries en route. The engine also turns a generator that can keep the Volt motoring while the recharging is taking place. Volt is to go into production late this year and be in some showrooms early next.

The chargers hook to a home’s 220-volt power — such as used for an electric clothes dryer — and can refill a fully drained Leaf’s lithium-ion battery pack in eight hours. AeroVironment already makes chargers for industrial electric vehicles. It also makes unmanned airborne probes — “drones” — for the U.S. government.

Nissan will begin taking Leaf deposits this spring, Tavares said. Pricing hasn’t been set, but will include the car, home charger and installation, price of the battery — probably as a monthly lease fee. Pricing, he said, should be “within 2% – 3% of most (compact) cars” – after accounting for government electric-car subsidies of up to $7,500 to the purchaser. 

Source: [USA Today]

If you saw the news that the Nissan Quest was going the way of other failed minivans like Hyundai’s Entourage and Ford’s Windstar, don’t believe it. Although Nissan is not producing a 2010 model year Quest, the company has told us it is fully entrenched in launching a completely new Quest that will be built in Japan.

The current Quest is built in Mississippi, but Nissan says no jobs will be lost to the switch in production location.

We could see the new design by the end of this year’s auto show season, but it still might be a year before it hits dealers as either a 2011 or 2012 model.

Source: [Cars.com]

Between career and kids, parents aren’t left with much time to keep their shape, let alone their head. We leave the noggin up to you, but we’ve found time for exercise when you didn’t think you had a moment to spare. Here, the ultimate in mom/dad multi-tasking:

Line up for Ab Exercises
In the age of instant gratification, nothing is more aggravating than waiting in line. So when they close the express checkout, instead of getting mad, use the time for an ab checkup. “Abdominal vacuums are a simple way to turn any moment into a chance to strengthen your stomach,” says Kendra Kessel, a Los Angeles-based personal trainer. Simply tense your midsection, hitting both the abs and the intercostals (the tie-in muscles to the side of the stomach), and hold for a five-second count. Don’t forget to breathe. With each repetition, hold for a little longer while resting less in between.

Don’t Call Them “Dumbbell,” Unless….
It’s never nice to call your children names, but seeing them as a dumbbell might be the smartest thing you ever do. The next time you’re sitting and your kid grabs hold of the front of your leg, slowly raise your foot straight out, shooting to get your calf parallel to the ground. You get a workout; your tot gets a ride. You can also strengthen your legs with squats while holding your child against your chest, then lifting him up and down above your head to hit your shoulders, advises Scott White, a personal trainer based in Scottsdale, Ariz. When squatting, keep it safe by lowering yourself only until your thighs are parallel to the ground — no lower. When lifting, keep your elbows slightly bent; don’t straighten your arms until your elbows are locked. With these simple moves, “you can have a whole workout just with your kids,” says White.

Couches Aren’t Just for Potatoes
When it’s time for family TV, ask for a little more room on the sofa and get a lot more workout. Leg raises work your hip flexors, providing stability for your whole body. While perched on the edge of the couch, begin with your feet together flat on the floor. Raise your calf until it’s parallel to the ground, then slowly lower to get the negative. Want to hit those hard-to-help lower abs? Lie down on the sofa, knees bent and together, then pull your knees toward your chest. When you feel your hips lift slightly off the couch, hold for a beat and then return to the starting position. Feel the burn while you belt out tunes with “American Idol.”

Way to Go, Coach!
When you’re going to be at your child’s sporting event anyway, offer to help out as an assistant coach. You can lead the sprints, hit ground balls or just sweat off calories with extra-loud cheering while working the sidelines, says White. “This is the best combination because you get in great shape and also get closer with your kids,” he says. Plus, you’re not letting them have all the fun!

Take Your Cell for a Walk
The next time you catch up with a loved one on the phone, test your cellular coverage with a long stroll, says Kessel. “When you talk on the phone, time flies by,” she says. “Imagine getting a workout done without even knowing it!” For an extra challenge, hold that water bottle as you walk, and switch between hands to create a makeshift hand weight. Now even your water is multitasking!

As great as it is to kill two birds with one stone, sometimes there’s no substitute for the gym. So if certain exercises feel better done by the weight rack, save them for the gym one day a week. Most people can eke out at least that much time, says White. “If you get up 15 minutes earlier and go to bed 15 minutes later, there’s half an hour to get it done,” he says. Now let the fitness begin! 

Source: [Live Right, Live Well]