does anyone know of a blade that actually works? i've been getting the 13" bosch micro edge and it works kinda crappy. it doesn't swipe the top part enough, and i usually resort to bending it, so it hits it better, but then, it somehow wont swipe 0.5"-0.75" below that.. it's really annoying and i wondered if anyone knows of any better blade one out there.
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'89 245 DL B230 Manual

I decided to do a little research on this subject and found that the parts number changed for the glass, wiper arm and blade in 1990. I can't say what changed but I am assuming the hatch glass got slightly bigger. Is it possible that your hatch was replaced a some point.

Ron J

no, that's the same. it's original and i have the rust holes to prove it... at one point, someone smashed the rear window, and when the glass was replaced, they didn't seal the thing properly. i did however get a new wiper motor, and 'inside-the hatch arm' replacement from a 1990's 245. but the arm, blade, glass and hatch is all 89.. going to try and see if the arm is bent, and straighten it out. also, the fluid dispenser nozzle is a 'dog' to get perfectly right.
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'89 245 DL B230 Manual

You can only bend the arm that the blade fits onto. Not the wiper blade. They are made to tinny for that. Windshield blades are flimsy to say the least.

My neighbors 2000 Ford Explorer was bad about that too.

On his, I found out after trying to bend the arm, that the motor and its shaft needed adjustment. The motor was rotating at an angle or arc away from the glass. Not parallel to it. In his, it was out two ways, at the top and pressed harder to one side more than the other.

An example is to try to imagine, like in your case, if the blade could go all the way around (180 degrees on a complete circle of window) it would likely press a lot more harder down at the bottom. Because they are spring tensioned we can see it happening.

On his tailgate next to the inside panel there is a steel frame that holds the mounts for the motor. Some time or other there had been a heavy load that had smacked against the inside panel of the tailgate. It suffered that wonderful catawampus blow from hell.

It didn’t leave a mark outside or inside. It just pushed the frame ever so slightly. Add on 18 inches of arm length and that tweak got multiplied. I barely picked this up with a straight edge.

I fixed the way the shaft came out by tweaking the supporting frame and adding a small shim. I then redid the arm. It was a PITA.

The neighbor had bought the car used so I’m sure it happened before he got it. He did mention a little tidbit after I told him what I had to do. That he tried to bend it better.

So we both went down your road too!

A tidbit for you is to take the inside panel off and look for the way it can be moved a little more out or tilted in at the top.

Check spring pressure at three points of the arc. An adjustment might be found in there that has slipped or you may need a shim. His motor shaft had a rubber grommet that allowed for slop. I just had to figure in the flop!

Check to see that the glass has an evenness of curve. There could be a slight chance the glass could have belly or defect too. It is rare but possible.

Best I can help from a far. My 86 uses a 13 inch too!

Phil

Try a 12 inch blade, that will give you the clearing to see out and not hit stuff.

Regards,

Paul

On my '87 a 13 inch works. Usually it is full of road dirt and is pretty streaky.

Greg

On my 93 wagon the blade is 16".

Ron J

Don't know what year you wagon is, but on my 93 the rear blade is 16".

Ron J