[duaneo]

Folks,

I've got a 2017 Premier Bolt, and I'm looking into replacing the wiper blades. Looking at the GM website (gm parts store link redacted because I'm a noob here), I can see that the front blades have a 1st and 2nd design, and they both are marked as compatible with my car. Does anyone know what the differences are, and how I can determine what I have on the car?

Here are some part numbers:
Left 1st 42341754
Left 2nd 42566593
Right 1st 42341756
Right 2nd 42566594

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers,
Duane

 

[Nook]

What? Maintenance needed??

I would expect it's a simple replaced by (Notice that the new numbers are bigger, which implies newer).
Chances are you have the old number and 19's have the new #. If it says either, then either will fit. I would expect that the 1st ones will be consumed and then only the 2nd ones will be available.

Personally, I just buy the generic correct size, like the $5 ones. If you want to pay more, feel free.

 

[psyflyjohn]

As an aside, "Scotty" the master mechanic on You Tube recently talked about the superiority of silicone wiper blades over the cheaper rubber-based types. He reports several years of use before having to replace them. In the blazing S.Cal. sun, that would be a definite advantage.

 

[davioh2001]

I would also like to know as my blades are almost 2 years old.

 

[mraymondus]

Just ordered silicon ones for my wife's Accord. Depending on how they do, I may replace mine with same. A bit expensive though at about $40 for the pair.

 

[duaneo]

Amazon isn't making me comfortable that the blades I'm ordering will actually fit the car, and I was about to order three blades from the GM parts website when I saw they wanted $20 in shipping for what has to be less than a pound of parts shipped ground. No thanks. I may swing by a dealership on my way home and see what they can offer me.

 

[Sean Nelson]

I may swing by a dealership on my way home and see what they can offer me.

If you order them through the dealership you won't be charged shipping, and you'll have a high degree of confidence that you'll get the right parts. And if they're the wrong parts then they'll take them back, again without the hassle of shipping.

 

[Edchris]

Just ordered silicon ones for my wife's Accord. Depending on how they do, I may replace mine with same. A bit expensive though at about $40 for the pair.

I have always used OEM, from the Honda dealer for my Civics. I let my wife get them, they put them on for free, & the things only cost $6 each, Canadian. We went 6 years on the originals, this is only the 2nd set, with 225,000km on the car. It sits in the hangar at home, but sits outside most weekdays during business hours.
I would never pay $40 for blades.
Scotty Kilmer has some good tips, but I don't see any huge advantage over OEM blades.

 

[duaneo]

Final update. First design applies to Bolts manufactured on or before March 14th (Pi Day) 2017. Any Bolts manufactured after Pi Day 2017 need second design wiper blades. My Bolt was manufactured on March 9 2017, so I got the first design blades. All three blades plus tax ran me about $64, which is rather expensive for my taste. Next round I'll explore aftermarket blades more aggressively.

Cheers,
Duane

 

[redpoint5]

I'm generally not a fan of aftermarket blades. Tried some expensive ones on my Acura and they performed poorly. I get the refills (just the rubber part) for like $20 shipped for both OEM inserts. Don't know how the stock blades perform on a Bolt, but stock Acura blades are very good.

 

[duaneo]

Yeah, my other modern car is a Mini Cooper, and I've opted for OEM blades for it every year or so. Similar price point.

 

[max]

Always went with Bosch Icons for my Gen2 Prius - long lasting, quality product, mid-price point.

 

[JC Bolt]

I recall from the Volt forum that someone learned that Bosch actually made the wiper blades for GM for the Volt (G1). If you bought Bosch blades, you were getting the same exact thing as the OEM product. Has anyone done research like this for the Bolt?

 

[Cataract2]

I recall from the Volt forum that someone learned that Bosch actually made the wiper blades for GM for the Volt (G1). If you bought Bosch blades, you were getting the same exact thing as the OEM product. Has anyone done research like this for the Bolt?

Through Chevy's own site I could have sworn they said OEM was AcDelco.

 

[JC Bolt]

Through Chevy's own site I could have sworn they said OEM was AcDelco.

I gather that they say ACDelco the same way Sears appliances said Kenmore. It's a rebranding exercise.

Here's one of the links to the Volt forum with the reference. There may be other threads in that forum that mention it.

https://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?228505-What-Is-The-Best-Wiper-Blade&highlight=Bosch

 

[Cataract2]

I gather that they say ACDelco the same way Sears appliances said Kenmore. It's a rebranding exercise.

Here's one of the links to the Volt forum with the reference. There may be other threads in that forum that mention it.

https://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?228505-What-Is-The-Best-Wiper-Blade&highlight=Bosch

Fair point. Will ahve to take a close look at the ones on my 19. Should be a part number on there somewhere, maybe.

 

[DAC17]

I purchased Michelin Guardian 26" blades earlier this week for my 2020 Bolt, and having a hard time getting them to fit (even though the Michelin site says they will...). Anybody have these, or have any hints as to which clips to install, or whether I just bought the wrong ones??

 

[Boltmobile]

I've installed heated windshield wipers from crystal clear on my premier 2017. At first i thought the adapters provided were the wrong one but they fit good enough. Those wipers work well at removing ice. Haven't tested them at a car wash yet.

 

[boltage]

One thing that I noticed is that beam-type wipers like on the Bolt seem to last much longer than the rubber in linkage-type wipers. Perhaps the beam-type just happened to come with more durable rubber, or the beam type tends to work better than the linkage type at maintaining good wiping as the rubber degrades? While the linkage-type allows replacing the only the rubber very inexpensively, replacing the rubber must be done every year or two, while the Bolt's beam-type wipers seem to be still good even after about four years.

 

[Eriamjh1138]

One thing that I noticed is that beam-type wipers like on the Bolt seem to last much longer than the rubber in linkage-type wipers. Perhaps the beam-type just happened to come with more durable rubber, or the beam type tends to work better than the linkage type at maintaining good wiping as the rubber degrades? While the linkage-type allows replacing the only the rubber very inexpensively, replacing the rubber must be done every year or two, while the Bolt's beam-type wipers seem to be still good even after about four years.

I think the OEM blades are just made from better rubber which helps justify the cost.

Mine are 3-1/2 years old and still work well. I got a pair of the front blades for $25 because I had $35 in dealer credit/GM points.