Windshield Most windshields are stationary. They are fixed in place with a weather-strip made of rubber, which has a groove on the inside and a groove on the outside. Windshields are made of laminated safety plate glass, which is a sandwich of glass and clear plastic. The plastic acts as a soft, protective barrier, keeping the glass in place, if it is struck during a collision. The glass sticks to the plastic to eliminate glass from flying around the interior and injuring someone.
All cars use an electric pump-operated windshield washer with a positive displacement washer pump.
On some, the motor is placed in the washer reservoir, while on others, it is driven by a wiper motor. When the pump is attached to the wiper motor, the four lobe cam starts a spring-loaded follower, but the pump does not operate all the time that the wiper motor is running. This is because the pumping mechanism is locked out and pumping action occurs. Most cars have an intermittent wiper system, which permits the driver to select a delayed wipe that operates only every few seconds. The relay control uses a relay coil, relay armature, and switch assembly.