How to Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
How to Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
How to Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
"Wiper blades are usually packaged with the rubber wiper as well as its support structure"
Things you'll need from your garage or your parts store to accomplish this vehicle maintenance project:
Tape measure
Small pocket screwdriver
Needlenose pliers
Antiseize compound (Optional)
New wiper blades
STEP 1
Visit UseLessOilUSA.com or a local parts store for the correct windshield wiper blade replacement. Look up your vehicles' model and year in Use Less Oil's online wiper blade catalog. You can also take in one of your old blades and match it up at the local parts store.
STEP 2
Open the package containing the new windshield wiper blade. The package may include up to three or four different styles of blade attachments that secure the new blade to the wiper arm.
STEP 3
Pull the wiper arm up and away from the car. The blade and arm should now be sticking out perpendicular to the window. Some wiper arms will only come up two or three inches from the windshield. If you raise the wiper arm and it only comes up a small amount, don't force it. There should be a locking tab at the base of the wiper that will lock it in the raised position.
STEP 4
Examine the existing attachment (where the arm and the blade meet) and match it to one of the attachments included with the new wiper blades. There are several styles: hookslot connector, pintype arm, widestraight end, narrowstraight end, side saddle, pintype blade, narrowdead locker, flat hook and rock to lock. The three most common are the hookslot connector, straightend connector and pintype arm.
Hookslot connector: Swing the blade perpendicular to the arm so that you can see the connector. You'll find some sort of tab at the connector that either needs to be lifted or pushed to release the lock that holds the blade pivot in the hook slot. Once the tab is released, a firm shove toward the base of the arm will slide the blade right out of the hook slot.
Pintype arm: Raise the arm and take a close look at the type of locking tab that holds the blade onto the pin. You'll either have to push the tab up from underneath the blade or lift the tab from the top with a screwdriver. Once the tab unlocks the pin, pull the blade assembly with a sideways motion away from the arm. The new unit may simply lock onto the pin. Sometimes, the box will contain an adapter that locks into the blade opening and accepts pins in different sizes.
Straightend connector: The straightend connector can be tricky. Sometimes you need to lift a tab on top of the existing blade with a screwdriver to clear the locking nub on the arm. You may also need to cock the old blade a few degrees outofparallel with the arm to slide it off the arm's end.
STEP 5
Remove the windshield wiper blade from the arm at the attachment. There will usually be a small tab you can depress with a screwdriver that will allow you to pull the blade from the arm. Some attachments have a small metal bump and two tabs on either side; depress the tabs and pull hard to remove the blade. Some just snap onto the blade. Once the old blade is off, apply a little antiseize compound to the arm.
STEP 6
Install the correct attachment to the new blades, and then install the new blades onto the windshield wiper arm. Test by turning on the wipers. If the blades slip, turn off the wipers and seat the attachments more firmly.
Important Tips:
It is better to replace the whole wiper blade, not just the rubber part.
The new wiper blades will come in a package with up to three or four attachments for each blade. One of these is the correct one for your car.
Changing wiper blades for the first time has been known to cause extreme frustration,contact your local Mobile Oil Change Service technician if you are having trouble.
Do not let the windshield wiper arm snap back against the windshield when there is no blade attached; this can crack the windshield. Lay a clean rag on top of the windshield to protect the glass in case the baremetal wiper arm suddenly snaps down on the windshield's glass.
If your car has wipers that park behind the lip of the hood, turn on the ignition, turn on the wipers and then shut off the ignition when the wipers are in midstroke so you can have access to them.
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