subject: Maintaining Your Car - Windscreen Wipers [print this page] It is time to change your windscreen blades when they have either split, which is to say, some of the rubber blade is hanging off or your blades leave marks and smears when the blade passes across your windscreen preventing you from seeing properly out it.
Your windscreen wipers are tested as part of the MOT that all UK cars have to undergo once they pass 3 years of age. If in doubt change your blades annually just before your MOT is due to ensure that, your car does not fail for such a minor thing as broken wipers. This is the most common reason for a car to fail its MOT. Most MOT garages will replace them for you, there and then, but generally letting them do so will cost you 30+ more than, if you replaced them yourself.
A total beginner should be able to change the wiper blades on their car in less than 30 minutes. The next time that you need to do it you will be much more proficient at it and do it in less than 10 minutes. It is also a virtually risk-free job for an amateur to tackle, it is very hard to get wrong or cause damage to your car in the process.
Make sure that you purchase the correct blades for your make and model of vehicle by using the windscreen wiper blade search books that blade retailers carry or by buying the type of wipers listed in your vehicle's instruction manual. Otherwise, ask someone in the shop to help you with your selection.
Before installing your wiper blades, park your car safely ensuring that you have enough space to walk around the front and sides of the car. Gently pull the each wiper blade off of the windshield until it stops. While holding the blades wiper arm, extend the wiper blade so that you are forming a capital t shape and carefully remove the old windscreen wiper blade from its support. The directions provided with your wiper blades will show you how to do this. Compare the existing fitting attachment with the one provided with the new wiper blades. In the event that the replacement one is not suited, use the one from your old wiper and snap it into position on the new blade. Fit the new wiper blade onto the wiper arm by following the removal actions, but in reverse. Place the windshield wiper blade gently back onto the windscreen and check that the wiper blades work properly. Well done you just saved yourself a failed MOT and at least 30.
