How to replace your windshield wipers
One risk the Texas slasher didn't consider was his faulty windshield wipers. Image courtesy of carolinetreads.com
It’s that squeaking, skittering noise that gets you, the long, thin flap of rubber dragging its way across your windshield, or maybe it’s the impossible-to-get-rid-of streak that’s always on your window.
Either way, it’s time to replace your windshield wipers. Luckily, it’s an easy fix.
The first step is writing down the make, model and year of your vehicle. This will help you when you get to the auto parts store. While prices for wiper blades (just the rubber part of wiper) start at about $4.15 each and go up from there, it’s better and easier to replace the entire wiper. Prices for wipers start at about $7.00 each, so it’s not much of a difference.
At the auto parts store, you’re likely to find an aisle of windshield wipers and blades. Look up your vehicle’s information in the thick books in the wiper aisle, and it will tell you which wipers will fit your car. Also note that many vehicles have two different-sized wipers for the passenger and driver’s side, so if you only want to replace one blade, make sure you know which one you’re buying. A clerk can help you if you’re confused.
After you’ve purchased the new wipers, take them to your vehicle and inspect how your current wipers are attached to the wiper arm. Most blades are attached on a hook-slot connector, straight end connector, or a pin-type connector. Your new windshield wipers should have a few different types of these attachments, pick the one that matches what’s already on your vehicle and attach it according to the directions supplied with the blade.
Next, lift the windshield wiper arm from the window and remove the blade that’s on there (if it feels stuck, you may want to use some lubricant like WD-40 to loosen it up). If there are tabs where the arm attaches to the blade, depress them to remove the old windshield blade.
Take the new blade, with the proper connector setup, and attach it to the arm. Make sure any connecter tabs are no longer depressed, otherwise, the blade could slip off during usage. Test the wiper, making sure it’s secure and not scraping you windshield, before you drive.
—Chris Meehan
Articles that may be related to this one
1 Responses »
Leave a Response
Entries(RSS)
Unfortunately it's fairly common for people to leave items like tires, fluids, wiper-blades, brake pads and bulb changes to the very last minute, which is a seriously dangerous practice. Basically, until we notice things not working properly or something fails entirely, most of us hardly give these items any thought at all.
However, lately there has been a bit of a change in the composition of certain windshield wiper blades, all supported by a variety of different tests in just about every type of driving condition.
While the various new wiper blades coming to market are getting a little more technically intelligent I still have a problem with the thought of paying quite so much for this new technology at all.
To this day, manufacturers and suppliers still expect that once wiperblades show any signs of wear by smearing, juddering or squeaking, drivers should simply toss them out and buy a new set.
It's glaringly obvious that no wiper blade suppliers provide instructions on how to make windscreen wipers last longer. They don't suggest how to prevent adhesion to frosty windscreens. Do you get told how to soften them if they get brittle? Are there any parts that can be recycled or traded in on a new set?
Of course it's in the suppliers best profit interest to make the blades wear as quickly as possible. They aren't here to help you or the ecology. They want you to spend and spend often.
It's time manufacturers started to lift their game and try to help buyers get more from our purchases.
I recently found a small tool that RESTORES the working surface of most wiper blades by cutting a new wiping edge. It's a great emergency item to keep in the car to, I found them at http://www.wiper-wizard.com
It works wet or dry, doesn’t rust, doesn't have any moving parts to mess about with and put a new face on my wiper blades in less than 60 seconds.
Best of all, you could easily get around 6 times the normal life expectancy from your wiper blades without buying a new set, which to me means a set of wiper blades effectively cost less than $2.00/ year.
Now THIS is called looking after our planet. By all means buy and fit the new silicon wipers…BUT make sure you can get 5 or 6 uses from them before dumping the remnants into the pollution pile. This will REALLY do some good to the environment, your wallet and your vision. Brian