Windshield Wiper Replacement In 3 Easy Steps
How to change your wiper blades and select the correct washer fluid.
Many people overlook the wiper blades when they do routine maintenance to their car, and only change the wiper blades when the blades start falling apart. The problem with that is when you find out they need changing you are usually driving in a pouring rain, and it is never convenient to stop and change them out. Continuing to drive with insufficient wiper blades can cause poor visibility, creating a dangerous driving situation. If the rubber blade starts to come off, the small metal clips on the arm can scratch your windshield and permanently damage the glass.
How To Change Your Wiper Blades In 3 Easy Steps
- Choose the correct blades by measuring the length.
- Un-clip the old blades and slide off the arm.
- Slide on the new blade and clip in place.
Most manufacturers will recommend you inspect your wiper blades twice a year and change them once a year. A good time to check and clean them in the spring and fall while you are washing the car. Most of the better wiper blades are made of high-quality rubber. Rubber is flexible and forms well to the glass to create an excellent water tight seal to prevent streaking. However, over time the sun’s rays and exposure to water and road film will cause them to dry out and become hard. They lose their ability to flex and form to the glass, causing them to crack and fall apart.
You should clean and inspect them a minimum of twice a year with soap and water, wiping them with a soft cloth. You will probably see black residue coming off on the cloth. This is road film and broken down rubber deposits. Once the blades are cleaned, they will seal to the glass better and wipe water off without streaking.
Selecting The Correct Blades
Blades are sold in many different ways, but the easiest way to replace them is to buy the assembled blade, not just the wiper replacement. This is the part that clips to your car’s wiper arm. Blades are sold by the length in inches so you will need to measure your wiper blades before you go to the store.
Some auto parts stores will change your blades for free if you purchase the blades from them. So ask the sales person.
How to Change Windshield Wiper Blades
- Lift the wiper arm back until it stops in the extended position.
- Find the latch under the arm and squeeze it in as you slide the blade assembly down the arm until it becomes unhooked.
- Remove and check the new blade assembly. Next, possession the clip in the same place as the one you removed.
- Slide the wiper over the wiper arm and pull up until it snaps into the pocket and clicks into place.
- Check to make sure it locked in thoroughly before you fold the wiper arm back down. That is all there is to it.
Selecting The Correct Washer Fluid
There are several different types of washer fluid on the market so before you just grab one off the shelf you should take a close look at what you are getting.
Most stores will carry at least two or three different kinds. Some are summer formula with special bug removing additives that are great for keeping the glass clean during summer highway driving but have no freeze protection. If you live in a climate that drops below freezing, the summer solution will have to be removed when the winter comes in, or it will freeze solid and your washer will not work at all.
Many antifreeze or de-ice solutions do a great job of melting the ice but don’t have a good wash detergent for cleaning the glass. Also, they can contain alcohol or another additive that can dry out the rubber in your wiper blades, so it is important to read the bottle and change it out before the seasons change. An excellent solution is to get a summer/winter formula. You may pay a little bit more, but you will not have to worry about it freezing up when you need it to work.
As you can see, changing your wiper blades is a very simple task even if you have never done it before. Most cars have the same type of clip that holds them to the wiper arm, but you may have a car that needs the modification kit that comes with the new blade. Follow the instructions that come with the kit and you will have the blades on in no time. Remember if you have a problem, most auto parts stores will change them for you at no charge.
If this how-to tip from Valley Auto Loans has been helpful, then you should look through the other how-to tips we have. Here is a list of few tips you might need to know to make owning a car less stressful and more enjoyable throughout the year.
- How to plug a tire
- How to jump start a dead battery
- How to close a broken power window
- How to improve your fuel economy
- How to fix your credit score
- How to buy a used car (guide)
- How to buy a new car (guide)
Valley Auto Loans has been well-known for great deals on car loans and auto refinancing even if you have bad credit and have been turned down by other lenders. When you fill out an auto loan application with us, we choose from a pool of auto lenders that fit your individual needs. Whether you need a car with no money down, a rent to own car, a car after a bankruptcy or maybe you just need to gain a good credit rating. We also can select a premium car refinance lender that offers excellent refinance rates. Our resource page can give you financial tips about different auto loans and can even show you how to set up a simple budget to get a down payment. Whatever your auto finance needs before or after the sale, Valley Auto Loans is waiting to hear from you.