Changing Your Wiper Blades

By. Levi Quinn

Automotive maintenance involves many little details that can easily become overlooked. One of these details is the windshield wipers. Many car owners neglect this, not realizing that windshield wipers do have a lifespan. It can vary by the quality of your wipers as well as the climate where you are. It is a good idea to check your wipers every six months or so just to be sure that they are in good shape. Before the winter and rainy seasons is best because most people discover the need for new ones during this weather.

The average windshield wiper is relatively cheap and made of simple material like plastics and rubbers. This can break down easily over time, especially in climates with fluctuating temperatures and weather conditions. This is why it is best to change them before you really need to. Having to stand out in the rain or freezing winter temperatures is very inconvenient when you cannot deny the need for new wipers any longer. It is best to do it on a nice, sunny day well before the harsh weather comes. Changing wipers once a year or so is probably a safe average.

When you change your windshield wipers, start by pulling the wiper arm up so that it is standing straight out. There should be a visible tab along the wiper arm. This is what you press to make the wiper come off the metal arm. You will want to be very careful as you do this so that you do not drop the metal arm against the windshield. If you do this, the windshield could actually become cracked. You may find it a safer bet to gently lay the wiper arm down against the glass to prevent this from happening.

Make sure that you line up the new wiper blade properly before you try sliding it on the wiper arm. If lined up correctly, it should slide on just like the old one came off. Move the hook, which should be an obvious piece, over the plastic clip. Pull the wiper up so that the rounded edge of the clip is positioned so that it slides on to the hook correctly. You may have to pull it rather tightly, until it clicks and is properly in place. After you are absolutely certain that the wiper is on correctly, lower it back to the windshield. Do the exact same thing on the other one.

This process should be relatively straight forward. Many windshield wiper packages will come with instructions enclosed so that you can refer to them if you become confused. If you live in an area with harsh or constantly changing climates, you should invest in high quality wipers that come with at least a one year warranty. There are many great options out there but there are also many cheap ones that would be better avoided. With a little attention to detail you should be able to decipher the difference between the two. Changing your windshield wiper blades does not have to be a chore. It can be done in just a few minutes.
Levi Quinn

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