How to Change Windshield Wipers
Changing your windshield wipers is a very simple task. It will only take a few minutes and by doing so you will have enhanced your safety on the road by ensuring your vision is at its most effective. Also, windshield wipers are one of those items that are checked as part of your MOT and it would be wrong for your vehicle to fail it's test for the lack of a few minutes maintenance.
The first thing you need to establish is how long the wipers are that are currently fitted to your vehicle. This is worth knowing as although replacement blades tend to have vehicle applications printed on the packaging, your vehicle may not be listed, or, some cheaper replacement blades do not have an application guide.
Now it's time to visit the motor factors or car accessory shop. You will find they stock several ranges of windscreen wiper. These will be layered by price. There will be basic wipers and some that perhaps have a wind spoiler fitted to the blade. This spoiler is intended to force the blade onto the windscreen glass and prevent lifting of the blade while driving along. You may also decide you want to 'pimp' your car a bit and get some chrome or polished stainless steel blades. They even do them in various colours too, the choice is yours. Make sure whatever wipers you choose, they are of the right length and your vehicle is on the application guide if there is one.
There is little preparation needed when changing the windscreen wipers. Just make sure you are not in danger from any passing traffic and that you can reach across the screen properly. For some of the higher 4x4s and SUVs, you may need something to stand on as the vehicles are generally higher than standard cars.
Read the instructions on the packaging. Generally, replacement wipers come with several different adapters that fit the wiper to the arm that holds it. These are generally small plastic clips. Examine the blade you already have in place on the vehicle and identify what adapter is being used to hold your wiper blade on to the arm. find it's match amongst the new ones. You can throw away the rest as you will not need them.
It is probably best to work on one wiper blade at a time as you replace them. Lift the arm up so that the blade is away from the windshield. pull it far enough up so that it stays in place. It is a good idea to put some cloth on the windshield at this point as once the blade is removed all you have is a metal arm and you do not want this springing back onto the glass.
You will now find that the blade pivots upon the adaptor clip fitted into the arm. Unclip the blade from the arm. You will find the adaptor will come away with the blade. Examine the blade and clip as visually sighting such will be far more explanatory than any printed diagram on the packaging of your new blade. Taking your new adaptor, clip it in place in the same way as the old blade holds it's adaptor.
Now fix the blade onto the arm, being careful not to let the arm spring back onto the glass. Make sure all is secure and lower the blade onto the glass surface. Repeat for the other side and the job is done.
Do not wait for your old blade to start to split before you decide to change it. If the old blade is starting to smear the glass or you get lines of water once the blade has passed over your windshield it is time to make a change. This is a fairly cheap maintenance task and one that takes no time at all.
