Change Your Windshield Wipers

$20.00 and 10 Minutes That Could Save Your Life!

Another article from Waxahachie Auto Repair to help you stay safe on the road.

There's one time we always remember to change our wipers - when it starts to rain. Unfortunately that's the worst time to tackle such an easy job. The next 10 minutes of your time, outside in the dry, sunny weather, should be spent replacing your windshield wipers, so check out these easy steps.

First, you must remove the old worn out wipers. Be careful removing them, the wiper arm is metal and your windshield is glass. One clumsy move and you might scratch or crack the windshield. To remove the old wiper, pull the arm and wiper away from the windshield, it will prop itself in the raised position. With one hand holding the wiper arm, use your other hand to depress the small tab on the underside of the wiper where it meets the metal arm. With the tab depressed you can slide the wiper off the arm by pulling the center toward the bottom of the wiper arm.

The metal windshield wiper arms that hold the wipers are spring loaded this means that without the soft wiper on the end, that metal arm can do some serious damage to your windshield! To prevent the wiper arm from snapping back and hitting your windshield carefully rest it against the windshield padded by a cloth. Even if you just turn around to grab it, play it safe and "park" the arm in the down position.

Looking at the empty wiper arm it can be hard to picture how it all goes back together – still can be for me! The key to getting it done quickly and easily is to line everything up before you start trying to click it all into place.

• Look at the side of the wiper where it attaches to the metal arm, you'll see that one end of the plastic clip is flat and the other has a curve across the top. Rotate the plastic clip until this curve is pointing toward the wiper blade.

• Now hold the wiper upside down next to the metal wiper arm, where you'll see that the curve in the arm (hook shaped) matches the curved top of the plastic clip.

• With everything lined up, lower the wiper over the wiper arm, putting the arm between the sides of the wiper and with the open end of the "hook" facing the plastic clip.

• Move the hook over the plastic clip, then pull the wiper upward so that the clip's rounded edge slides into the hook.

• Pull it tight so the assembly clicks into place.

• Carefully lower the wiper back to the windshield.

• Repeat the whole process for the other side and you're done!

© Pecos Sales 2011