Your wiper blades are a very important part of your vehicle. You may not think about how much you rely on your wiper blades, but they really are essential when you want to have a smooth driving experience. Knowing this, you should try to change out your wiper blades when it is time. Wiper blades generally need to be changed out somewhere between six months and one year after being installed.
Many people simply have their mechanic change their wiper blades out for them when they are doing an oil change. You do not have to go this route, though. If you want to take care of your wiper blades yourself, then you will certainly be able to do so. Removing your old wiper blades and putting on new ones is not all that difficult once you know what you are doing.
In this handy guide, I am going to show you how to go about removing our old wiper blades and installing new ones. If you have never changed out wiper blades before, then this will be a good resource that will show you what needs to be done. You can go into this situation with full confidence. It is not going to be difficult to understand, and you do not need to be a gearhead to pull off a simple installation like this.
Does the Installation Process Depend on the Vehicle Model?
For the most part, changing out wiper blades is going to be a universal thing. Almost all of the vehicles on the road will be able to use the same process when changing out wiper blades. This information is going to be just as useful for someone who is driving a truck as it will be for someone who drives a sedan. You should not worry about things being different depending on the vehicle model.
That being said, you do need to buy windshield wiper blades that will fit your vehicle. Luckily, it is very simple to see whether or not wiper blades are going to fit on your vehicle. Wiper blades are going to be vehicle specific. This means that you can simply tell the clerk at the auto parts shop what you need.
It allows you to avoid any problems, and you will be able to install the wiper blades easily enough. When buying wiper blades online, simply take the time to make sure that they will fit the vehicle that you are driving. This information should be easy to determine, and you will be good to go. It is not an arduous process or anything, so you will be able to get the blades that you need fast.
Preparing to Change out Your Wiper Blades
Before moving forward, it is important to make sure that you know what you are looking at. There are three different parts that make up your windshield wiper blades. You have the lower wiper arm, the blade that is attached to the arm, and then the rubber blade that is used to wipe down your windshield. The only part that is actually being changed out is the rubber blade.
Now it is time to get ready to remove your old wiper blades to install new ones. If you have not bought replacement wiper blades yet, then you can take the time to measure your current blades. This can make buying new blades a bit easier. You can either buy a recommended blade for your specific make and model, or you can measure the blades yourself.
Whatever you choose is going to be easy enough. Measuring your wiper blades will only take a little bit of time, and you can do it using a ruler or measuring tape. You can then make a note of the measurements and buy what you need from the store. This is the most convenient thing to do when you are not going to a specific auto parts store.
Lastly, you could go ahead and wash your car and windshield ahead of changing the wiper blades. This is going to be a good opportunity to do it, and your new wipers will be ready to keep things looking great. If you need new wipers, chances are that your window hasn’t been being cleared effectively. Go ahead and clean those streaks off with some soap and water before moving forward.
Removing the Old Wipers
Now it is time to start removing the old wipers from your car. To start this off, you need to lift the wiper blades away from your windshield. You should be able to hold the arm up in a steady position away from the windshield. This will give you easy access to the wiper blades, and you will not have to worry about bashing your windshield while trying to remove them.
Next, you need to examine where the rubber section of the wiper blades connects with the arm. You should notice a plastic stopper that is holding things in place. You should be able to press the stopper, unhook the wiper blade, and then gently twist or pull the wiper blade off of the arm. It is also possible that the wiper blade will have a pin holding it in place instead of a hook, but the process will be similar in both instances.
Just remember to keep holding the wiper blade arm up to keep it away from the windshield during this process. You do not want to accidentally crack or chip your windshield when you are pulling the wiper blade off of the arm. It is always going to be easiest to give yourself more room to work with, too. Pulling the arm up and away from the windshield makes it much easier to access the blade for removal.
Installing the New Wipers
With the old wiper blades removed, it is now time to start installing the new ones. You should be able to slide the new arm right into the spot where the old arm was positioned. Try to be gentle while you snap the new wiper blade into place on the hook. Once this is done, you will be able to lay the wiper back down against the windshield.
Now you just have to do the exact same thing for the other side. As long as you are making sure to use the correct size for each side, everything should go just fine. Some vehicles will have windshield wipers that are different sizes on each side. Keep this in mind, and change your wipers as instructed.
If the wipers for each side are different sizes, then things should be properly labeled. Also, it should be easy to tell which wiper is meant for the driver’s side and which is meant for the passenger’s side. So long as you pay attention, you should not run into any problems while doing this installation. It is very simple to do, and you will never have to pay a mechanic to do this for you again.
How Do You Know When to Change out Your Wipers?
Knowing when to change out your wipers is easy so long as you pay attention. You will be able to notice certain signs that your wiper blades are on their way out. For instance, if you examine your wiper blades and notice that they have become cracked, then you can take that as a sign that they need to be changed out. Also, wipers sometimes have the rubber blades become hard, and this makes them far less efficient.
Another important sign to take note of is when your wipers start to leave streaks behind. If it is raining and your wipers are leaving behind a streaky mess, then it is a sign that they are not working properly. The rubber part of the wipers has likely lost its grip and will not be able to do the job properly any longer. You should likely go ahead and replace them at your earliest convenience.
As a general rule, many people go ahead and change their wiper blades out every six months. Certain types of wiper blades are meant to last longer than this. Some blades can be used for as long as one year. It really depends on various factors, but you could just change the blades after a certain amount of time has passed.
Take the time to examine your wiper blades once per month. This will give you a chance to determine their condition. You can examine them from different angles and see how they are holding up. You should be especially diligent about checking the blades once they are six months old.
So long as you keep this advice in mind, you should be able to change out your blades on time without any problems. It pays to be a proactive car owner.
Are Some Windshield Wiper Blades Better Than Others?
To put it simply, yes. Some windshield wiper blades are going to be better for certain situations. If you are going to be driving your car during the winter in an area that gets a lot of snow, then it can be beneficial to install winter wiper blades. These are specially made to resist freezing and can withstand the harsh cold temperatures that winter will throw at them.
You should consider the time of year and the driving conditions when picking out wiper blades. There are even options such as heated wiper blades that may make it easier to clear away snow. All of these special types of wiper blades will also be easy to install. You just need to decide which options are going to be the best for your vehicle.
It is also good to buy a recommended wiper blade or one that has a good reputation. Generally, wiper blades are going to be fairly cost-effective no matter what. There may be some wiper blades that are particularly low in price, but it may be best to go with one that has a good rating. You want to be able to enjoy good performance while out on the road, so it makes sense to buy one that you know is going to work well.
If you are having trouble choosing a wiper blade, then you can always look for a list of the different types of wiper blades. It may also be beneficial to look at reviews for specific wiper blades. You can even ask the clerk at your local auto parts store for a good recommendation. Whatever you do, just make sure that you buy a high-quality product.
In Conclusion
Now that you know how to go about changing your wiper blades, you should be confident about doing this yourself moving forward. It is a lot simpler than many people realize. This is an installation that should really only take a matter of minutes. As long as you try to do things right, you will never encounter any problems when installing new wiper blades.
It is very important to be able to see while on the road, so you need to do your best to change your wipers when necessary. If you make the decision to go too long without changing them, then you are going to have a tough time seeing. No one wants to be caught in a rainstorm with wiper blades that are not working optimally. Wiper blades are inexpensive, and you can fix your problems without having to break the bank.
Being able to save money on your windshield wiper blade replacement is a great thing. You will be able to avoid having a mechanic charge you a premium price for something that is so simple to do. This is a worthwhile thing for you to learn, and all of the steps are basic. You should be more than ready to change out your wiper blades today if you need to do so.
Refer to this helpful guide whenever you are having problems. As long as you follow the simple steps, it will be easy to keep your windshield nice and clean. You will have great visibility, and you won’t have to pay a mechanic to take care of things unnecessarily. Don’t put up with old and shoddy windshield wipers when changing them out is a breeze.
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- By CarRoar