How to Repair Wiper Blades
When your vehicle's wiper blades become deteriorated, you will likely hear it. Once the rubber insert becomes degraded enough, it will make a dull scraping noise against the windshield. You will also notice a lack of performance when it rains and the blades try to squeegee the water off the glass. There are other problems that can occur. Snow routinely kills wiper blades. The snow gets into the internal components, freezes to ice, and not only adversely affects the rubber insert, but the frame itself. There are two options when it comes to repairing wipers. Both of them are cheap.
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Instructions
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Replace the Wiper Blade Assembly
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1
Measure your current wiper blades. Blade sizes are measured in inches, and the driver-side blade is usually bigger than the passenger-side blade. Also, look at the center of your blade and note the connection type. J-hook wiper arms are the most common, but many of the blades currently sold feature multi-use connectors that can be used with most wiper blade connections.
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2
Visit an auto parts store or a discount department store with an automotive section. Buy wipers in the sizes you need.
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3
Lift the wiper arm and blade off the windshield and undo the safety mechanism securing the blade assembly to the arm.
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4
Pull the wiper blade assembly off the wiper arm. If you have a J-hook connection, you will be pulling the blade assembly out of the J-hook. If you have a wiper arm with a small pin, you will need to pop the blade assembly off with a screwdriver.
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5
Allign the replacement's center connector with the wiper arm. Pull the blade assembly onto the arm until you hear a "click." This is the blade's safety mechanism locking the blade to the arm.
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6
Lower the blade to the glass and repeat the removal and installation on the remaining blade.
Replacing Only the Blade Insert
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7
Measure both wiper blades and then visit an automotive parts store. Call ahead and ensure that they carry wiper inserts. Not a lot of retailers carry the rubber replacements, and you do not want to risk a trip to the store for nothing. Buying new wiper blade assemblies is most times the easier option, due to the easier availability.
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8
Remove the wiper blade assembly as outlined in Section 1. You can replace the insert while leaving the blade assembly on the wiper arm. However, it is easier to just remove the blade and then reattach it once you are done.
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9
Locate the metal tabs at the end of the blade. For some blades, this will be a guiding metal wire. "Open" this tab, or slightly separate the guide wire with needle-nose pliers.
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10
Slide the damaged insert out, slide the replacement in and bend the metal table or guiding wire back into place.
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11
Reattach the wiper blade assembly as outlined in Section 1. Then, move on to the remaining blade.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To remove side-pin-connector wiper blades, slide a screwdriver between the side of the center connector and the wiper arm. Pry the blade assembly off. Install a new blade by inserting the arm's side pin into a hole on the side of the connector. Push the blade into place.
If your vehicle features a rear wiper, consult your owner's manual before proceeding. A rear wiper is trickier to deal with because it is more of a specialty part that may involve washer fluid tubing. For some vehicles, the rear wiper is not readily available and has to be specially ordered. The same can be said for the headlight wipers that are featured on some vehicles.
References
Resources
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