Wipers

Worn wipers can cause a dangerous driving condition and if you don’t check your wipers you may not know they need replacing until you need them. Over time the rubber on wipers dries out, making them stiff. Without being flexible, the wipers have a tendency to chatter, smear, streak, or skip across the windshield. Wipers are relatively inexpensive and in most cases simple to replace.

Buying Wiper Blades. It is best to replace wipers in pairs and the whole blade, not just the rubber “refill” component. If the metal pivoting points have worn out, the blade will apply uneven pressure across the windshield. To identify the size of wiper blades, measure the length in inches or millimeters. Wipers may come with several adapters to fit multiple automotive models. Many vehicles have back window wipers that also need replacement.

Frozen Wipers. Anytime it is snowing or below freezing make sure the wipers are not frozen down before turning them on. Lift them up carefully so you don’t rip the rubber blade or bend the wiper arm. Turning the wipers on before clearing snow could burn out the wiper motor, strip the wiper arms, or blow the wiper fuse. If the wiper is really frozen down hard and you are unable to break it free, turn on the windshield defrost to melt the ice first. It is also a good practice to always allow the wipers to go to the “park position” before shutting off the ignition.

Wiper Blade Replacement. To determine the proper method of installation refer to the owner’s manual or the example that matches your wipers on the new wiper instruction sheet.