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Maintaining Your Wipers and Washer
Fluid
Under the hood of your vehicle is a
plastic container that contains the fluid for your windshield
wipers. Is it full of liquid? If not, we carry a wide variety of
windshield washer solutions.
Pay attention to the kind of windshield washer fluid you use. Some
are concentrated, which means that you need to mix them with water
before adding them to the reservoir. If you live in an area that
gets cold in the winter, consider a premixed washer solution that
contains antifreeze. This solution comes in quart and gallon sizes
and keeps your windshield clean while preventing the liquid from
freezing up in cold weather.
If your wipers have been making a mess of your windshield, buy new
blades or new inserts for them. The rubber wiper inserts are
inexpensive and usually just slide into place. The metal blades into
which the inserts fit are a little more expensive, but if your old
ones look corroded or generally aren’t in good shape, you should
replace them as well. Consult your owner’s manual or auto parts
store for the type and size of blades you need and for instructions
on inserting the blades if you can’t figure out the instructions on
the package. Be aware that some vehicles have different-sized wipers
for the driver and passenger sides and that other vehicles have only
one wiper. If your vehicle has a rear window wiper, don’t forget to
check that, too.
To avoid being caught in a downpour with no visibility, change your
blades after a hot summer, before an annual rainy season, or at
least twice a year.
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How to Replace Wiper Blades
Guide:
Potential tools needed to replace
wiper blades:
To replace wiper blades the actual
action of replacing the blade is no big deal, it's the location of
the blade down below the hood that can make it difficult though.
Sometimes it helps to open the hood to gain access to the wiper
blades. Other times it is helpful if the wiper blade is somewhere in
the motion line of wiper action. The trick is to get the wiper to
stop somewhere in the wiper arc. Turn the wipers to the on position
and allow the wipers to start, and then shut the key off when the
wiper has arrived in a desirable position on the windshield. To
replace your wiper blades please follow the step by step instruction
below. Also, watch the "How to replace wiper blades" video above to
gain additional information. The method in which the wiper blades
are attached will vary slightly. If you are unable to remove the
wiper blades on your car please ask us...we'll be glad to show you
how!
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Step 1: With the
hood closed, turn the wipers on, when the wipers are in the
middle of their arc turn the key to the off position. (Note: if
this can't be done because of wiper condition and you want to
avoid scratching the windshield please open your hood to gain
access)
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Step 2: Locate
the mounting clips at the top pivot on the wiper blade
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Step 3: Release
the clip and remove the wiper arm
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Step 4: Match the
size of the old blade against the new blade to ensure proper fit
and operation
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Step 5: Reinstall
the new wiper blade and recheck wiper operation
Common Problems:
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Make sure the wiper blades are the
same size as the original blades.
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When replacing wiper blades not
getting the blade on the mounting pin completely allowing the
wiper arm to become dislodged and possibly causing damage to the
windshield.
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Using wiper blades after the blade
has failed permanently damaging the windshield by craving
scratches in the wiper arc.
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