How to Replace Wiper Blades

SKILL LEVEL 1

by David Toht

If it leaves streaks, skips, drags or is more than a year old, it's time to replace your wiper blades. Do it now: a major downpour could put you in a truly dangerous situation. Replacement is simple and typically requires no tools. Really, the hardest part of the job is opening the bubble packaging.

Dave Toht is a car geek and former carpenter with more than 60 DIY books to his credit.

1 Skill level
1 out of 5
6 Steps
2 Materials

Step 1 Buy the right wiper blade

At the auto parts store, look up the correct wiper blade for your car's model and year in the booklet in the wiper aisle — or ask the clerk to find it with a quick computer search. Before you drive away, hold the new wiper blade next to the old one to confirm you bought the right one.
Step 2 Remove the old wiper

Carefully pull the wiper arm away from the windshield until it locks at about a 90-degree angle to the windshield. Wiper blades attach to the arm in a variety of ways, but all have some sort of locking mechanism: some have a release tab that you push, while others require a small screwdriver. Remove the blade, keeping the arm away from the windshield.
Step 3 Select the adapter

If attachment adapters are packaged with the wiper blade, select the one that best matches the one on the old wiper. Install it following the package instructions.
Step 4 Align the wiper blade and arm

You're about to put together something upside down and backwards — it's easy to go wrong. Here's a trick: grasp the plastic clip located inside your new wiper blade and pivot it so it's perpendicular to the blade. Hold it next to the hook at the end of the wiper arm, so you can see how the hook should fit onto the clip.
Step 5 Attach the wiper blade

With the wiper blade and the arm lined up, lower the blade over the wiper arm to slip the hook over the clip. Push the blade upward until the hook snaps into the clip.
Tug on the replacement wiper blade to check whether it's fully locked on the arm. Carefully return the wiper arm to its normal position against the windshield.
Install the second wiper blade.
Step 6 Test the wiper blades

Turn on the windshield washer to make sure the blades work and are fully attached.
Wash the windshield and fill the washer fluid reservoir under the hood.