To avoid accidents and increase the level of safety when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is essential that you carry out a basic inspection of the car. This implies paying attention to all the elements, among which are the windshield wipers.
These are devices that are attached to the front and rear windows of the vehicle and are mainly used to remove dirt from them or raindrops or other meteorological phenomena such as snow or hail. In this way, they are essential to enjoy good visibility at the wheel.
Just as you should polish the windshield to improve the level of visibility, it is essential to have the elements that are responsible for coming into operation every time the driver needs it to deal with any of the indicated phenomena or circumstances.
Why change the windshield wipers?
It is essential to change this element of the vehicle taking into account its great importance for the driver’s visibility. In fact, it is estimated that a bad windshield wiper can reduce visibility by 20%. A priori it may not seem like a very high percentage, but the reality is that it is and it can become the cause of a major accident.
In addition, driving in rainy conditions with wiper blades that do not clean well and leave the dirt spread will only increase the level of risk.
As if the above were not enough, beyond compromising the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and other road users, the windshield glass can be scratched. Changing the windscreen wipers is, therefore, very necessary, and it is also an economical and simple operation to carry out, unlike what happens with damaged glass.
When to change the windshield wipers
As a general rule, windshield wipers are changed every one and a half to two years. However, the time will depend on the conditions and circumstances, since not all people use their vehicle the same way or travel through the same places.
In any case, there are several details that can indicate that you should change the windshield wipers, such as the following:
- Noise: If you notice that your car’s windshield wiper makes a strange noise when you turn it on, it is very likely that the blades are exerting too much pressure on the glass or that the rubber is hard. In this way they will not be perfectly fulfilling their function and their replacement will be necessary.
- Dirt: If when you activate the wipers you notice that the glass is dirty, with traces of impurities, streaks or moisture marks, it may be because the wipers have worn out or because they have been damaged by cold or heat.
- Roughness: If when you run your finger along the edge of the brush you notice that there is some kind of roughness or cut, it will indicate that it is time to change them for new ones.
Windshield Wiper Operation
This type of device is made up of an arm on which there is a brush. This last element is responsible for cleaning the glass. When the driver activates the control for this, it starts up with an oscillating movement.
Normally, the frequency with which they move can be determined, for which the vehicles include several defined positions and an additional speed that activates it intermittently. Likewise, each driver can activate it at specific times when they consider it necessary.
In addition to the front windscreen wiper, which can be made up of one or two arms, in many models a smaller one is incorporated in the rear window.
Instructions for changing car windshield wipers
To change the wiper blades you just have to follow these steps:
- Before you start changing your wiper blades you need to make sure you purchase a suitable wiper blade set. You must bear in mind that each vehicle uses one in particular and you should always opt for one that is similar. To do this you have to make sure that they are compatible with your vehicle, checking both the anchors and their length.
- Then you must start the car and start the windshield wipers, stopping the system when they are vertical. This will help you when making the change in a more comfortable and simple way.
- The next step is to lift the mobile arm to start. On some car models it will be necessary to lift the hood of the car. Then you must take the mobile arm corresponding to one of the brushes and press its tabs to disengage them. In this case, you should look at how the mechanism that is responsible for holding the brush works.
- Once the old brush has been removed, you must install the new brush. You must insert it until you notice how it is perfectly fitted and that it does not come out even though you can pull it.
- Then you must repeat the previous step but with the other brush. It is always advisable to change both brushes and not just one.
- Finally, you have to check that the wiper works correctly. To do this you must turn on the vehicle and put them into operation. In this way you will know if everything works as it should.
What do you need to change the windshield wipers of the car?
- New set of brushes
