Did you know that windshield wipers were invented in 1903 by a lady named Mary Anderson? It was a hand-cranked job that was operated from inside the car. She got the idea when she saw streetcar drivers leaning out of the car in order to see when it rained. By 1916 the windshield wiper was standard on all American cars.
We’re a long way from having to use a hand-crank, but I swear some people still would rather poke their heads out the driver’s window than change wiper blades that have gone south. The time to figure all this out is NOT when it’s raining, or snowing, or sleeting, people.
It is easy as pie to change those blades. Here’s how you do it.
Step 1 – Remove the old blades. First pull the wiper arm away from the car (you don’t want to risk scratching the windshield with the metal arm). While holding the arm steady, depress the small tab on the underside of the blade. Some require the use of screwdriver to accomplish this. With the tab depressed slide the old blade off the arm by pulling the center of the blade toward the bottom of the arm. Once the blade is off, rest the arm in the down position so it doesn’t spring back and scratch up the glass.
Step 2 – Lining it all up. Okay, this can be a little confusing the first time you try it, but if you just go step by step it will all fall into place. First, raise the wiper arm off the windshield. Then look at the side of the wiper where it attaches to the arm. There’s a little clip right there. One side is curved the other is flat. Spin that clip so the curved side is pointing toward the rubber blade. Got it? Now turn the entire contraption upside down. Now line it up. The curved hook of the wiper arm will now match the curved clip in the middle of the blade assembly.
Step 3 – Click it into place. Now, you can see where this is going. Slide the blade assembly over the wiper arm with the wiper arm between the sides of the blade assembly with the open end of the hook facing the clip. Move the hook over the rounded clip and pull up snugly until you hear it click into place. Lay the arm back down against the windshield and repeat on the other side.
Once you get the hang of spinning that rounded clip and lining it all up, this will be second nature and you won’t ever have to drive with your head out the window in a storm.
See you soon.
