(Posted on Aug 13, 2018 at 04:15AM by Patrick Wensink)
Dear Patrick,
I love my mechanic, but he charges an arm and a leg to replace my windshield wipers. I am a single mom on a budget, and this seems like a way I can save money. Is it hard to change the blades on my Nissan Frontier without help?
-Anna
Hi Anna,
Good thinking! Buying and replacing them yourself is a great way to shave off added cost to a tune-up bill. There’s also more positive news: this process couldn’t be simpler!
First, ease the arm backward so it sticks out from the windshield at roughly a 90-degree angle.
Next, rotate the wiper so that it is parallel with the glass, essentially forming a T.
On the backside of the mechanism, you will discover a release tab. Unsnap it (it’s a very simple metal hinge) to loosen the blade.
Pull it downward, and it should easily come free.
Finally, just repeat the steps in reverse to install the new blade and lock it into place. Be sure to test out the wipers when you are done by spraying fluid and running it a few times to make sure everything is secure.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.