# How do I install windshield wipers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512 "2006-08-06T01:15:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VegasBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/54ee81/32.png) [@VegasBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegasBaby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/1 "2006-08-06T01:15:40Z")
I’ve never installed wipers before. I bought these Target wipers made by Michelin. A paper inside comes with instructions to install the new ones but I can’t get the old ones off. I don’t even know which type of wipers I have. There’s 6 different types to choose from…pin arm, hook arm, female pin arm…etc. I don’t know what I have. I tried pulling up on it but thought I would break it so I gave up and came to the SDMB for help. Can anyone help. Pictures will be taken of the wipers if anyone needs to look at it for reference. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/2 "2006-08-06T01:25:09Z")
Did you check the owners manual? That should tell you exactly how to remove your wipers. If not, it should at least tell you what type you have. If you don’t have the manual, post the make, model & year of your car and we can probably find it online. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/3 "2006-08-06T01:27:37Z")
Pictures are very likely to be helpful. Barring that, more description of the car that the wipers are on might help. Remember, if you can’t tell which kind of blades you’ve got looking at your car, how are we who don’t know your car supposed to tell? I can’t answer your question, but I can empathize. I bought new wiper blades for my car a couple of months ago, and installed them. Figuring out how to remove the old blades wasn’t too bad, but installing the new ones was worse. It practically required a contortionist to twist the picture so that the blade connections were aligned with the picture, and then remove the blades. ---
**Author:** ![VegasBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/54ee81/32.png) [@VegasBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegasBaby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/4 "2006-08-06T01:49:16Z")
The car is a 2001 Honda Civic. The blades are standard cheap blades bought at Target made by Michelin (I guess blade type is no help. Here are some pics of the wipers: [Wiperblades](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/MalibuSunset/CIMG1853-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/5 "2006-08-06T01:57:04Z")
If there really is a heaven and a hell then windshield wiper desgners will be forced to fit replacement blades on cars in the rain for all of eternity. Every car is somewhat different. Some cars have a straight end on the arm with a bump, may require a screwdriver to remove. Some are like the above with a hole in the arm. Requires some tweaking and maybe a screwdriver to remove. Many foreign cars use a hook end where the end of the arm is bent into a 180 loop. To remove you depress a tang on the wiper and slide it toward the car (counter intutive) There are endless varriations on these themes. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/6 "2006-08-06T01:59:11Z")
Those are the hook type. Lift the arm off the windshild. Turn the bade 90 degrees. Reaching under the arm up toward the end with the blade will be a small tang (lever) that you will depress. Slide the entire blade toward the windshield. Unhook and remove. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/7 "2006-08-06T02:01:39Z")
[QUOTE=VegasBaby!] The car is a 2001 Honda Civic. The blades are standard cheap blades bought at Target made by Michelin (I guess blade type is no help. Here are some pics of the wipers: [Wiperblades](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/MalibuSunset/CIMG1853-1.jpg) [/QUOTE] Looks like the hook type. See if this [page helps.](http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=8264013&contentId=7007015) > [@](#): > > For the hook-slot connector > You generally need to raise the arm off the windshield to a working height. Then, swing the blade perpendicular to the arm so that you have more light on the connector. You’ll find a tab at the connector that either needs to be lifted or pushed to release the lock that holds the blade pivot in the hook slot. Once the tab is released, a firm push toward the base of the arm will slide the blade right out of the hook slot. Then, simply line up the new blade’s mount with the hook slot and slide it in until it clicks. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/8 "2006-08-06T02:03:51Z")
Another recommendation to check the owner’s manual…I have learned to check my oil, change my own tires, and change the blades from it. Not to mention air pressure for the tires. Or places like Advantage Auto parts and stuff will help you do it. And sometimes even do it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/9 "2006-08-06T02:05:32Z")
Here’s a visual for ya: [http://www.denso.com.sg/wiper/c-4-1-b.gif](http://www.denso.com.sg/wiper/c-4-1-b.gif) ---
**Author:** ![VegasBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/54ee81/32.png) [@VegasBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegasBaby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/10 "2006-08-06T02:27:40Z")
Thank you all for your help. I appreciate it VERY much! ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-install-windshield-wipers/367512/11 "2006-08-06T11:08:08Z")
God I can’t tell you how many stinkin’ pairs of wipers I’ve had to install in the rain for doofii who should’a been able to do it themselves. Also along those lines are the strapping men who requested that I carry their case of oil to their cars. I’ll admit tho that wiper blades are pretty confusing to install, even for the person who does it regularly. There’s simply too many darn different ways to do it, and each manufacturer has a little tweak that makes them even more different. That way you have to use the same brand refills. I was a mgr at Grand Auto for ten years. So, let’s take the small young woman with carefully styled hair and demand she go out in the rain to replace the $5 wiper refills. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Only once did I get offered a tip, which I had to decline, and after awhile the store decided that our time was no longer free. We had to refer folks to the shop and have them pay to install them. $15, IIRC. Buy car stuff at places that install car stuff. Had you been at Walmart, I’d bet you could’ve had their shop put them on for you.