Q: How do I know when my wipers need to be replaced?
A: If your wiper blades become damaged or worn, they can be a safety hazard. They impair your visibility and consequently reduce your reaction time in the event of an accident. Yet, wiper blades deteriorate so gradually, it is often difficult to notice, but here are some signs you can look out for.
Inspect your windshield for these signs:
- Oil-like film
- Missed sections
- Blades lifting off the windshield
- Beading after the blade passes
- Blades chattering across the glass
And inspect your wipers for these signs:
- Cracked, split or slashed rubber
- Worn, ragged edges
- Road grime, chemical-causing film or other contamination
- Torn rubber pulling away from the blade
- Bent or cracked wiper arm or wiper blade
- Lost flexibility in rubber
If you see these signs, it’s time to replace your wipers. By the way, when you bring your vehicle into our Mopar® service lane, checking wipers is one of the many courtesy checks we do with every oil change, and if they need to be replaced, we can do them right on the spot! Or, if you’d rather replace them yourself, our parts department has the blades your vehicle needs.
Q: How do I replace my wiper blades?
A: If your wipers need to be replaced, we can certainly do that in our Mopar service lane. Or, if you’d rather do them yourself, our parts department has the blades your vehicle needs.
Once you have your wiper blades, simply do the following:
- Gently lift the wiper arm and rotate the blade at the pivot.
- Pinch the release tab on the wiper blade and slide the blade assembly out from the hook and out of the wiper arm.
- Slide on a replacement blade of the same length.
- Gently push until locking tab clicks into place.
Q: I've heard a lot about the new Mopar flat wiper blades. Are they really better?
A: Mopar flat wiper blades are aerodynamically designed with a built-in spoiler to distribute pressure evenly across your windshield – even at high speeds, which reduces streaking and smearing. The streamlined profile also reduces noise and vibration. The all-season rubber formulation stays flexible in cold weather and has a bonded protective coating that resists wear. Plus, there’s an innovative wear indicator that changes colour over time so you know when to install a new set. Customers often tell me that once they've experienced the difference, they wonder why they ever drove without them. They’re available at the Mopar parts counter, or your Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT®, Jeep® or Ram dealer can install them for you.
Q: How do I look after my wiper blades?
A: Looking after your wiper blades is a great idea, and it’s really simple to do.
Wipe off any buildup of road grime, chemicals and salt from the rubber edges of the blade with a sponge or a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. Every time you clean your windshield, remember to quickly clean your wiper blades too.
Another added benefit of looking after your blades is it gives you an opportunity to inspect them. By the way, that’s just one of the many things we do during the courtesy checkup with every oil change in our Mopar service lane. If you need new blades, we can install them on the spot!