Changing wipers correctly
Find out when and how to change your windshield wipers correctly – including tips on care, installation and recognising signs of wear.The best time for new wiper blades
If the windshield wipers are dirty or worn, visibility is impaired in rain, snow or pollen. You will then often not recognise signs, the course of the roads, traffic lights and other road users as quickly. If you have removed coarse dirt and there has been no improvement, there is usually only one thing to do: change the windshield wiper. But what is the best way to do this and when?
When should windshield wipers be changed?
There’s no definitive time for fitting new wiper blades. It depends on how often you use your vehicle – or wipers to be more precise – in which weather conditions and whether you take good care of the wiper blades. Wipers can be expected to last two years as a generally accepted rough guide. However, you may need to fit new wiper blades to your vehicle after just a few months or even several years. We recommend that you check your wipers and lights annually before the start of autumn or have someone do it for you. If the wiper blades are already worn out, you should replace them immediately. You will then be well prepared for the dark and wet season.
If the wipers leave streaks behind they are likely to be worn. In an ideal scenario, no streaks will form on the windshield. But you can continue to use the wipers for some time without too much cause for concern even if a maximum of three narrow lasting stripes form in the outer field of vision, or a maximum of one stripe forms in the central field of vision. You should replace the wipers as soon as possible if you notice more severe streaking in the outer field of vision, if there are a large number of streaks spread over the entire windshield over a short period of time, or if an actual area of water remains on the windshield or rear window.
Extensive fogging, so-called "chatter marks", and/or large amounts of residual water on the windshield are clear indications that the wiper blades need to be changed immediately. You should also change the wiper blades as soon as possible if the rubber wiper blade elements are porous.
Instructions for changing your wipers
Changing a wiper blade element on the windshield or rear window wiper arm is relatively easy
- Before replacing your wipers, first take a look at your car's manual, because the wiper arms cannot easily be folded up in all vehicles. Sometimes the maintenance mode must be activated beforehand.
- To prevent the wiper arms from springing back, we recommend that you only fold them up when changing them and otherwise always return them to their original position. In addition, you should place a towel or blanket on the windshield to prevent possible cracks in the windshield if the wiper arm springs back when you are changing the wiper.
- Once you have found the correct windshield wipers for your car, read the packaging to find out whether they are installed by inserting or clamping them. Then remove the worn blades in the appropriate manner and dispose of the old windshield wipers.
- Then insert or clamp the new blades on the wiper arms until they audibly engage. This is important to prevent the new wiper blades coming loose while driving. As the installation methods of the windshield wipers differ depending on the vehicle make and model, each of our packages comes with the relevant instructions. We also have installation videos for some of our products to help you change your wipers.
Also remember the rear windshield wiper
These instructions are also transferable to the rear wipers. These wiper blades should also work well but are often overlooked when carrying out checks.
Fitting a new wiper motor
If your wipers no longer move at all, run at different speeds or make unusual noises, the wiper motor may have developed a fault. It’s best not to change it yourself, and have a professional workshop do it instead. If not installed properly, the new motor could break down again in the not too distant future. As a rule, wiper motors last a long time.
H4 Heavy Duty Expert: Light for tough jobs
The H4 Heavy Duty Expert bulbs also deliver consistently high light output even when the going gets tough. Their high vibration resistance, long lifetime and many variants makes them ideal for use in commercial vehicles.
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Are you looking for a way to change wiper blades quickly and easily?
HELLA makes it easy: With the right adapter and EASYCHANGE, you can fit new wiper blades in next to no time – you can find all the information and videos here.