ZestBlog

Introduction

I started working on cars long before I was allowed to drive them legally, and later managed an auto parts store. Now I fix and maintain my own cars, and I'm pretty picky. Every time my windshield wipers start streaking or missing a spot, it's right in my line of sight, and sometimes a new set of wiper blades doesn't fix the problem.

Based on my experience, this means the windshield wiper arm itself isn't functioning properly. That's usually caused by corrosion on the hinge near the base of the wiper arm.

You might get by with a little oil on the hinge. But if there's significant rust or corrosion, you'll need to replace the wiper arm entirely. This is easy to do and makes your vehicle safer to drive!

What does the windshield wiper arm do?

It carries the wiper blade over the surface of the windshield. Connected on one end to a spline and stepper motor, it must move freely to properly sweep rain or snow off your windshield.

Does your windshield wiper arm need to be replaced?

If there's severe rust or corrosion, yes, because it can cause a windshield wiper arm to fail. Inspect the hinge joints for deterioration. If they're rusty or broken, it's time to replace.

Are windshield wiper arms universal?

No. Your car's make and model requires a specific part. Someone at an auto parts store can guide you to the correct one.

What are the different types of windshield wiper arms?

For some reason, there are dozens of types of windshield wiper arms that all connect to the wiper blade differently. The good news is, unless you drive an exclusive vehicle, adapters are always included with new wiper blades that make them work on most makes and models. To keep things simple, replace your wiper arms with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products.

What kind of windshield wiper arm does your car need?

If you don't have an auto parts store close to you, call a dealership or look up your part online. Most major auto part retailers have a good search function on their site that allows you to enter all the details of your vehicle and search for specific parts.

How do you measure a wiper arm?

To make sure you are getting the correct replacement part, measure the straight line distance from the center of the pivot shaft to the center of the wiper blade connection point.

When should I call a pro?

If your wiper arm seems to be skipping a gear, doesn't want to engage or randomly gets stuck all the way up, this may be an indication the stepper motor or the gears in the actuator are about to fail.

Replacing the windshield wiper actuator is a much bigger job than replacing the windshield wiper arm. You should probably leave this fix to your trusted mechanic.

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