You probably won’t notice how important your Honda Civic’s windshield wipers are for driving until there’s a problem with them. Worn or damaged wipers not only work less effectively at removing rain and snow from the windshield, they also allow dirt and debris to build up over time. Both of these issues mean reduced visibility and lower safety.
You might not even recognize that visibility is slowly decreasing until It becomes a real danger, so it’s important to keep on top of wiper maintenance.
The official advice from Honda is to check your Honda Civic’s windshield wipers every six months to make sure they’re in good condition. Look for any signs of cracking, splitting, or toughened areas in the blades, or any other visible wear and tear. Even if the blades look okay, if they leave streaks on your windshield then it’s probably time to replace them.
And while replacement wipers might be low-cost parts to buy, paying someone fit them isn’t necessarily so inexpensive. Thankfully, it’s a simple job you can do yourself in minutes. Here’s how to change your Honda Civic windshield wipers in five simple steps.
1) Get the Right Parts
While Honda Civic windshield wiper blades are fairly standard parts, there are slight variations in design over the years. You need to buy the right part for your particular car model, and you can find the part number you need in your Honda owner’s manual. Alternatively, call into our parts department and we’ll be happy to help you identify the wipers you need.
2) Raise the Blades
Raise each wiper blade away from the windshield, starting with the driver’s side first. This will make accessing the removal mechanism easier.
3) Remove the Blades
Around half way along each blade holder there will either be a pinch clip which you press inward from both sides, or a smaller peg clip which you press down into the blade arm. Either way, pressing the clip will loosen the blade, which you can then slide downward out of its holder. The blade can then be removed.
4) Add the New Blade
Position the new blade so that the hooked end is pointing at the wiper attachment, and then slide it upward into the holder until you feel or hear a click as it slots into place. With the pinch clip type of holder you’ll need to apply pressure to open up the holder and make room for the new blade to slide in. Repeat the removal and replacement process for the passenger-side wiper.
5) Test the Blades
Once the new blades are solidly in place, fold the wipers back down onto the windshield as normal. Use the windshield washer to test that the blades are properly fitted and aligned. If they leave streaks of water behind, loosen and re-fix the blades until the problem is fixed.
Changing your Honda Civic’s windshield wipers is quick and easy once you’ve learned these simple steps, but it can make a huge difference to the safety of your vehicle and the ease with which you can drive it.
