stupid question - changing wiper blades on a 2001

[thefatkid13]

i know this is ridiculous.

up until now i've never had problems changing wipers on ANY car i've owned. this 2001 Impala has me buffaloed however.

durn things are more or less useless right now. gotta get em swapped out. help!

[Pat_OD]

ummm i never had a problem.....why cant u remove em, they stuck or something?

['97ventureowner]

Some auto parts stores will replace them for you for free if you purchase the wiper blades from them. If you go this route just watch how they do it and you'll know the next time you have to do it.

[ogre73]

Suggestion: Put the ignition in ON and turn the wipers on. When they are half way through the cycle (Up) turn the ignition OFF. This will keep them up. If you don't do this, then when you pick up the arm, it may scratch the paint on the rear of the hood.

Then when changing the blades, there is a tab on the underside (windshield side) of the arm that needs to be pressed. Once that is pressed, it will allow you to slide the wiper off the arm. Sliding the new ones on is much easier, but make sure you slide them until they "click".

[thefatkid13]

thanks ogre. now that it's not 10 degrees outside i'm going to give it a shot again.

dunno what's wrong with these wipers. it's almost like they're cemented on or something. i had my unusually handy gf try (she can touch her finger to a MasterLock and have it fall open.....) and she can't get 'em off either.

:angrysmiley:

[ogre73]

It's tough, especially if you live in an area like I do where there is lots of salt and sand through the cold winter, it sort of seals them on.

Just look at the arm and figure out which way they go to release and *with the tab pressed* give a tap with something on the end of the blade. It will go, as long as the tab is pressed. It just takes some effort. I'm 6'3", 290 and I gave a grunt trying to get mine off.

[thefatkid13]

cool. thanks.

we have the salt and cold too.. thankfully it's supposed to be 62 today. i'm going to attempt to pry them off tonite.

if they don't come off i'm just going to set the car on fire.

[MCO_Death]

Might be a stupid comment, but don't forget theres a tiny clip to push in to pull them off if I remember correct, I hate changing those wipers... always seem to fail when its dead winter and you can't feel your hands

[Pat_OD]

put some WD-40 on it

[Pat_OD]

http://www.impalahq.com/HowTo/Wiper.html try that link if u cant get it off after that i feel for you

[thefatkid13]

finally got around to taking them off last week.

stupid things were a bear to get off. almost like they were bent or something cause i really had to wrench on those suckers to get them off.

replacements slid on w/ no problems.