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Why are my windshield wipers slamming?

I sometimes borrow my dad’s Honda Accord to run errands and have found the windshield wipers slam down really loudly, splashing water everywhere. He says this doesn’t bother him, but surely this can’t be good for the car. Can I easily fix this?

avatar
Laura Salvas · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sounds like your dad can tolerate a lot! Slamming wipers aren’t just headache-inducing, they can cause undue wear and tear on the wipers. If you find your windshield wipers slamming, it’s likely a bushing at the end of the wiper linkage rod needs to be replaced.
You can attempt this repair yourself or
take the car to a mechanic
for around $300.
If you want to replace the bushings yourself, follow these steps:
  • Pop the hood
    and use a wrench to remove the nuts at the bottom of the wipers.
  • Remove the wipers, remembering what position they were in.
  • Remove the plastic fasteners and rubber strip from the cowl grille (the plastic cover below the windshield that protects the wipers).
  • Pry off the cowl grille and remove it. This will expose the wiper linkage.
  • Remove the wiper linkage rod. You may need to pry off the plastic bushings.
  • Ensure the pins are clean and install the new linkage rod, popping the bushings onto the pins.
  • Reinstall everything and test the wipers.
  • If the wipers are no longer centered, remove the wiper nuts again and readjust them as needed.
You should be able to buy a pack of bushings for about $10, though you may have to a new rod to get the right bushings, which will cost closer to $30.
If your dad’s driving an older model, he should know it’s never too late to find cheaper car insurance.
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Hope you’re able to get this fixed - your dad is sure to appreciate it!
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