It Never Rains in California But You Still Need to Replace Your Wiper Blades!

by Breanne Boyle
It’s time for another Breanne post. No really. Y’all missed me terribly. I get it, now stop sending me eHallmark cards and boxes of chocolates as bribes to write more glorious posts! (Okay, amend that. Chocolates are still very much accepted and needed.)

So I like to chronicle my forays into aftermarket installations on my Acura RSX (that’s a Type S, people), and today is no different. About a week ago or so we had rain in Southern California. I know. Oh. My. Gawd. Rain in SoCal basically means three things:
1)    The local grocery store sells out of umbrellas
2)    People get irritated because they forget that when you wear flip flops when it rains your feet get wet
3)    People forget how to drive

Number three is the most important one here. There is this crazy phenomenon that happens when the raindrop hits the first windshield on the roads… cars STOP having drivers. All of a sudden cars go weird directions or stop altogether because rain, people, can hurt you. I pride myself on being less freakish than other natives when it gets a little wet here. Did I avoid the flips flops… ahem, no. Did I bring the umbrella with me on the way down to San Diego (a 65 mile drive one direction from the OC)? No way Jose! It doesn’t rain in San Diego - everyone knows that!

What did I learn that day? Three things:
1)    Bring your umbrella if it is raining (because it Does rain in San Diego)
2)    Rain doesn’t really ruin clothes… it’s just water
3)    My windshield wipers were in sore need of replacing

So, it was lucky I had snagged myself some RainX wipers recently. Of course, they were in my garage as I drove in a torrential downpour (it was almost like a hurricane. Almost.) and used my three-year-old, stock wipers. Oops. Lesson learned the hard way. When I got back, the first thing I did was, well... play with my dogs, Rigby and Roxy. But the very next thing I did was install new wiper blades. Turns out you don’t need a special tool. You just pop ‘em off and pop ‘em on!

There are a couple different types of arms out there: J-Hook arms (I have these), Pin arms, and Bayonet arms. J-Hook arms are easy because you simply hold down the end of the clasp underneath the blade and slide the blade down toward the car and it becomes unhooked. To clip a new one on, simply slide the new blade along the arm away from the car and you will hear it click in place.

With Pin arms, you will need to replace the pre-installed connector with the connector provided with the new blade by clicking the clip’s smaller arch onto the frame’s center post. Be sure to align the engagement hole that matches the pin’s diameter. For Bayonet arms, replace the pre-installed with new connector provided and slide into place.

The new RainX Latitiude wipers (check out their site because it is super cute!) I got not only look slick but they keep my windshield cleaner and smoother when it rains. It doesn’t leave all the streaks my other ones always did. Also, try using some type of window treatment to help water beading. I tried RainX Weather Beater 2-n-1 Glass Cleaner and Rain Repellent and it worked like a dream. You can find these in your local Pep Boys or AutoZone. Get it. It's amazing. Now I just need it to rain more in SoCal!

What did I learn that day? Three things:
1)    Bring your umbrella if it is raining (because it Does rain in San Diego)
2)    Rain doesn’t really ruin clothes… it’s just water
3)    My windshield wipers were in sore need of replacing

So, it was lucky I had snagged myself some RainX wipers recently. Of course, they were in my garage as I drove in a torrential downpour (it was almost like a hurricane. Almost.) and used my three-year-old, stock wipers. Oops. Lesson learned the hard way. When I got back, the first thing I did was, well... play with my dogs, Rigby and Roxy. But the very next thing I did was install new wiper blades. Turns out you don’t need a special tool. You just pop ‘em off and pop ‘em on!

There are a couple different types of arms out there: J-Hook arms (I have these), Pin arms, and Bayonet arms. J-Hook arms are easy because you simply hold down the end of the clasp underneath the blade and slide the blade down toward the car and it becomes unhooked. To clip a new one on, simply slide the new blade along the arm away from the car and you will hear it click in place.

With Pin arms, you will need to replace the pre-installed connector with the connector provided with the new blade by clicking the clip’s smaller arch onto the frame’s center post. Be sure to align the engagement hole that matches the pin’s diameter. For Bayonet arms, replace the pre-installed with new connector provided and slide into place.

The new RainX Latitiude wipers (check out their site because it is super cute!) I got not only look slick but they keep my windshield cleaner and smoother when it rains. It doesn’t leave all the streaks my other ones always did. Also, try using some type of window treatment to help water beading. I tried RainX Weather Beater 2-n-1 Glass Cleaner and Rain Repellent and it worked like a dream. You can find these in your local Pep Boys or AutoZone. Get it. It's amazing. Now I just need it to rain more in SoCal!