Original equipment (OE) wiper blade manufacturer, TRICO, presents the different methods you should use to remove and install wiper blades with pinch tab wiper arm and Mercedes slide button connections.
While wiper blades are seen as a relatively easy product to fit, many drivers still struggle, which creates an obvious revenue stream for workshops.
Depending on the connection, different removal and installation techniques should be used. As a general rule, technicians should lift the wiper arm off the windscreen as far up as it will go for better accessibility. This is usually to a 90° angle, where it will stay until it is returned to its normal position. It is a good idea to place something soft – like a sponge or thick cloth – on the windscreen to protect it in case the wiper arm drops back down.
Pinch tab wiper arm
The pinch tab wiper arm is extremely popular and fits several vehicles such as the Vauxhall Corsa and Meriva, Fiat Punto, Nissan Qashqai, and Ford Mondeo. There is a patent on the OE method of installation and so to comply with all international patent regulations, TRICO wipers install with a reverse method:
- The wiper arm itself has a small nub on the very end of the wiper, with two metal downward wings approximately 75mm down the wiper arm
- On the OE design, the small nub fits into a hole on the end of the wiper blade adaptor, with the blade and arm at a 45° angle to each other
- The wiper blade then rotates around towards the wiper arm, and two plastic sprung clips on the wiper adaptor lock into the metal wings of the wiper arm
- With the TRICO design, the metal wings must be placed into the plastic sprung clips on the adaptor first
- Then, rotate the wiper blade around towards the arm, and the end of the wiper adaptor will snap into place over the metal nub of the wiper arm.
Mercedes slide button connection
This slide button connection is a new wiper arm design introduced for recent Mercedes models, including A Class, B Class and C Class, which TRICO has recently brought into its FLEX wiper blade range. Removal of the original wiper is a common issue, which can be rectified using this procedure:
- The wiper arm itself has a small plastic cap on its end. This cap slides forward, which releases the wiper blade from the arm. This cap will not slide forward while the arm is in the park position on the windscreen. Do not force this cap forward when in this position, as there is potential to completely break it, requiring a main dealer replacement
- The wiper arm needs to be lifted slightly from the windscreen – this is much easier if the wiper blades are placed into the service position first. To do this, turn the engine on then off again, and then press down on the wiper stalk once
- After the arm is lifted from the windscreen, gently rotate the wiper blade away from the wiper arm as far as it will go
- Once the wiper has been rotated away from the arm, the sliding cap will be released and can be pushed forward
- Once this is done, the wiper will simply fall away from the wiper arm. The new blade can be installed in the reverse order
