I bought new blades but could not remove the existing blades. The manual states to squeeze the black plastic cover then pull it off. I squeeze and pull and it does not budge on either blade. I only used my fingers. Should I use pliers? I was afraid I'd break the plastic covers. Any advice?

 

at the end of the blade is a plastic cover. take it off by squeezing it. just use some elbow grease itll come off.

 

You must use only HONDA inserts. What a pain. I could find no aftermarket blades that worked.

The owner’s manual says to squeeze the black plastic cap. I tried that, but it would not come off. I took a small screwdriver and used it to separate the black cap from the wiper assembly body. I used a second screwdriver and placed it in the top slot between the cap and the body and pried the cap off. It flew off with no damage.

Next, follow the owner’s manual and depress the small tab between the wiper blade body and the permanent metal wiper arm. Pull the blade assembly down toward the car window. It will separate with a little effort.

Next get a pair of plyers. Follow the owner’s manual by locating the end of the blade insert that has the word LOCK on it. This is the end that is removed first. Using your finger (hopefully it is small) pull the flexible rubber end of the blade assembly away from the blade so the body of the blade is entirely exposed. Pull the LOCK end of the blade insert out from the assembly, using the plyers to pull the insert out by grabbing the wiper blade. With a little effort it will come out.

You will need to re-use the metal supporting strips from the old blade. Remove these side metal strips from the old blade insert and put them in the new blade insert. There are small channels on both sides for them to fit. Be careful to keep them in place when you insert the blade into the blade assembly, inserting the opposite end of the LOCK side first. Insert the blade by pulling the rubber end down and then push the blade in place. It will get stuck half-way, so you need to straighten the blade assembly. Push all the way in and ensure the rubber end cap covers it.

Next, reattach the blade insert into the permanent blade arm by a reverse of the removal. You won't need to depress the tab.

Next slide the black cap back into place until it clicks.

Good luck.

 

Wow....I can't really even understand all of that, but just for the sheer size of it, you did WAY too much.

On the outside end of each wiper, there is a clip/cap that holds the blade insert in place. You will notice a little portion on the top of it with grips for your fingers to squeeze it together. Squeeze this area and pull up. It should not take any excessive amount of force. When the little clip unhinges, pull that clip/cap off the blade assembly. This will allow you to remove the blade insert. Remove it and replace with a fresh one. Replace the cap to where it belongs and clip it back into place. That's it.

This should take a total of +/- 2 minutes and if you are using pliers and/or screwdrivers you ARE doing it wrong!!!! I just did this yesterday, during a commercial for a tv show I was watching, and didn't miss any of the show.

 

i remember seeing a DIY thread wit pics on here awhile back..might wanna try searchin for it

 

Fresh Honda inserts are better than any aftermarket wiper I've ever used, and cheaper than any complete wiper I've used as well. They're also readily available at a set price.

 

Thanks Jay - Your suggestion to use a screwdriver to remove the black cover was perfect. Squeezing the tabs and prying the cover forward with the screwdriver and it came off with ease. The rest - just follow the manual.

I coulda used elbow grease til the cows came home, but the black cover wasn't coming off until I read this forum.

 

What about the Rain-X Latitude wipers? Will they work?
I tried the small screwdriver and it worked fine but the wiper arm is the standard U shaped design. Wouldn't something like the Rain-X work?

I don't get why Honda couldn't make the design simple and add all this crap on there. Oh well.

 

Rain X Spray > Wiper Blades.

Don't even need to turn them on most of the time.

 

kildonan - Thanks. For some, following the manual will get the black cap off, but not for me. If anyone is in the same situation, use the small screwdriver.

 

michellin makes a replacement...just cant use cap with em.

 

Thanks to both of you Jaywalker, Fijibluesi.
Once I got the first one off the second wiper was easy... well, once I got the cap off anyway.
Think that now they have been removed once, they will be much easier to do in the future.
Dave

 

the rain-x latitude version 2 says that they only work on coupes i haven't had any customers with the sedan to try and see if they will work or not


i test fitted them on my coupe they do work but look odd compared the oem blades

 

As stated, Oem blades/Inserts > any other blades. Ive witnessed this first hand.

Oem inserts last any where from 4months+ depending on your climate, Cheap walmart 7.99 blades typically last only 2 months before streaking.

 

I agree, but yet I have the rainex something....34.99 for just one!!!

 

Honda replacements are great but if you dont wanna mess with them get the bosch icons basically the same blade and design..

 

I don't understand why people have so much trouble with the wipers on the 8th gen civic. I replaced mine the other day by following the instructions in the manual and had no problems whatsoever. It was my first time replacing the inserts and it took me all of 2 minutes to complete both.


X2!! I have had to use my wipers so little with rain-x spray, that I JUST replaced the wiper inserts for the first time since I bought my 2007 Si in October of 2006! Rain-X FTW!!

 

For those who are frustrated trying to figure out how to change these blades ...
we just bought an 07 Civic LX, and one of the first things I did was try to switch the blade inserts, which was not happening. After an hour of research I finally found some weird official instructions with diagrams of how to do it, that, honestly, were so ridiculously confusing.

So I was at the original dealer because they made us another master key for free as a part of our purchase, and I mentioned blade inserts. They were $14 and the guy said that they would install them for free for me. So I go out with my blades, and a Honda Tech tries to install them .... after 5 minutes of not being able to get the cap off, another guy comes over, who has to use a screwdriver to get the blade off. Then, once the blades are off, it took both of them another 2-3 minutes just to figure out how to get the blade inserts out. Getting them back in was another 2-3 minutes cause the little metal strips have to be lined up just so precisely so that they fit back in right. They finally got the inserts in but it took them another 5 minutes to get the caps back on right.

Anyone who tries to demean or insult average Honda drivers because they can't figure out the blade system needs to shut up. I saw two Honda Techs fumble for 15 minutes trying to get my blades installed, one of them said he had done it before a few times, but was still struggling to deal with all of the steps. Now they are either dimwitted techs (quite possible) or the system itself is extremely complicated and designed around stubborn little plastic parts and clips.

Someone said that the wiper system was designed by Bosch. If thats the case it makes perfect sense ... having just owned a 2001 VW Passat you would not believe the degree of complicated engineering that fails on so many levels in those cars.

I would hope that Honda stays as far away from anything Bosch or VW as possible in the future.....

 

Amen to the last post - these things are ridiculous. Down right ticked me off enough almost to swear off hondas. What IDIOT designed these? It normally takes no more than 2 minutes to change blades on a car - what the heck were they trying to achieve by making it a 6 step + process?? Several steps need do be 'please refrain from snapping the stupid thing in half, while I am sure you are frustrated'. I went to the store bough the blades and of course they didn't even fit since these are completely diff. I could keep going...

 

I live in a colder/wet climate, and I've had mine for over a year no problem.

They're not perfect anymore, but they do the job well enough. However, there is an unusual spot across the middle of the drivers side, where the blade seems to be pressing too hard in one direction, and not at all in the other direction.

 

geez reading this makes me not want to even try to change my blades when the time comes. so many different ways of doing this it just seems misconstrued

 

i replaced mines with rain-x Beam latitude blades x22 or was it 24 i forgot and i had them on since feb went through car wash

 

the cap on mine wouldn't budge, and I squeezed and pushed so hard that my fingers were still sore the next day. A flat head screwdriver inserted into the gap on top will pop the cap off with a twisting motion(not prying). I looked at the wipers on an 07 CRV and they are normal wipers. Why didn't they use that design on the Civic? The CRV sun visors are also better than the Civic. Honda needs some new designers.

 

Great tip!
Was at my wits end on how to pull off the caps. Just adding to clarify my procedure:
Just insert the screwdriver between the cap and the wiper assembly on the side away from the windshield. Insert the scredriver, such that the length of the tip of the screwdriver is parallel to the wiper plade ( ------|-------, where | is the screwdriver)
Squeeze the sides like the manual says, and slowly twist the screwdriver.
Cap should pop off, if not, squeeze the sides more or use a little larger screwdriver.
Follow the rest of the manual.

I used Michelin replacements from Walmart *around $12*. They work good. However, you cannot use the cap. So just save the cap and old wipers. Maybe set those up for spring/summer/fall and just install winter wipers as a second usage.

 

FYI, i guess no one searched. replying with this for posterity.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...ighlight=wiper