I've just been checking round my wipers in advance of an MOT and can't find out how to remove the rear wiper blade. Both Haynes and the owner's manual say turn it 90 degrees to the arm. I don't know if that works on the hatch but it certainly doesn't on the estate. The arm won't lift enough to turn the blade that far. I've taken off the cap over the arm retaining nut and that revealed there is a mechanical stop that limits how far the arm can be raised.

As far as I can see it looks as though the only way to do it is to remove the arm from the spindle unless any of you gurus know different.

Anyone??

Hi Mike could you post a couple of photos of the point at which the blade and arm connect. It should not need the arm to be removed just to change the blade

Need to use a bit of force for it to pop off the wiper arm. Just pull the blade towards the screen.

Just guessing, is there some sort of mechanism like a hinged housing that needs to be lifted to free the arm so the wiper blade can be rotated.Only saying this because I replaced a rear wiper blade on my mates Abarth 500 this way.Your probably wasting your time reading this though😀

It does just get forced towards the glass, but honestly don't try it unless it's totally knackered.  The plastic will just snap and you'll need a whole new arm as well...

 

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

It does just get forced towards the glass, but honestly don't try it unless it's totally knackered.  The plastic will just snap and you'll need a whole new arm as well...

 

Indeed, this is what happened to my hatchback Focus. A mixture of a plastic arm, and a metal blade, not a happy combination. Luckily a replacement arm/blade was quite cheap!

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll get some photos of it tomorrow.

Ok, here are some images. I think they show the problem quite clearly. The first one shows the maximum distance the arm can be raised and you can see there's no way the blade can be rotated 90 degrees to it :-

 

1 hour ago, mjt said:

Ok, here are some images. I think they show the problem quite clearly. The first one shows the maximum distance the arm can be raised and you can see there's no way the blade can be rotated 90 degrees to it :-

 

The wiper arm definitely does not need to be removed. The wiper blade will be latched on to the arm where circled. If you can get your head in behind to have a look, you'll see which way it is attached. It will just be a 'push' fit, and is awkward to pull off! Go carefully as it looks like a plastic fitting, so won't have much strength in it.

Thanks Stephen. If you look back I've added a photo of the hinge between the arm and blade as requested by Unofix. It does look as though it should just pull out towards the glass but I'm a bit nervous about trying.

This may help to see the arm end and blade fitting, it is just a 'push' fit, BUT, I broke mine initially, so just go gently LOL

That's a useful pic. As yours is a Mk2 and mine's a Mk3 there might be detail differences but it does look as though mine is similar to that.

Anyway, the only reason I wanted to take it off was to give it a good clean up because the car's spent so much time standing during the various lockdowns that the wipers have all become very grubby with a mixture of gritty dust and green slime. I've managed to clean it fairly well in situ so I think I'll leave well alone for now. The rubber on all three wipers is in remarkably good condition, still flexible and with no evidence of separation at the ends so should get through the MOT no problem.

7 minutes ago, mjt said:

Anyway, the only reason I wanted to take it off was to give it a good clean up...

Every time I put screen wash in, I dampen a clean cloth with some neat fluid, and rub the blades thoroughly, does keep them clean and supple, good luck with the MOT (my 'old' baby passed last week, no issues!)

1 minute 44 sec onwards:

https://www.ford.co.uk/owner/resources-and-support/how-to-videos/vehicle-maintenance/change-wiper-blades

 

 

3 minutes ago, YOG said:

 

1 minute 44 sec onwards:

 

It's a 32 second video LOL But very useful!

13 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

It's a 32 second video LOL But very useful!

I believe the 1 minute 44 referred to the Ford.co.uk video link, not the youtube embedded one 🙂

Thanks,

Slick2097.

Thanks Yog, they certainly clear up the question. Interesting that the Ford one shows the arm lifting plenty high enough to rotate the blade through 90 degrees. The arm on our Mk2.5 does lift this high.

So, both Haynes and the genuine owners manual for our Mk3 have it completely wrong.

Edit: I've just successfully popped the blade off and refitted without breaking anything so case closed

On 7/8/2021 at 2:19 PM, mjt said:

Thanks Yog, they certainly clear up the question. Interesting that the Ford one shows the arm lifting plenty high enough to rotate the blade through 90 degrees. The arm on our Mk2.5 does lift this high.

So, both Haynes and the genuine owners manual for our Mk3 have it completely wrong.

Edit: I've just successfully popped the blade off and refitted without breaking anything so case closed

Maybe you have the wrong arm fitted to your car?