A wiper blade has a wonderfully focused ambition: move water off the glass. When it starts leaving streaks, I begin with cleanliness and the condition of its wiping edge. Sometimes it needs a clean. Sometimes the tiny squeegee has completed its tour of duty.
I clean first, check the edge, and replace a blade that still will not wipe properly.
Before I reach for a tool
I read the whole job first. Then I get the car, the parts and myself ready.
- Park safely and switch the wipers off before handling the arms
- A soft cloth or sponge, water or suitable washer fluid
- Replacement blades matched to the vehicle and attachment
- Keep control of a raised wiper arm so it cannot strike the glass
Match the attachment before releasing it
This procedure describes the paired locking buttons in the supplied publication. If the installed attachment differs, I use its correct instructions instead of forcing the attachment.
Keep the glass protected
I keep a lifted arm under control during the change. I fully defrost the windshield and wet dry glass with the washers before checking wiping performance.
My first check costs a cloth, not a parts order
Feel the wiping edge
I gently run a fingertip along the blade edge, checking for roughness.
Clean the blade
I use water or washer fluid on a soft cloth or sponge to clean the wiping edge. I also clean the windshield so contamination on the glass does not immediately spoil the result.
Decide whether cleaning helped
If streaks or smearing remain after cleaning, I replace the blades. The owner guidance recommends replacement at least annually for best performance; condition may call for attention sooner.
My release, rotate and refit sequence
Release, rotate, reconnect
Release the connector
Press the two locking buttons together while controlling the lifted arm.
Keep hold of the arm
Never let a bare arm spring back against the glass. Check the new blade is secure.
Lift and release
I raise the arm and blade away from the windshield and press the two locking buttons toward one another.
Rotate the old blade free
With the locking mechanism released, I rotate the blade and remove it from the arm. I keep the arm supported while the blade is off.
Attach the replacement
I fit the correct new blade to the arm and engage it until it snaps into place. I check that it is retained, then carefully return the assembly to the glass.
The two sides have different references
These are historical part references, not a promise about current stock or supersessions. I confirm the replacement specified for the actual car and its installed attachment.
| Position | Reference in the 2015 publication |
|---|---|
| Driver side | WW-2201-PF |
| Passenger side | WW-2001-PF |
Cleaning the glass is part of the same story
The owner publication recommends a non-abrasive glass cleaner for routine windshield cleaning. For contamination such as sap, wax, chemicals or bugs, it describes circular cleaning with steel wool no coarser than grade 0000, followed by a water rinse. I first confirm that a specialty treatment or aftermarket coating on the actual glass allows that method.
Its additional blade-cleaning options are isopropyl rubbing alcohol or windshield-washer concentrate. I use a suitable product as directed, rather than treating every household solvent as interchangeable.
The heated rear window has a separate precaution: I do not scrape its inside surface or remove decals with a razor or another sharp object. That can damage the heater grid lines. The supplied publication notes that this damage is not covered by the vehicle warranty.
My visibility upgrade starts with the glamorous world of a clean cloth.
From my Atlas notebook
What I check before wrapping up
- The new blade is securely attached
- Both arms are carefully returned to the glass
- The windshield is wet and defrosted before a functional wipe check
- The wiping result is clear rather than persistently streaked
Sources & editorial notes
Original Atlas writing and independently drawn illustrations, based on the technical facts below. First-person comments express editorial judgment, not a claim of hands-on testing. Applicability follows the cited edition.
- 2015 owner publication: blade inspection, replacement, glass cleaning and side-specific part references2015-Mustang-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US_07_2014.pdfPDF file pages 69, 70, 225, 226, 233, 271 · counted from the first PDF page, which may differ from printed page numbers
This guide covers the topic and vehicle configuration stated above. The source register tracks the developing library; the full four-PDF collection has not yet been re-authored.