2009 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 341

Maintenance and Care Owner Maintenance Wiper Blades CAUTION Ø Hot waxes applied by automatic car washers have been known to affect the wiper's ability to clean windows. Ø To prevent damage to the wiper blades, don't use gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents on or near them. Contamination of either the windshield or the blades with foreign matter can reduce wiper effectiveness. Common sources are insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments used by some commercial car washes. If the blades are not wiping properly, clean the window and blades with a good cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if necessary. 1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the blade assembly to expose the plastic locking clip. Compress the clip and slide the assembly downward; then lift it off the arm. Plastic locking clip CAUTION To prevent damage to the windshield let the wiper arm down easily, don't let it slap down on the windshield. 2. Hold the end of the rubber and pull until the tabs are free of the metal support. qReplacing Windshield Wiper Blades When the wipers no longer clean well, the blades are probably worn or cracked. Replace them. CAUTION To prevent damage to the wiper arms and other components, don't try to sweep the wiper arm by hand. NOTE To prevent damage to the wiper arm blades when raising both the driver and passenger side wiper arms, raise the driver side wiper arm first. Conversely, when setting down the wiper arms, set the passenger side wiper arm down first. Tab Metal support 8-19