After years of use, abuse and exposure to the elements, the wiper arms on your vehicle will begin to lose their tension, which will eventually affect overall wiper performance. Obstructions that prevent smooth operation – such as snow and ice – can make short work of the wiper arms, effectively turning the steel splines of the wiper motor linkage into a drill, damaging the internal splines of the arm's soft aluminum base. Replacing a worn or damaged front or rear wiper arm for your 2001 Ford Windstar is an easy task that only requires simple hand tools.
Lift the nut cover from the base of the wiper arm. If the nut cover needs a little persuasion, use the tip of a flat-head screwdriver to lift the rounded corner from the base. Mark a small line on the windshield to note the position of the wiper, using a crayon, grease pencil, or a piece of masking tape.
Lift the wiper arm to the upright position, rotate the blade to form a “T” with the arm, press in the locking tab for the blade, then pull the blade down off of the hooked end of the wiper arm. After removing the blade, carefully lower the arm down to the windshield.
Remove the nut that secures the base of the arm to the splined shaft, using a socket and ratchet, then lift the arm from the vehicle. Use a small wire brush to remove any debris from in between the splines of the shaft linkage shaft, if needed.
Fit the blade to the replacement wiper arm. Make sure the locking tab is engaged by giving the blade assembly a firm downward tug. Align the wiper and arm assembly to the mark on the windshield, then press the base of the arm onto the splined shaft. For the front wiper arms, tighten the nut to 26 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench. For the rear wiper, tighten the nut to 11 foot-pounds.
