The windshield wiper and blade assembly should be inspected periodically for damage, loose components and cracked or worn blade elements. Road film can build up on the wiper blades and affect their efficiency, so they should be washed regularly with a mild detergent solution. The action of the wiping mechanism can loosen bolts, nuts and fasteners, so they should be checked and tightened, as necessary, at the same time the wiper blades are checked. If the wiper blade elements are cracked, worn or warped, or no longer clean adequately, they should be replaced with new ones. For earlier models, lift the arm assembly away from the glass for clearance, lift up on the release lever and detach the blade assembly from the arm. Pry the metal lock on the end of the wiper arm up with a small screwdriver until it clears the metal tab on the end of the insert, then slide the insert away from the lock, out of the arm. Slide the new insert into place until the hole in the end snaps over the tab. On later models, several different versions of wiper arm blades are used and each type is installed in a slightly different manner than the typical earlier unit. Follow the removal and installation instructions included with the new wiper blades.