WINDSHIELD WIPERS

Raise the blade end of the arm off of the windshield.
Move the slide latch away from the pivot shaft. The wiper arm can now be removed from the shaft without the use of any tools. While holding the wiper arm off of the windshield, slide the latch out and away from the pivot shaft . . .

. . . then lift it straight up and off of the shaft to remove

To install:
Be sure the wipers are in the parked position, and the blade assembly is in its correct position.
Push the main head over the pivot shaft.
Hold the main arm head onto the pivot shaft while raising the blade end of the wiper arm and push the slide latch into the lock under the pivot shaft head.
Lower the blade to the windshield. If the blade does not lower to the windshield, the slide latch is not completely in place.

Fig. 1: Windshield wiper arm positioning for the Ranger, Explorer and Mountaineer models

To remove the blade and arm, remove cap, unscrew the retaining nut and pry the blade and arm from the pivot shaft. The shaft and arm are serrated to provide for adjustment of the wiper pattern on the glass.
To set the arms back in the proper park position, turn the wiper switch on and allow the motor to cycle three or four times. Then turn off the wiper switch (do not turn off the wiper motor with the ignition key). This will place the wiper shafts in the proper park position.

Fig. 2: Exploded view of the wiper arm and blade assembly

Fig. 3: Proper park positioning for the windshield wiper blades

NOTE: Using a wire brush, clean the wiper arm connector shafts before installing the wiper arms.
Install the blade and arm on the shaft and install the retaining nut. Install the caps. The blades and arms should be positioned according to the illustration.

Fig. 4: Lift up theplastic wiper arm pivot nut cover and carefully remove from the wiper arm

Fig. 5: Using a 10mm box wrench, remove the rear wiper arm pivot nut

Fig. 6: To aid in correct installation of the rear wiper arm, matchmark the wiper arm to the pivot shaft

Fig. 7: If the wiper arm is difficult to remove, use a small puller tool such as the one shown

To remove the blade and arm, unscrew the retaining nut and pry the blade and arm from the pivot shaft. The shaft and arm are serrated to provide for adjustment of the wiper pattern on the glass.
To set the arm back in the proper park position, turn the wiper switch on and allow the motor to cycle three or four times. Then turn off the wiper switch (do not turn off the wiper motor with the ignition key). This will place the wiper shafts in the proper park position.
Install the blade and arm on the shaft and install the retaining nut. The blades and arms should be positioned according to the illustration.

WARNING
Use a towel or similar device to protect the vehicle finish when performing this procedure.

Raise the windshield wiper blade/arm off of the glass and place it into the service position.
Using a small, flat bladed prytool, release the retaining clip at the base of the windshield wiper pivot arm.
Carefully pry the wiper arm from the shaft.
To install:
Ensure that the wiper motor pivot shaft is in the park position.
Position the wiper arm over the shaft and firmly push it on until it stops.
Lower the wiper blade/arm against the glass.
NOTE: The blade is properly positioned when it firmly contacts the windshield wiper arm stop. If it does not, remove the arm again and reposition it so that it does.

Fig. 8: Rear windshield wiper arm positioning for the Navajo models