CT5 - Front Wiper Blade Replacement 🚗

Nice and simple job for a first DIY. I’ll walk you through changing the front wiper blades on your CT5-V.

What You’ll Need 🧰

• ✅ New front wiper blades (driver & passenger, sized for CT5-V; usually sold as a pair)
• ✅ Clean rag or paper towel
• ✅ Glass cleaner (optional, to clean the windshield while you’re there)

Tip: Use premium beam-style blades; they last longer and wipe better at speed.

Put Wipers in Service Position ⚙️

Your CT5 parks the wipers low under the hood, so you want them up where you can reach them.

• 🔧 Step 1: Sit in the car and press the Start/Stop button once without pressing the brake (ignition on, engine off).
• 🔧 Step 2: Turn the wipers on with the stalk, then turn them off when they are vertical (straight up).
  • If they park too low, repeat until they stop in the middle of the windshield.
• 🔧 Step 3: Turn ignition off and step out of the car.

If your wipers won’t stop mid-sweep, let me know and I’ll give you an alternate method.

Lift the Wiper Arms 🖐️

• 🧼 Step 4: Gently lift the driver’s side wiper arm away from the glass until it holds itself up.
• 🧼 Step 5: Place a folded rag on the windshield under the arm.
  • This protects the glass if the arm snaps back down.

Remove the Old Blade 🔄

Your CT5 uses a modern hook-style or side-lock style connector (GM uses both on similar arms). The process is similar for both.

• 🛠️ Step 6: Look at where the blade connects to the metal arm. You’ll see a small plastic tab or button.
• 🛠️ Step 7: With one hand holding the arm, use your other thumb to press the tab and slide the blade:
  • If it’s a hook type: slide the blade down toward the windshield to unhook it, then rotate and pull it off the arm.
  • If it’s a side-lock type: press the button and slide the blade straight toward the arm until it releases.
• 🛠️ Step 8: Carefully lower the bare arm onto the rag, or keep holding it.
  • Never let the bare metal arm snap onto the glass; it can crack the windshield.

Install the New Blade ✅

• 🔩 Step 9: Match the new blade to the old one:
  • Check length: they should be the same.
  • Check connector: use the adapter that matches your old blade’s connection.
• 🔩 Step 10: Line up the new blade with the arm:
  • Hook type: slide the arm’s hook through the opening in the blade, then pull the blade up until it clicks into the hook.
  • Side-lock type: slide the blade onto the arm until the button/tab clicks into place.
• 🔩 Step 11: Gently tug the blade to confirm it’s locked in. It should not slide off.
• 🔩 Step 12: Lower the arm and new blade back onto the glass.

Repeat Steps 4–12 for the passenger side blade.

Test the Wipers 🧪

• 🚿 Step 13: Remove any rags from the windshield.
• 🚿 Step 14: Turn ignition on, spray washer fluid, and run the wipers:
  • Check for smooth, quiet wiping.
  • Make sure the blades don’t hit the A-pillars or cowl (plastic at base of windshield).

Extra Tips 💡

• 🧽 Clean the glass and the rubber edge of the new blades with glass cleaner for best performance.
• 🌡️ In winter, free the blades from ice before turning wipers on to avoid motor strain.
• 📅 Plan to replace blades about once a year, or sooner if they streak or chatter.

If you’d like, tell me the brand/model of blades you bought and I can confirm the exact connector style and walk you through that specific clip with photos in mind.

HowToo makes it easy: below this answer you’ll see wiper blades and any tools you might want. You can add them to your cart right from the parts section, with fast shipping.