How to Lift Up Car Wipers?
4 Answers
To lift up car wipers, after turning off the engine or power, pull the wiper switch toward the steering wheel. The wiper blades will automatically move to the middle of the windshield, allowing you to manually lift them up. When putting them back, gently return the wiper blades by holding their spine, avoiding snapping them back abruptly. Wipers are tools installed on the front windshield of motor vehicles to simply clear rainwater and other debris that may obstruct vision. If there are stubborn or hard contaminants on the glass, they should be removed manually, as these can easily damage the wiper blades, leading to ineffective cleaning. In severe cases, the wiper motor may also be affected.
Last time I went for maintenance, the mechanic taught me a trick: first turn off the engine and cut the power to avoid the wiper arm snapping back and breaking the glass! Then immediately press the wiper switch downward for three seconds, and you'll hear a click as it stands up and enters maintenance mode. My Volkswagen requires this operation, but other cars may have a wiper service mode in the infotainment system. Did you see the small square button at the joint when you lifted it? Press it to remove the entire rubber blade. By the way, don’t forget to clean the tree sap from the wiper arm slot—it seriously affects adhesion. The repair shop owner said 80% of the weird noises come from that.
Just helped my elderly neighbor with this last week—she was worried about snow damaging her wipers. Different cars require different methods: with Japanese cars, push the wiper lever within 20 seconds after turning off the engine to set them upright, while most American cars need you to pop the hood and manually adjust them. The key is to locate the connection point between the wiper arm and the glass, find the plastic clip, and then lift. My old Toyota requires pressing a silver button with my thumb. When replacing the rubber blades, remember to take photos of their original orientation—a friend of mine installed them backward once, leaving rainbow streaks everywhere. And don’t forget to wear gloves! The wiper arm springs can easily pinch your fingers.
Yesterday at the car wash, the attendant demonstrated: First power on without starting the engine, then immediately turn off the power and pull the wiper stalk. When the motor sound stops, it means it's in the maintenance position. For BMWs and other cars with rain-sensing wipers, you need to find the 'Wiper Service Position' in the central control screen. When lifting, don't grab the rubber blade! Hold the base of the metal arm. My Mercedes even has a soft pad under the wiper arm specifically to prevent scratching the hood paint. By the way, check for cracks in the rubber blade – if it's not cleaning well during rainy seasons, it's probably time for a replacement.
