Getting wipers out of parked position for cleaning

[HeyBales]

This sentence makes me wonder the intention. "
Do not force them while the car is off/in accessory mode to avoid stripping the motor." Does it mean car IS actually turned OFF and IN ACCESSORY mode (Key turned to accessory and dash panel lit up? ) I could see if power is being supplied to the wiper motor, perhaps the motor could be stripped. If car is 100% OFF, key out of ignition, I don't see a problem. Not just me, but many others move the blades by hand and I can not recall a single person stripping a motor.

Probably legal reasons - Hybrid someone forgot to look at dash and see blue READY - just thought it was off.
And forced it.
And broke it.
And claimed warranty.

Ya, because truly off, and perhaps it needs to be some minutes - that electric motor isn't getting any power and therefore no resistance.

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[ZABSMAV]

This sentence makes me wonder the intention. "
Do not force them while the car is off/in accessory mode to avoid stripping the motor." Does it mean car IS actually turned OFF and IN ACCESSORY mode (Key turned to accessory and dash panel lit up? ) I could see if power is being supplied to the wiper motor, perhaps the motor could be stripped. If car is 100% OFF, key out of ignition, I don't see a problem. Not just me, but many others move the blades by hand and I can not recall a single person stripping a motor.

Just going by the manual. However, I failed to mention that it was written by the same people that say to stop deep sleep "just take a longer drive", so take it for what is worth.

 

[First Sergeant]

Just going by the manual. However, I failed to mention that it was written by the same people that say to stop deep sleep "just take a longer drive", so take it for what is worth.

That is funny! "I do remember the take it for a longer drive" thing. I drove about 175 miles once, got out visited for about an hour. Car was in the sleep save mode! You are correct about the folks that design, build and write the manuals. I wish they were model specific, XL this manual, XLT this one, Lariat this is the one. Cheap bastards combine it and we spend extra hours making sure "our" model" has the paragraph we are trying to find! That hapens all the time.

 

[Gaidheal]

That is funny! "I do remember the take it for a longer drive" thing. I drove about 175 miles once, got out visited for about an hour. Car was in the sleep save mode! You are correct about the folks that design, build and write the manuals. I wish they were model specific, XL this manual, XLT this one, Lariat this is the one. Cheap bastards combine it and we spend extra hours making sure "our" model" has the paragraph we are trying to find! That hapens all the time.

If they can keep track of which options are in any particular truck, they should be able to keep track of which manual goes with it.

Stupid in this age to have the manuals a collection of everything possible and expect the owners to sort it out.

 

[First Sergeant]

If they can keep track of which options are in any particular truck, they should be able to keep track of which manual goes with it.

Stupid in this age to have the manuals a collection of everything possible and expect the owners to sort it out.

You are correct. Can't wait until they combine MODEL YEARS also. Hahaha. A manual 6 inches thick that includes 22-26 years. Oh boy, hope Ford doesn't read this. I may have started a nightmare! But just think of they money they could save! $.03 on EACH truck! Give that CFO a raise and more stock options!

 

[ZABSMAV]

You are correct. Can't wait until they combine MODEL YEARS also. Hahaha. A manual 6 inches thick that includes 22-26 years. Oh boy, hope Ford doesn't read this. I may have started a nightmare! But just think of they money they could save! $.03 on EACH truck! Give that CFO a raise and more stock options!

3 cents is a drop in the bucket to the likely thousands of dollars it's going to cost them when they are finally forced to fix the deep sleep problem.

 

[HeyBales]

You are correct. Can't wait until they combine MODEL YEARS also. Hahaha. A manual 6 inches thick that includes 22-26 years. Oh boy, hope Ford doesn't read this. I may have started a nightmare! But just think of they money they could save! $.03 on EACH truck! Give that CFO a raise and more stock options!

Always liked the Haynes DIY manuals, Chiltons not as much, always wanted to get it for a new to me vehicle.
But had to get those pretty quick - or they started getting silly with as many years/trims as they would attempt to combine together, even after a year of major changes.
If a used car forced getting one that was more than 5 years past a start date series - I'd have to go thru highlighting the sections/spec's in green that applied to my year/trim.
And accuracy even then suspect.

Rav4 dealing with O2 Sensor - Haynes said 2 banks on 2005, as reported by the OBD data also. 2006 went to 1 bank. Dug all over looking for 2nd up/down stream sensors. Looked at the 2006 pics better - that's the exhaust system I actually had. The one case it was useful having the next major upgrade included. Other than that, just prone to error.

At least they seemed to be organized better than the Ford manual.

 

[Sig-vicious]

I bump the wiper control down and turn off the key as the wipers swing up, then pull them off the windshield by hand.

Thankfully, the wipers won't run when you remote start the vehicle. But as soon as you turn the key on in the ignition, they'll come crashing down and remove a couple of good chunks of paint from your hood.

It was dark that morning and I didn't see the wipers up and forgot about them. Since then, I have a neon pink reminder card I stick in my dash so it doesn't happen again.

 

[Cherokee]

I am amazed there was this much discussion over cleaning that area.

 

[MavStangVa]

This sentence makes me wonder the intention. "
Do not force them while the car is off/in accessory mode to avoid stripping the motor." Does it mean car IS actually turned OFF and IN ACCESSORY mode (Key turned to accessory and dash panel lit up? ) I could see if power is being supplied to the wiper motor, perhaps the motor could be stripped. If car is 100% OFF, key out of ignition, I don't see a problem. Not just me, but many others move the blades by hand and I can not recall a single person stripping a motor.

No where in my manual does it contain the statement "to avoid stripping the motor." If you or @ZABSMAV can site the page I would appreciate it. Not doubting you I just can locate it, thanks. I verified just now my printed manual and the latest up to date online manual BOTH say this.

REPLACING THE FRONT WIPER BLADES

Note: For vehicles with a service position, make sure the windshield wipers are in this position before proceeding.
Note: You can use the service position to provide easier access to the wiper blades for freeing them from snow and ice.
Note: Switch the windshield wipers off before switching the ignition off.
Make sure your vehicle is off before beginning this procedure.

1. Move the wiper blades to the service position.

Note: To place the wiper arms in a service position, switch your vehicle on in accessory mode, switch on the wipers and switch your vehicle off when the wipers are at their highest position. (mine DID NOT cycle in accessory mode only with truck ON)
Note: Do not manually move the wiper arms to the service position unless the wiper path is obstructed by snow or ice.

Note that part I put in bold type. I tested starting the truck with the app and the fob. Both cases the wipers stay in the service position. I parked mine in the service position before this storm with them pulled away from the windshield. To test the remote start I had to completely clean the windshield including the cowl area of ICE since the arms were encased in it. Had they tried to return to the parked position with all of the ice in the cowl it most certainly would have damaged them. To clean that area well required opening the hood also. Based on this first major snow storm if I were not retired the Maverick would be traded off by weeks end. Worse design for wipers and cowl I have ever owned since the 70 Torino which had hide away wipers.

 

[ZABSMAV]

No where in my manual does it contain the statement "to avoid stripping the motor." If you or @ZABSMAV can site the page I would appreciate it. Not doubting you I just can locate it, thanks. I verified just now my printed manual and the latest up to date online manual BOTH say this.

REPLACING THE FRONT WIPER BLADES

Note: For vehicles with a service position, make sure the windshield wipers are in this position before proceeding.
Note: You can use the service position to provide easier access to the wiper blades for freeing them from snow and ice.
Note: Switch the windshield wipers off before switching the ignition off.
Make sure your vehicle is off before beginning this procedure.

1. Move the wiper blades to the service position.

Note: To place the wiper arms in a service position, switch your vehicle on in accessory mode, switch on the wipers and switch your vehicle off when the wipers are at their highest position. (mine DID NOT cycle in accessory mode only with truck ON)
Note: Do not manually move the wiper arms to the service position unless the wiper path is obstructed by snow or ice.

Note that part I put in bold type. I tested starting the truck with the app and the fob. Both cases the wipers stay in the service position. I parked mine in the service position before this storm with them pulled away from the windshield. To test the remote start I had to completely clean the windshield including the cowl area of ICE since the arms were encased in it. Had they tried to return to the parked position with all of the ice in the cowl it most certainly would have damaged them. To clean that area well required opening the hood also. Based on this first major snow storm if I were not retired the Maverick would be traded off by weeks end. Worse design for wipers and cowl I have ever owned since the 70 Torino which had hide away wipers.

Just going by what Ford says NOT to do. Same info on our 2023 Lariat with Lux package and Heated Wiper Park on the SoundScreen windshield.

 

[MavStangVa]

Just going by what Ford says NOT to do. Same info on our 2023 Lariat with Lux package and Heated Wiper Park on the SoundScreen windshield.

Thanks. I didn't look at the 2025 manual only the online 2024 manual.

 

[ZABSMAV]

Thanks. I didn't look at the 2025 manual only the online 2024 manual.

People were damaging their 22 23 and 24 models by manually moving the wiper blades and Ford was having to warranty replace those. They changed it in 2025 going forward so it's on the person if they screw them up.

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