Getting wipers out of parked position for cleaning

[JohnKtwin]

I saw a post about how to get the wipers out of the way cleaning the windshield, I find the simplest way is to have the car on, set wipers to intermittent mode, this moves them up from the parked position, then turn off the vehicle. All set for cleaning and after you turn the car off take wipers out of intermittent mode so they don’t swee on start up.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

Disclaimer:
The procedure in the video is not recommended in the owner's manual.
Just my personal experience.
If the key isn't handy. I've had good success manually and GENTLY lifting my wipers and putting them back without power, as shown in my 12 sec. video.
No force or manhandling has ever been needed.

 

[Gaidheal]

if you move the wipers up and pull them away from the windshield and leave them (IE: if it is going to snow, freezing rain, etc) do NOT start the truck.

They will smash the hood and chip the paint.

There are some incredibly stupid design issues with these trucks...

 

[Carlitos_92]

I saw a post about how to get the wipers out of the way cleaning the windshield, I find the simplest way is to have the car on, set wipers to intermittent mode, this moves them up from the parked position, then turn off the vehicle. All set for cleaning and after you turn the car off take wipers out of intermittent mode so they don’t swee on start up.

That "simplest" way is how Ford tells you to do it in the owner's manual.

 

[HeyBales]

I saw a post about how to get the wipers out of the way cleaning the windshield, I find the simplest way is to have the car on, set wipers to intermittent mode, this moves them up from the parked position, then turn off the vehicle. All set for cleaning and after you turn the car off take wipers out of intermittent mode so they don’t swee on start up.

Well - that is what the manual says.

 

[matmondro]

This is the way I do it too. Has never been an issue, even in winter when clearing snow out the cowl/recess area there. Had a guy on here in the fall try to convince me I was stripping the splines of the wiper arm shafts by doing it this way

This isn't the procedure in the owner's manual.
My personal experience.
I've had good success manually lifting my wipers and putting them back without power, as shown in my 12 sec. video.

 

[Deleted member 5352]

I used to pull them manually but I heard it's not good for the wiper motors. Something like that. Not sure if it's really true. I do it the way you do. But, I made the mistake one time at the car wash propping them up and then putting the truck in accessory mode. They smacked themselves back into position. Luckily, it didn't crack the windshield or chip the hood. But yeah, it's an incredibly stupid design. My rental Kia K4 is the same way.

 

[First Sergeant]

This is the way I do it too. Has never been an issue, even in winter when clearing snow out the cowl/recess area there. Had a guy on here in the fall try to convince me I was stripping the splines of the wiper arm shafts by doing it this way

Yeah, I learned this way of doing it a couple years back. I think it was a Glen Baker post, that guy is great! Slow and easy, just move them, move them back. No spline problems, no motor problems and no worries.

 

[matmondro]

Yeah, I learned this way of doing it a couple years back. I think it was a Glen Baker post, that guy is great! Slow and easy, just move them, move them back. No spline problems, no motor problems and no worries.

Bingo!

 

[ZABSMAV]

The Ford Maverick owner's manual warns against manually moving or forcing the windshield wiper arms, as this can damage the wiper motor or gears. The wipers are designed to sit below the hood line, necessitating a specific electronic "service position" or "maintenance mode" rather than manual repositioning.

Correct Procedure to Move Wiper Arms (Service Position):

Method:

Turn the ignition on and immediately off, then press the wiper stalk down to the "mist" position and hold it for a few seconds until the wipers move to the center of the windshield.

Alternative:

Turn the car off and immediately move the windshield wiper lever (switch) to the single wipe position, and they should stop in the vertical position.

Return:

Turn the ignition on and activate the wipers to return them to the parked position.

Key Warnings:

Do not pull up on the wiper arms when they are in the default "parked" position, as they can scratch the edge of the hood.

Do not force them while the car is off/in accessory mode to avoid stripping the motor.

Wiper blades can be lifted off the glass only once they are in the service position.

 

[jimbabwe]

I saw a post about how to get the wipers out of the way cleaning the windshield, I find the simplest way is to have the car on, set wipers to intermittent mode, this moves them up from the parked position, then turn off the vehicle. All set for cleaning and after you turn the car off take wipers out of intermittent mode so they don’t swee on start up.

I do the same as mentioned by others: just move them manually until they clear the hood.

 

[ZABSMAV]

I do the same as mentioned by others: just move them manually until they clear the hood.

The manual specifically warns about doing so. If it damages the motor/gears that would most certainly not be covered under the warranty.

 

[HoiToid]

Just remember with wipers in service position, that once you turn the key back on the wipers automatically go to parked position; so if you try to warm up your engine before you clean all snow and ice off the windshield and wiper arms, you may damage the splines or motor.

 

[jimbabwe]

The manual specifically warns about doing so. If it damages the motor/gears that would most certainly not be covered under the warranty.

Guess I'll stop that, then. Only done it maybe twice: 1 time for storm; 1 time to replace wipers after windshield replacement.

 

[First Sergeant]

The Ford Maverick owner's manual warns against manually moving or forcing the windshield wiper arms, as this can damage the wiper motor or gears. The wipers are designed to sit below the hood line, necessitating a specific electronic "service position" or "maintenance mode" rather than manual repositioning.

Correct Procedure to Move Wiper Arms (Service Position):

Method:

Turn the ignition on and immediately off, then press the wiper stalk down to the "mist" position and hold it for a few seconds until the wipers move to the center of the windshield.

Alternative:

Turn the car off and immediately move the windshield wiper lever (switch) to the single wipe position, and they should stop in the vertical position.

Return:

Turn the ignition on and activate the wipers to return them to the parked position.

Key Warnings:

Do not pull up on the wiper arms when they are in the default "parked" position, as they can scratch the edge of the hood.

Do not force them while the car is off/in accessory mode to avoid stripping the motor.

Wiper blades can be lifted off the glass only once they are in the service position.

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.

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