Extending wipers in snow/ice

[wander2039]

Notice alot of this and it seems to be growing in popularity. Maybe it isn't as big of deal as I think. I've had some cars with some terrible wipers even with new blades, should of changed out the arms. Makes me wonder if the previous owners did the same. My thought is this.. right or wrong?

The spring that holds the wiper technically wouldn't extending the wiper stretch over time? Now the occasional stretch I see could be beneficial. But extended period of time? Granted if you change cars like underwear guess it doesn't matter.

Just the fact that someone could come along and snap the wiper back would stop me. That could crack the windshield and I've seen it happen.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Never seen the point in it. Let the vehicle warm up and the wiper blades will be free.

 

[bullwinkle]

If you're referring to having the wiper arms in an upright position-I do it all the time in icy weather (to make it easier to clear away ice & snow), and I haven't had an arm problem due to it yet.

 

[Finz]

Same here... Probably 10 years or more and no problems that I can see

 

[dparm]

Never understood it either. I think it's some sort of old habit from years ago, and I suspect the original reasoning behind it is outdated.

 

[901Memphis]

I've had good results with it in my Taurus keeping them from sticking to the windshield and makes cleaning the snow easier due to them being up and out of the way but my darn Buick has the type of wiper that tucks itself back under the hood line and is impossible to put upright due to the design so I have to rely on the awesome heat to warm them up before they un freeze if it's icy.

One problem I just encountered with my less than one year old bosch icon blades is the buick design of tucking them all the way in made it rest on a piece of loose ice and caused the rubber part of the blade that contacts the windshield to freeze in a deformed position and for two days it would streak right across the middle of the drivers side window. Eventually with enough heat it got its shape back and it's working good again. Gotta take care of your wipers and keep the grime from building up.

 

[eljefino]

I always thought it was a signal that you weren't into chicks.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I always thought it was a signal that you weren't into chicks.

ROFLMAO!

 

[supton]

Never saw it until I moved to NH. Then it was like, duh. I don't do it that often, because it doesn't need to be done that often; but once in a while I regret not doing it. Like last week, when I was sick in bed and when I finally cleaned off the truck there was an inch of ice on the wipers. No, literally, an inch of ice on the bottom of the windshield (the result of at least one snowstorm). Took 10-15 minutes of idling to get enough of it melted so I could hammer the blades free.

My Jetta will never ever warm up enough at idle to thaw out the blades. Maybe after 30-45minutes. I'll long be bashing them out before then. Which is the point, to avoid hammering on the windshield.

Usually it's so that you can scrape around that area, usually right after you start the car and are now cleaning off the vehicle. If you get freezing rain it tends to build up on the wiper, having them extended out keeps that ridge of ice off the windshield.

 

[Vikas]

This is done so that the wiper won't get stuck to the glass. Granted, only under specific weather condition that would happen but this is just a precaution.

 

[Donald]

People do it because they see others doing it and thus it should be a good idea.

I sometimes pull the wiper blades off the glass (by hand) to free them, but them put them back on the glass.

 

[spackard]

My dad used to cut a couple small pieces of heater hose and put them under the blades to hold them off the windshield. That way, if he forgot about them and turned on the wipers he'd just lose a couple of pieces of hose.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

It stops the wiper from getting stuck to the windshield. It's a lot oeasier on the blades if they are up in the air when you go to scrape the windshield - the scraper trying to free frozen blades from windshields is not easy on the rubber.

Plus it makes brushing off teh vehicle a lot easier (getting snow off of the cowl)

 

[KrisZ]

I lift the wiper blades as well and it really helps with preventing the blades from being frozen to the windshield. The springs don't seem to be affected by it.

 

[mikered30]

Originally Posted By: Donald
People do it because they see others doing it and thus it should be a good idea.



That is exactly what happens. It is funny to pull into work here, where there will be a line of 10 cars in a row that all put up their wipers.

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I lift the wiper blades as well and it really helps with preventing the blades from being frozen to the windshield. The springs don't seem to be affected by it.
Exactly. I don't quite understand why others are not getting it.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I lift the wiper blades as well and it really helps with preventing the blades from being frozen to the windshield. The springs don't seem to be affected by it.
Exactly. I don't quite understand why others are not getting it.


My taurus would sit for 2 or 3 weeks at a time with the wipers up during the winter months when I was in college (4 years). No problem with the wipers holding tight to the windshield.

 

[rslifkin]

I've never done it, mostly because I can't on the Jeep (arms don't go up very far before hitting the hood, so they can't be locked up).

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I lift the wiper blades as well and it really helps with preventing the blades from being frozen to the windshield. The springs don't seem to be affected by it.
Exactly. I don't quite understand why others are not getting it.


My taurus would sit for 2 or 3 weeks at a time with the wipers up during the winter months when I was in college (4 years). No problem with the wipers holding tight to the windshield.


I've never had it either. I wonder if it's the same logic as struts and shocks. You don't really notice until you replace them. I guess I did replace the arms on the last Festiva.. it was a night and day difference.