With winter coming, do you flip the wipers up?

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: mclasser
Nope. If a strong gust comes through, the wipers may smack down on the windshield and damage something. When snow/ice is in the forecast, I wrap the wipers in plastic bags.


I guess it depends on the vehicle in question, but in my 06 Mazda 3 I have never had it happened and my car is parked near the airport. We have some strong winds there, as there are no obstructions or buildings to slow the wind down. Lots of my co-workers do it as well.

 

[SHOZ]

I just use rain x and the snow and ice don't stick very well to the glass. Many time the frost can be scraped off with just the wipers.

 

[itguy08]

Never. Don't really see the point. You have to clear the ice/snow anyway before the wipers will work so it doesn't take away any time.

 

[TiredTrucker]

Nah. Heated garage.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Never. Don't really see the point.

The point is that the wipers may freeze to the windshield, which means you'll be unable to use them or you're risking damaging the wiper inserts as you try to break them free.

It's a common scenario around here. You drive to work in the morning and it is snowing. You park the car at work, and it keeps snowing. The snow initially melts on the windshield, turning into water. But as the car and windshield cool down, that water freezes and traps your wipers, unless you flipped them up when you parked the car.

Flipping up wipers is easy to do in my car. In wife's car, on the other hand, you have to go into the service menu and use the computer to set them in service position. Normally, they sit tucked below the hood - I guess that location makes it less likely for them to freeze.

 

[SHOZ]

I don't know. Park my car outside all the time. If there is freezing rain or snow on the windshield I usually clear it off first before using the wipers. Don't see what good it does if you have to get out and flip them back over. If they are frozen to the windshield I usually just give them a wack with the snow broom.

 

[Robenstein]

I have one of the windshield covers. I leave my wipers up to help pin it on the glass. it also loops around the side mirrors with an elastic and has a bit you close in your doors to keep it in place.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: SHOZ
I don't know. Park my car outside all the time. If there is freezing rain or snow on the windshield I usually clear it off first before using the wipers. Don't see what good it does if you have to get out and flip them back over. If they are frozen to the windshield I usually just give them a wack with the snow broom.


I had a friend visit me for a ski trip...he decided to "help" me get my car ready to go one morning and slammed the wiper blades on the windshield really hard to clear off whatever was on them from being up the night before.
Two weeks later, I had a major windshield crack and had to replace it.

I think he was mad at me because I made fun of him for not wanting to ski when it was -25F the morning before...he's a good friend, so I forgave him and never told him about my suspicions.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: itguy08
Never. Don't really see the point.

The point is that the wipers may freeze to the windshield, which means you'll be unable to use them or you're risking damaging the wiper inserts as you try to break them free.

It's a common scenario around here. You drive to work in the morning and it is snowing. You park the car at work, and it keeps snowing. The snow initially melts on the windshield, turning into water. But as the car and windshield cool down, that water freezes and traps your wipers, unless you flipped them up when you parked the car.


Been driving since 1992 (I know not a super long time) and parking outside in the NE and never destroyed any wipers. My SOP when it's icy or frozen is to fire up the car, put the defrost on full fan, hot. By the time I've cleaned the car off the wipers are warm enough to come off the windshield.

Maybe its our location with no super cold winters or I've been lucky.

 

[BobFout]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: itguy08
Never. Don't really see the point.

The point is that the wipers may freeze to the windshield, which means you'll be unable to use them or you're risking damaging the wiper inserts as you try to break them free.

It's a common scenario around here. You drive to work in the morning and it is snowing. You park the car at work, and it keeps snowing. The snow initially melts on the windshield, turning into water. But as the car and windshield cool down, that water freezes and traps your wipers, unless you flipped them up when you parked the car.

Flipping up wipers is easy to do in my car. In wife's car, on the other hand, you have to go into the service menu and use the computer to set them in service position. Normally, they sit tucked below the hood - I guess that location makes it less likely for them to freeze.



If it's like my VAG-product, the wipers can be put into service position by pushing the wiper stalk down immediately after the ignition is turned off.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: BobFout
If it's like my VAG-product, the wipers can be put into service position by pushing the wiper stalk down immediately after the ignition is turned off.

Thanks. Will have to try that.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
In wife's car, on the other hand, you have to go into the service menu and use the computer to set them in service position.

Thanks for that. Cheered me up.

Always good to hear about major advances in automotive technology.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: BobFout
If it's like my VAG-product, the wipers can be put into service position by pushing the wiper stalk down immediately after the ignition is turned off.

Thanks. Will have to try that.

Yep, do not forget to close the door while doing that.
Turn ignition on, then off, then push stalk down.

 

[Duffyjr]

Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
Is that held on by magnets or something else?

Originally Posted By: copcarguy
About 1/2 the cars in the parking lot at work do the wipers up thing...

I use something like this:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Subzero-Winds...dingMethod=p13n

While they're still scraping with their wipers up, I just peel the cover off and have an instantly clear windshield.


MIne has elastic that your wrap around the mirrors, works great unless there are 30 mph winds.

 

[sw99]

We get some wicked wet heavy snot that freezes quickly. I am getting tired of trying to rip the blades off the windshield so I will definitely start doing this more often. I usually forget so maybe there is hope...

 

[sh40674]

i'll flip the wipers up if there's a real wet snow or some icy rain and it's going to freeze hard. as far as just a standard snowfall, no. if the wipers do get stuck to the window after i get off work in the morning i just light up a marlboro and let the defrost do it's thing.