I wonder if any othe r SM owners have had similar to me; my nearside front wiper blade doesn't clean the screen at all in its centre section, during this cold snap. If I pour hot water on the blade it kinda works, but normally it just leaves a section in the centre of the arc that is unswept. Driver side is fine and the rear works most of the time.

Just wondered if I was the only one with this. :(

I wonder if any othe r SM owners have had similar to me; my nearside front wiper blade doesn't clean the screen at all in its centre section, during this cold snap. If I pour hot water on the blade it kinda works, but normally it just leaves a section in the centre of the arc that is unswept. Driver side is fine and the rear works most of the time.

Just wondered if I was the only one with this. :(

Hi mine is the same the blade gets iced to the shape of the windscreen. my van the is same as well and it happens to both wipers on that

That's exactly it. The shape of the screen in the parked position of the wiper is obviously different to around the arc centre.

That's exactly it. The shape of the screen in the parked position of the wiper is obviously different to around the arc centre.

It may help to put them in the service position over night then it will be on the flat part of the screen but the wind chill when driving may bring the problem back.

It seems to be a very common problem with the new flat type blades.

What I have notice is, after almost a week of snow in the North, the wipers which tend to move about (ie when you switch of the engine,the wipers move back to the "park position" and when you are driving they don't "park" in the same position". This slight twitch might actually damage the wiper motor and there is no way of turning this function off and I have no idea why it should "park" in a different position in the first place!!

What I have notice is, after almost a week of snow in the North, the wipers which tend to move about (ie when you switch of the engine,the wipers move back to the "park position" and when you are driving they don't "park" in the same position". This slight twitch might actually damage the wiper motor and there is no way of turning this function off and I have no idea why it should "park" in a different position in the first place!!

I understood that this behaviour was to prolong the life of the wiper blades.

Mike

It seems to be a very common problem with the new flat type blades.

my van has the old type wipers and they do it more than the flat blades the drivers side one sits almost flat but sill enough bend to miss a bit on the lower part of the screen. passenger side will only wipe a small bit top and bottom of the screen

It may help to put them in the service position over night then it will be on the flat part of the screen but the wind chill when driving may bring the problem back.

As wakev suggests best to leave the wipers in the service position in the winter when there's snow or ice about. Blades get defrosted with the screen then, in the parked position they don't (unless you have the heated front screen).

Pat last Christmas snow, note wipers in the service position.

Regards,

TP

Interesting TP, I'll give that a try ,although I do have the heated front screen option, but doesn't seem to have fixed it so far.

Looks like a bit of a respite today as its started to thaw here a little.

Is there any protection if you attempt to operate the wipers when they are frozen to the screen?

I prefer to have my wipers in the normal rest position until I know they are free from the windscreen.

I assume that if in the service position they don't automatically return to the rest position when the ignition is turned on?

I was going to ask the same.

If you turn the ignition on won't the wipers try and return to the park positions, which could possibly damage something if they are iced to the screen?

I was going to ask the same.

If you turn the ignition on won't the wipers try and return to the park positions, which could possibly damage something if they are iced to the screen?

No. But it makes sense to clear the screen first.

Is there any protection if you attempt to operate the wipers when they are frozen to the screen?

I prefer to have my wipers in the normal rest position until I know they are free from the windscreen.

I assume that if in the service position they don't automatically return to the rest position when the ignition is turned on?

I was going to ask the same.

If you turn the ignition on won't the wipers try and return to the park positions, which could possibly damage something if they are iced to the screen?

No Monster to double check with at the minute but if I remember correctly they stay in the service position on starting up. Only move if you operate a wiper function; for vehicles without the rain sensor anyway.

Regards,

TP

No Monster to double check with at the minute but if I remember correctly they stay in the service position on starting up. Only move if you operate a wiper function; for vehicles without the rain sensor anyway.

Regards,

TP

Absolutely correct TP, the wipers stay in the service position until you move the control lever. However, it is very easy to knock the lever and it only requires the merest of touches to "instruct" the wipers to resumpe the park position. It really is best to clear the screen of snow & ice before turning the ignition on. I'd also recommend gently lifting the wipers so you can clear the ice line off the sceen if you've left them in the normal park position and they've left a frozen ridge on the screen.

Apart from anything else, if you've only partially cleared what I refer to as "knobbly" ice (ie not just smooth frost) from the screen & you start up the wipers (on any car) the cleaning edge of the wiper rubber can easity get damaged and you'll end up with an annoying line across the screen in wet weather.

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by speedsport

I had the same problem of curved wiper blades this morning. The blade missed the centre section of the screen. I left them in the "service position" for an hour (and in the sun) and the blades had flattened to the normal screen shape.

For those who don't know:- Ignition off then flip the wiper switch down once.

Time to read a bit more of the Handbook, it seems.....

Service Position........

Time to read a bit more of the Handbook, it seems.....

Service Position........

Page 65

not had this problem yet on the yeti, but on a focus with the aero blades.

i found the easiest way to cure it is to start the car, with heater on full defrost.

scrape all the side windows then do the front screen last.

by this time the ice at the bottom has thawed enough to lift the wipers free.

scrape the screen then tap the wiper blades onto the screen a few times which should knock off any ice and get them moving freely so they follow the curves of the screen in operation.

i use the term tap as bang sounds a bit harsh, but it's a sort of light bang, if you see what i mean ??

Er.....

Andrex?

Er.....

Andrex?

DOH!!

how slow am i??

it's taken me 2 whole days!

at the rate i'm going, it's going to take till next xmas to get to this one !?!

How do owners in Skandinavian countries go on with these annoying Aero wipers? I've been making a point of ensuring they are completely unfrozen & working ok before i set off yet, within 15 -20 mins, they are frozen again and leaving an increasingly large unswept area in front of both driver & passenger.

On the Motorway, you have to use the washers periodically to combat the spray off the road, & the wipers just seem to freeze up again.

Progress isn't necessarily better!