It's been raining all day here and while driving the new Yeti 1.2TSI late afternoon, I noticed that something was causing the drivers side (LHD) windscreen wiper blade to smear. So, as you do, I found a safe spot to park the car, I got out with paper towel in hand and proceeded to tackle the job.

On lifting the offending driver side wiper arm up to its service position, I couldn't help but notice that it fouled the bonnet and wasn't able to put it on its fully raised position without catching on the rear lip of the bonnet.

Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

am I doing something wrong?

 

Turn the ignition on and then off - then press the wipers switch down and they will 'park' to allow you full access.

Turn the ignition on and then off - then press the wipers switch down and they will 'park' to allow you full access.

Thanks john999boy. I'm guessing I should probably get around to reading the darn manual. It's likely that your procedure is detailed in there

That must be a somewhat universal procedure as it's the same on our Pugs.

It's quite common... they like to tuck the wipers behind the trailing edge of the bonnet for aerodynamics but it does make it awkward for blade changes, hence the 'service' position (also useful if using the wipers to hold a sunshade or frost sheet on the screen).

Well, I never knew that.

I've been doing a flick wipe then turning the ignition off half way through.

I'll try this out tomorrow

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Melbourne City Peugeot is also a Ford and VW dealer and they were very impressive as sales AND service which is not necessarily the norm once they've got your money.

I've been lucky perhaps with dealers who are current or previous award winners.

Good info, didn't know about the service position for the wipers, I had just accepted that one of the engineers had an off day

I found this a few years ago on my first modern VAG car and thought those clever little Germans would not have made a mistake like that and read the manual.

Simply clever

That is what I really like about forums, so helpful.

Edited 24 April, 201610 yr by Defenderben

I found this a few years ago on my first modern VAG car and thought those clever little Germans would not have made a mistake like that and read the manual.

Simply clever

That is what I really like about forums, so helpful.

Never thought of Germans as little )))

Never thought of Germans as little )))

My wife is German /Austrian.  162cm and in her prime around 48kg.  She bulked up once past 50 - now 53kg.  All her cousins are over 190cm.  Family photos are a hoot

This is a common problem for new Yeti Owners. In India where we usually have "help" to clean the vehicle of dust and muck, the "car cleaner" attendant always makes this mistake and consequently the wiper arms rub off a little paint from the rear lip of the bonnet.

Most irritating.

The wiper arms will also stop as soon as the bonnet release catch is pulled.

This is a common problem for new Yeti Owners. In India where we usually have "help" to clean the vehicle of dust and muck, the "car cleaner" attendant always makes this mistake and consequently the wiper arms rub off a little paint from the rear lip of the bonnet.

Most irritating.

Problem with the Yeti is that they only just catch and so you/others think they are going to miss the bonnet when lifting.

 

Other VWG cars I've had the base of the wiper is further down below the bonnet and there is no way you're going to lift the wipers unless they are in the service position.

Edited 24 April, 201610 yr by VAGCF

Well, I never knew that.

I've been doing a flick wipe then turning the ignition off half way through.

I'll try this out tomorrow

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This won't work with cars such as VW as the wipers always return to their resting position after you turn the ignition off.

 

I find it very annoying that Skoda's don't do this as I have OCD about leaving the wipers in the middle of the windscreen so when I park up and its raining I have to turn the wipers off or wait while they are at the bottom of the screen before turning off the ignition

This won't work with cars such as VW as the wipers always return to their resting position after you turn the ignition off.

I find it very annoying that Skoda's don't do this as I have OCD about leaving the wipers in the middle of the windscreen so when I park up and its raining I have to turn the wipers off or wait while they are at the bottom of the screen before turning off the ignition

Err... it does. I've just tried it.

Ignition on, then off, then flick the wiper stalk down.

Wipers park straight up the screen

Ignition on then flick the wiper stalk down again for them to park in the normal position

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Exactly. This is how it's been with the previous VW's and Audis I've owned.

 

It's in the handbook for the service position and elsewhere as the winter position - though the latter isn't very well explained.

Thanks everyone for your replies

I can confirm that I have been able to successfully set the wipers to their service position using the procedure that Gyp has detailed above.

I can now raise the wiper arms without fear of scratching the paint work

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I thought it was meant for use when parking in snow. In Sweden, wintertime, a lot of cars are parked overnight with their wipers pointing straight up the screen. When I asked a colleague why people do that he told me it's so that it's easier to clear the screen and free the wipers off in the morning, because the snow doesn't 'drift' against the wiper arms as much.

 

Now I know that (for the Yeti at least) it's also so that you can get at the wiper blades without wrecking your bonnet.....

 

Doesn't anyone else get a peculiar little 'shimmy' from the wipers when you turn the ignition off?

Err... it does. I've just tried it.

Ignition on, then off, then flick the wiper stalk down.

Wipers park straight up the screen

Ignition on then flick the wiper stalk down again for them to park in the normal position

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You said you had been flicking the wipers and then turning the ignition off to get the wipers to stay in the upright position before you knew about the maintenance mode. This doesn't happen with all VAG variants as the wipers always park at the bottom of the windscreen if you turn off the ignition.

 

Hence why I said it wouldn't work on a VW.

I thought it was meant for use when parking in snow. In Sweden, wintertime, a lot of cars are parked overnight with their wipers pointing straight up the screen. When I asked a colleague why people do that he told me it's so that it's easier to clear the screen and free the wipers off in the morning, because the snow doesn't 'drift' against the wiper arms as much.

 

Now I know that (for the Yeti at least) it's also so that you can get at the wiper blades without wrecking your bonnet.....

 

Doesn't anyone else get a peculiar little 'shimmy' from the wipers when you turn the ignition off?

Yep, see my post, winter position. As well as the snow, if the wipers are frozen to the screen it's easier to free them off.

 

Why they have two different descriptions and methods far apart in the handbook for achieving the straight up wipers is anyone's guess?  

 

Yes, my wipers do the shimmy along with other cars.

Edited 26 April, 201610 yr by VAGCF

Doesn't anyone else get a peculiar little 'shimmy' from the wipers when you turn the ignition off?

Yes - I do

They also move from time to time while driving, it's to stop them "taking a set" where they are parked and the juddering that causes.

They also move from time to time while driving, it's to stop them "taking a set" where they are parked and the juddering that causes.

 

I would say 'Simply Clever' but no doubt Audi had it first 

You said you had been flicking the wipers and then turning the ignition off to get the wipers to stay in the upright position before you knew about the maintenance mode. This doesn't happen with all VAG variants as the wipers always park at the bottom of the windscreen if you turn off the ignition.

Hence why I said it wouldn't work on a VW.

Ah, got it!

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