How do you get the wipers into winter position?

[plowna]

Hi, I know this sounds like a silly question.

I've looked at the car manual and tried to interpret it as best I can. But when I hold the wiper stalk down and either turn the key to accessory or ignition and then off again, the wipers just home themselves (to the bottom of the windscreen) rather than upright in the winter position.

I did manage to get lucky once (after faffing about for about 20 mins trying) but I figure there must be a trick to this that I haven't stumbled across.

Anyone?

[brentondm]

turn car off, press wiper arm down and release

[gregozedobe]

turn car off, press wiper control stalk down and release

Fixed for you

[doink]

turn car off, press wiper arm down and release

TIP: Apply water to the windscreen before trying this to avoid scratch damage to the windscreen.

[plowna]

Brilliant ... I do hope VW updated their manuals at some point to make this clearer.

Very much appreciated! Now I'm off to fix the A/C vent selector. Seems I may have plugged it back in wrong when I had the head unit out ... lesson learned.

[Maverick]

Brilliant ... I do hope VW updated their manuals at some point to make this clearer.

Very much appreciated! Now I'm off to fix the A/C vent selector. Seems I may have plugged it back in wrong when I had the head unit out ... lesson learned.

What's wrong with the wording? IIRC it tells you that you have an amount of time after the ignition is turned off to move the wiper stalk down for a moment and release and the wiper will move into position. And to put the wipers back into normal position do the same again with the ignition is turned on.

[plowna]

What's wrong with the wording? IIRC it tells you that you have an amount of time after the ignition is turned off to move the wiper stalk down for a moment and release and the wiper will move into position. And to put the wipers back into normal position do the same again with the ignition is turned on.

From the manual in my car:

The windscreen wipers will move to the "winter position" if you switch the ignition on briefly and then turn it off again, pressing the windscreen wiper lever down. The windscreen wiper arms can be moved forward so that they do not freeze onto the windscreen.

Later in the 'Tips and Maintenance' section, dealing with changing of wiper blades:

Before moving the windscreen wiper arms away from the windscreen, you must position them in the service position. Switch on the ignition briefly and press down the windscreen wiper lever briefly.

Granted, it doesn't say while pressing the windscreen wiper lever down. But then to me thats says hold the lever down, then turn on the ignition and off again. Obviously I am not as good at understanding manuals as I thought I was.

Also, it sets the record straight on what to call it. Its a Windscreen Wiper Lever

[gregozedobe]

Also, it sets the record straight on what to call it. Its a Windscreen Wiper Lever

To be strictly accurate, the manual only tells us that the person who translated the manual from the original german language thought these were the most appropriate english words to describe it. A lot depends on what you recognise as "the" authority for this particular nomenclature. If I could be bothered looking up the ADRs I might find they use different words again.

I still prefer and will continue to use my plain (Australian) english version ie "wiper control stalk", as this makes it clear that you are looking at the control stalk near the steering wheel, not some mechanical lever on the wiper blades or arms themselves.

But by all means, use "Windscren Wiper Lever" if it makes you happy

[Dubdabest]

To be strictly accurate, the manual only tells us that the person who translated the manual from the original german language thought these were the most appropriate english words to describe it.

I guess this is expected from buying a foreign car?

[maca]

Lol bickering over the wording of the manual? That's new

Call it what you want, we all know what we're talking about and we now all know exactly what to do to get the wipers into the service/winter position. To avoid this becoming a "lost in translation" argument, I had better close it before Babel Fish comes on and trademarks your work