Winter Windshield and Wiper Hassles

[eric123406109]

Hi,

I live in the Northeast where there is no shortage of cold, snow and ice during the winter. Also, I have to store my ITS outside.

Has anyone in a similar predicament figured out a way to effectively clear the windshield, particularly the wiper area near the cowl, of snow and ice?

Ordinarily, it is common for one to pull their wipers up off the windshield before a storm, to make clearing the ice and snow easier the next day.

But, we can't do that because the wipers live down beneath the cowl. We do have the "maintenance mode" where we can make the wipers go to the most extreme position (in order to make changing blades easier). BUT - even in that position (if I recall correctly from my last check) we cannot "lift" the wipers off of the windshield very much.

So, what's a guy to do to get all of that snow and ice out of the cowl area near the wiper arms?

I'm hoping that someone more clever than I may have found a solution, and I'd love to hear it!

Thanks

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[FredS2000]

In maintenance mode the wiper arms can be fully extended up and off the windshield.

I always put them down and push them gently to near park position before turning the ignition on.

 

[eric123406109]

In maintenance mode the wiper arms can be fully extended up and off the windshield.

I always put them down and push them gently to near park position before turning the ignition on.

Thanks! I thought I’d tried that in the summer, and that the arms interfered with the hood.

 

[whtciv2k]

Try a snow windshield cover.

https://a.co/d/dDCIfrM

 

[MidwestDE5]

Open the hood to its highest position

 

[chopsuey34]

Dig in there with your hands. Wear gloves.

 

[BillB128]

Dig in there with your hands. Wear gloves.

This is what I have been doing after brushing and scraping the windshield.

My biggest issue is that the washer fluid motor isn't working in the really cold weather. At first I thought that the motor might have failed, but I tested it on the last weather warm up and it worked fine. I figure the fluid was freezing, so I added some 90 % isopropyl alcohol to the mix to lower its freezing point, but still having the issue since the temps are back to the teens/low twenties F right now. I'm guessing I didn't run the pump enough to get the new mix up to the washer jets, so waiting for things to warm up enough to give that a try.

 

[eric123406109]

In maintenance mode the wiper arms can be fully extended up and off the windshield.

I always put them down and push them gently to near park position before turning the ignition on.

Confirmed today. They can be lifted from windshield in maintenance mode.

Not sure why I had thought they can’t.

This is a great first step. Thank you!!​

 

[Type SSSHHH]

Best thing I ever purchased was a car cover. It had little pockets for the mirrors, elastic in the corners for the bumpers. Even had little strappy deals that go under the car if it gets real windy I guess. You can just peel all that shit right off.

 

[Vinnie]

Confirmed today. They can be lifted from windshield in maintenance mode.

Not sure why I had thought they can’t.

This is a great first step. Thank you!!​

how do you get into maint mode?

 

[Frenzal]

how do you get into maint mode?

It's written in the manual!

Turn the car off, then hold the wiper stalk at the Mist position for 5-10 seconds, until the wipers go up.

When you get back in the car, just hit mist again and wipers will go down.

 

[Marshy]

I just peel them up as far as I can, usually is enough for the snow I see. No issues with the spray motor in cold weather (been fine to -20c), but super annoyed by the lack of a washer fluid sensor.

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