Wiper Design Fault - Beware

[Harvey1512]

Okay, this has caught me out twice now and I can't be the only one. If you lift the drivers side wiper arm to either clean the blade, 1st time, or lift it off the screen so that it does not stick to the screen during a frost, 2nd time, then it actually can barely raise up past 30 degrees angle before scraping the paint off the edge of the bonnet. How stupid. Never before have I had a wiper that cannot be pulled up to be cleaned.

Unfortunately the angle the arm can be raised is so small that by the time you realise you have scraped the paint off the edge again. I have my touch up paint to tidy it up but that is not ideal.

Beware all who are thinking of cleaning their wiper blades!

[Mountain Goat]

Originally Posted by Harvey1512

Okay, this has caught me out twice now and I can't be the only one. If you lift the drivers side wiper arm to either clean the blade, 1st time, or lift it off the screen so that it does not stick to the screen during a frost, 2nd time, then it actually can barely raise up past 30 degrees angle before scraping the paint off the edge of the bonnet. How stupid. Never before have I had a wiper that cannot be pulled up to be cleaned.

Unfortunately the angle the arm can be raised is so small that by the time you realise you have scraped the paint off the edge again. I have my touch up paint to tidy it up but that is not ideal.

Beware all who are thinking of cleaning their wiper blades!

There is a "service position" that the wipers can be put it to allow them to be fully raised, as per the manual:
In order to change, clean or lift the wiper blades
(for scraping off ice from the windscreen) they
must be in service position.
1. Turn the remote control key to key position
0, see page 80, and keep the remote control
key in the ignition switch.
2. Move the right-hand stalk switch up for
about 1 second. The wipers then move to
standing straight up.
The wipers return to the starting position when
the car is started.
Just be careful to put them back down to the normal position before starting the engine, otherwise you'll do even more damage!

Edit: I imagine the reason for this design is so that when the wipers are parked, they are below the level of the bonnet to reduce wind resistance.
Edit: Also only just realised you're talking about a V60 not XC, but I imagine the procedure is the same.

[Ninja59]

The S60 was the same as above they need to be in the service position...

[Harvey1512]

The V60 just has a push in key, you don't turn it, but no doubt there is a mechanism as you describe for getting the wiper blades to stand vertically. I still think it is a bad piece of design that you have to go through this to carry out a simple job, in particular when the consequence of getting it wrong is to scrape off your paintwork.

[Ninja59]

Page 335 - http://esd.volvocars.com/site/owners...B_TP_15218.pdf

you need them in the service position to clean

[Mountain Goat]

Originally Posted by Harvey1512

The V60 just has a push in key, you don't turn it, but no doubt there is a mechanism as you describe for getting the wiper blades to stand vertically. I still think it is a bad piece of design that you have to go through this to carry out a simple job, in particular when the consequence of getting it wrong is to scrape off your paintwork.

Key Pos 0 is referring to the keyless ignition system. As per the XC60 manual:
Selecting key position/level
Key position 0
• Unlock the car - at which point the car's
electrical system is at level 0.
Key position I
• With the remote control key fully inserted
into the ignition switch - Briefly press
START/STOP ENGINE.
NOTE
To reach level I or II without starting the
engine - do not depress the brake/clutch
pedal when these key positions are due to
be selected.
Key position II
• With the remote control key fully inserted
into the ignition switch - Give one long1
press on START/STOP ENGINE.
Back to key position 0
• To return to key position 0 from position II
and I - Briefly press on START/STOP
ENGINE.
I can't see any other way they could have designed it, if the wipers are below the level of the bonnet when parked!

[Harvey1512]

Originally Posted by Mountain Goat

I can't see any other way they could have designed it, if the wipers are below the level of the bonnet when parked!

I get that. I would have the wipers in a slightly higher position, not as far below the bonnet line, so that they could be raised without scraping the bonnet. Where they are they have to go through the routine.

Good design makes life easier, this makes it a little more awkward.

[Ninja59]

it is a good design for aero though really...

[XCeed]

Definitely a case of RTFM...!!!

[Harvey1512]

I accept it is a trade off decision, as with many aspects of a car and other items. I once had a SEAT that had the wipers tucked vertically behind the windscreen frame for similar aero reasons. You also had to do a similar dance to get those blades out but they were obviously not able to be pulled out for cleaning without doing this routine.

I suppose my point with this is part rant, I've scraped my car twice now, and also a warning to those who have yet to try to clean their blades. The V60 arms look like they are in a normal position but they are not and the consequence of not realising or remembering is that you damage your paintwork.

Aesthetics and dynamics against practicality. Volvo went for the former on this occasion. I don't agree with it but that is clearly a personal thing, many will like the cleaner looks.