Wiper Position

[MrLapou]

Since I've had my 2009 Sportback (bought used), the drivers wiper leaves a huge annoying un-swept area near the A pillar which affects vision out in wet weather. (ref pic which I've drawn a black line so it's easier to see the issue).
When parked, they sit nicely under the bonnet line. Blades are the correct length and original to car.
I do not remember this being an issue with my previous 2004 8P A3 3door

Is there anyway to adjust this?

 

[mike foster]

Not adjustable - that is the full throw of the wipers !

 

[Ash187]

my wiper goes all the way to the edge of the window. you can open the bonnet and loosen the nut on the wiper and then move the wiper up a little so that the throw will go more to the edge.

 

[mike foster]

my wiper goes all the way to the edge of the window. you can open the bonnet and loosen the nut on the wiper and then move the wiper up a little so that the throw will go more to the edge.

Surely if you adjust the position by moving the knurled cap a notch up then the top of the blade, when on full sweep, will throw past the windscreen onto the 'A' pillar ? The only way for the wiper to catch the whole area is for it to have a swivel mechanism so that on full sweep the top end of the blade stops at the edge of the glass and the bottom end swivels further outwards to complete the wider sweep at the base of the screen !!

Nice idea if someone could come up with a 'swivelling blade' !!!lol

 

[Ash187]

no Mike, My wiper is wiping perfectly and covering the whole window without leaving a silly sweep mark in my line of view. by simply taking off the wiper arm and adjusting it slightly higher does not cause an issue. as you can see in the OPs pic the wiper sweep is still 2 inches from the edge

 

[mike foster]

I'm intrigued Ash ! I don't understand how lifting the arm by a notch will cause the bottom of the blade to do a full sweep UNLESS you lift it by a notch and then bend the arm slightly in a downwards direction to change the angle of attack ! That would effectively move the whole arm outwards towards the edge of the glass on full sweep!

To be continued ( 'cos got to go out and would like to resolve ) !!

 

[antmax7]

The main issue for the original poster is the vision higher on the screen than the lower part of the blade is it not??
As ash has said if you adjust the wiper arm by a notch or 2 then this Will resolve the issue

 

[Artimus]

I hope you're not going out to bend the wiper arm.

my 09 SB wipes to within 2 inches of the A pillar. Ash is correct, remove the arm and rotate it a notch or 2 on the spindle to solve this.

The parked O\S wiper should just be visible above the bonnet line.

 

[mjr901]

I hope you're not going out to bend the wiper arm.

my 09 SB wipes to within 2 inches of the A pillar. Ash is correct, remove the arm and rotate it a notch or 2 on the spindle to solve this.

Yup, dont go bending anything!!!!

Its a 5 min job if that!!!! They adjust well easily!!! all wipers do!

 

[MrLapou]

Thanks for all the constructive replies. I think bending anything would be wrong.
If the wiper are is moved a notch or two on the spindle, when in parked position will it still sit unseen under the bonnet line?

 

[Ash187]

for me as long as the wiper cannot be see while i am driving then i am happy. I currently have the wiper positioned to wipe to the edge of the glass but still when its parked i dont see it.

 

[MrLapou]

Quick update............

Thanks for the help guys.
13mm sockect required to remove the arm.
With a bit of precision adjustment (only the slightest movement needed), repositioned the wiper arm. Viewed from the outside, top of wiper now sweeps to about 15mm from the A pillar, which viewed from inside the car, practically leaves no unsweep area...perfect... Also in park position wiper still looks quite horizontal.

Initially I thought the drive spindle had a spline drive like other cars. But on the A3 it's a simple taper (no notches) which results in infinite positioning of the arm on the spindle.

 

[Ash187]

glad to be of help mate!

and Mike Foster you should try to trust in some advise given.

 

[mike foster]

glad to be of help mate!

and Mike Foster you should try to trust in some advise given.

No mistrust Ash - I was just trying to understand the mechanics of the thing. Been out to my car and stopped the wipers at the full sweep position and the drivers side is just about parallel with, and about an inch and a bit from the pillar so I don't have the problem for some reason.

Sorry if you thought I was disputing your advice - I wasn't. :icon_thumright:

 

[Artimus]

Now this has been resolved.

Another thing of note is that ...on MY09 at least... the wiper park position changes with every use! It will sit up on the 1st single stroke, and down on the next. This is deliberate, it's designed to reduce the 'training' of the blade into a preferable back or forward sweep & so reduce judder.

A neat trick & great attention to detail..

 

[MyMateDaveDJ]

Found this thread useful when searching.
Iv recently purchased my car and here's how the wipers park...