Service position for wipers

h5djr · Dec 28, 2007

Following on from the thread about the rear lights in a Sportback, I looked at the web-site referred to. On that website there was this item a bout the wipers which looks interesting.

"The wipers on the A3 have a 'cleaning position' feature - when you turn off the ignition switch, tap the wiper stalk to 'wipe once' and the wipers will jump up midway on the windshield and stop there. That way you can fold them up for cleaning. However, I discovered yet another feature as part of this: When the wipers are in the cleaning position, you can 'wipe' them back-and-forth freely on the windshield! I expected they would be immovable like every other car, but you can actually move them to wherever you want. If you push them all the way down to the normal 'rest' position, though, they lock there and they don't move when you restart the car, so no streaks on your just-cleaned windshield!

I always use the service position when I clean the car so that I can lift the wipers clear of the screen, but there is always the chance of getting a smear on the screen when you turn on the ignition and the wipers return to their normal position from the service position.

Well I've just tried it on my Sportback and it works. Interesting all the little snippets of information that can be found.

consilio · Dec 28, 2007

Thats a great tip. I was cursing audi at the stupid wiper design after finding that i couldn't lift them up on my first wash

Matt · Dec 28, 2007

Me being me I read it in the manual the 1st time I washed it as realised you cant lift the wiper arms up like my last car. Not used it though as like you say could get a smear on the windscreen :asskicking:

Didn't realise you could push them back down till now though!

I can lift the wiper up just enough to wash underneath it so thats what I do

benw123 · Dec 28, 2007

That is a useful tip. I always forget to set the wipers to the service position before cleaning, and just end up clumsily running my mitt under the wiper while lifting it up with the other hand ...

cdb2 · Dec 29, 2007

Re front wipers, when I used to clean with the washer jet, it would wait a few seconds and then do one final wipe to clear up any drips. Doesn't seem to do this anymore. Anyone? Perhaps it is linked to the setting on the wipers, whether they are on auto or not?

TDI-line · Dec 30, 2007

Nice one Dave, i had a quick scan of the manual last week and couldn't find this.

Saved me asking the same question.

N8 · Dec 30, 2007

You guys obvioulsy haven't watched the audi channel on sky! Saw this on there months ago!

RGBArgee · Dec 31, 2007

h5djr said:
Following on from the thread about the rear lights in a Sportback, I looked at the web-site referred to. On that website there was this item a bout the wipers which looks interesting.

"The wipers on the A3 have a 'cleaning position' feature - when you turn off the ignition switch, tap the wiper stalk to 'wipe once' and the wipers will jump up midway on the windshield and stop there. That way you can fold them up for cleaning. However, I discovered yet another feature as part of this: When the wipers are in the cleaning position, you can 'wipe' them back-and-forth freely on the windshield! I expected they would be immovable like every other car, but you can actually move them to wherever you want. If you push them all the way down to the normal 'rest' position, though, they lock there and they don't move when you restart the car, so no streaks on your just-cleaned windshield!

I always use the service position when I clean the car so that I can lift the wipers clear of the screen, but there is always the chance of getting a smear on the screen when you turn on the ignition and the wipers return to their normal position from the service position.

Well I've just tried it on my Sportback and it works. Interesting all the little snippets of information that can be found.

Great thanks, have only had A3's since 2003 and cursed the wipers on a regular basis until now!! Thanks a lot!!
:icon_thumright:

Teejay · Jan 3, 2008

Brilliant!!!

JohnS3 · Jan 3, 2008

cdb2 said:
Re front wipers, when I used to clean with the washer jet, it would wait a few seconds and then do one final wipe to clear up any drips. Doesn't seem to do this anymore. Anyone? Perhaps it is linked to the setting on the wipers, whether they are on auto or not?

You're describing the teardrop wipe. It can be enabled with vagcom, (central electronics module, byte 3 bit 5) but it doesn't appear to work if you have auto wipers, I enabled this but it only works on the rear wiper. With the auto wipers the last wipe is slower than the others and catches the drips.

Teejay · Jan 3, 2008

teardrop wipe is already enabled on the front on my A3 John so must be a setting somewhere!!

mfspen · Jan 4, 2008

Teejay said:
teardrop wipe is already enabled on the front on my A3 John so must be a setting somewhere!!

This problem is a known bug.

On both of my A3s, the teardrop wipe feature worked initially when the car was new, but stopped working after a few days. Fortunately, if you get your dealer to reset it, the correct operation will then persist.

cdb2 · Jan 4, 2008

So there is a permanent fix, excellent thx! Will chase up with dealer when it next goes in.

IvanGC · Sep 19, 2017

Hello everyone! I have Audi A3 8PA end of 2007 (model year 2008). After my last visit in a garage for oil, fitlers, wipers change etc. I am not able to activate the service position of the wiper blades. When I turn off the ignition the wipers slightly move/tremble sometimes, but when I press down the stalk for "wipe once" - nothing happens. Since my controller does not support the VCDS option to move the wipers in service position by using my cable what alternaive options do I have? Have you ever had any problem of this type and how have yo uselved it? Thank yo ua lot in advance!

ch1z64 · Sep 19, 2017

check your car manual book on how to do the wipers cause if i mind correctly in my 2007 S3 you could do it

IvanGC · Sep 19, 2017

I 've read the manual - it's the same way with single push down of the stalk after turning off the ignition. That method worked every time before the garage service. Visually everything seems to be OK, the VCDS check shows also no fault codes.

ch1z64 · Sep 19, 2017

this might be well left base but does your wipers work at all when you push down once if not check the fuses as 1 could be blown

IvanGC · Sep 19, 2017

Yes, they work properly. Their resting position is also OK. Is it possible that the garage guys have done some manual moving of the wipers and now I have to return them back in some basic position?

ch1z64 · Sep 19, 2017

IvanGC said:
Yes, they work properly. Their resting position is also OK. Is it possible that the garage guys have done some manual moving of the wipers and now I have to return them back in some basic position?

They might have but i doubt they would say they had .Beats me how it doesn't go into service position so all i can say as limited experience is i will follow this post closely .

Reddaddy67 · Sep 21, 2017

My 2008 2.0 TFSI sportback has the same issue in that I can only place the wipers in service position by using DIS, the manual operation just doesn't work, only had the car myself a few months so unsure of the cause, again though, by pressing down once on the stalk, it does wipe once.

unsure what to do

IvanGC · Nov 20, 2017

seems that no one knows where the problem is

Service position for wipers

Well-Known Member

Up the owls!

Registered User

Moderator

Registered User

Uber Post Whore

Kowalski Details

RGBArgee

Guest

winning the school run grand prix

Registered User

winning the school run grand prix

Registered User

Registered User

Registered User

C'mon you's bhoy's in Green

Registered User

C'mon you's bhoy's in Green

Registered User

C'mon you's bhoy's in Green

Registered User

Registered User

Similar threads