Windscreen wipers out of alignment

[Mighty_G]

When I had the gti a couple of people commented on the fact it was nice that the windscreen wipers when out of use were sat low enough so that they weren't visible. However in the snow in feb one day there was a load of snow on the windscreen, I set the windscreen wipers going (yes i know, daft thing to do), as they wiped downwards they got jammed slightly high by a lump of snow. Ever since they've never sat low enough.

Took the car in for its first service a couple of weeks ago and asked the guys there to fix it, but they couldn't see the problem (not a vw dealership so had nothing to compare them against). As the wipers sit on a hexagonal nut I am pretty sure they haven't twisted on the spindles, so the only thing I can think is that the eniter mechanism has shifted slightly on its mountings. Does this sound right to people ? Also has anyone ever tried adjusting ? or should I get down to the dealership to get it sorted ?

thanks, paul.

[FroGTI]

I'd probably give it a go myself, sounds like a case of reseating the wipers on the spindle. If you bugger it up, just tell the dealer "it was like that when you found it"

[percymon]

Last week i noticed my wipers were just about in view, and not noticed it before, then a few secionds later they dropped down that extra inch.

Having kept an eye on them i thought that when set to auto and in use, they sit visible if the system thinks its still raining, and drop back when they are not used. I'm still monitoring this tho - sometimes the theory holds up, other times not !

[ub7rm]

^^

They system alternates which 'side' the blade sits on to prolong the life of the blade.  Often give a little twitch just when you start the engine or switch off.  Used to wonder what the twitch was about until I read about it on the vw website.

[Mighty_G]

thanks all, still going to have a fiddle with it as I am sure they are sitting a bit higher than originally, but will report back what i find

[p3asa]

Last week i noticed my wipers were just about in view, and not noticed it before, then a few secionds later they dropped down that extra inch.

Having kept an eye on them i thought that when set to auto and in use, they sit visible if the system thinks its still raining, and drop back when they are not used. I'm still monitoring this tho - sometimes the theory holds up, other times not !

All explained at http://www.ownerwelcome.com/ / windshield wipers
Did you know: "That when you turn off the wipers, they never rest on the same edge twice in a row? The edges take turns. That helps reduce wiper wear and increases wiper life."

Don't you just love VW.

[smiffy555]

Slacken the Hex nut off, and re-set the arm.

In the old days the wiper arm was splined and so was the wiper spindle - nowadays the arm had a female cone and the spindle is a male cone and therefore the adjustment is infiinite.

[Mighty_G]

thanks for that smiffy, i tried it but it was stuck fast, any tips for loosening off method ?

[smiffy555]

Slacken off the hex nut but do not remove it. Whilst pulling the wiper arm up with your hand, 'lightly' tap the hex nut with a plastic hammer or equivalent.
It's just a case of getting the cones apart. Good luck

[Mighty_G]

cheers i'll give it a go