Driver side windshield wiper arm issue?

[LeoDragon]

Has anyone had this issue? I noticed this today when I went to clear the snow off my windshield. As I lifted the wiper arm off the windshield I noticed it bang into the hood. It does not lift all the way up. When I looked closer I saw this. A small amount of paint was scraped off. I didn't lift it enough to do this so it must have been there and didn't notice it until the snow removal. I'm guessing it happened at the dealership.

 

[mldavis2]

Yes, it's in the owner's manual that you have to "park" the wipers on the windshield to avoid chipping the paint. Page 7.33

 

[LeoDragon]

Yes, it's in the owner's manual that you have to "park" the wipers on the windshield to avoid chipping the paint. Page 7.33

Thanks for the update. I did that technique in the manual and it worked. Someone at the dealership was probably in a hurry to clear the windshield. I will mention it to them. thanks again.

 

[Bobr]

Looks as that's the first thing I should protect with film, wrap the edge, definitely.

 

[LeoDragon]

Looks as that's the first thing I should protect with film, wrap the edge, definitely.

If you use the proper technique to put the arms in the proper position shown on page 7.33 you won't need to protect the edge. If you do it as shown you can work behind the bladed and the arms smoothly. These cars are new to Kia so I am sure the guys working there had no idea how to work the arms or they didn't take the time to figure it out. The guy I bought mine from said he had only been working at the dealership less than a month. The damage to mine isn't as big as the picture makes it look. I had to look close and right at it to notice the scrape.

 

[BIGRED]

The same thing happened to mine when I took it to a hand car wash

 

[LeoDragon]

The same thing happened to mine when I took it to a hand car wash

Dang, sorry to hear that. At least we are able to warn others so it doesn't happen to them.

 

[Kamauxx]

These cars are new to Kia so I am sure the guys working there had no idea how to work the arms or they didn't take the time to figure it out.

The Stinger may be new but the Optimas (and probably other Kia models) are done the same way as the Stingers.

 

[BIGRED]

My 2011 Optima SX Turbo did not have the issue of the wiper arms scraping the bonnet when not in the service position

 

[LeoDragon]

The Stinger may be new but the Optimas (and probably other Kia models) are done the same way as the Stingers.

I hear ya. I'm not sure of the turnover rate at dealerships for their employees and if they know all the functionality of every model ( I would assume they would have). Someone clearly did not.

 

[Kamauxx]

My 2011 Optima SX Turbo did not have the issue of the wiper arms scraping the bonnet when not in the service position

My 2017 Optima SXLs windshield wipers were operated in the exact same manner as my Stinger's. Since that model was originally released in 2015 with the 2016 Optimas they've had at least 2.5 years to learn how to operate the current wipers .

 

[LeoDragon]

My 2017 Optima SXLs windshield wipers were operated in the exact same manner as my Stinger's. Since that model was originally released in 2015 with the 2016 Optimas they've had at least 2.5 years to learn how to operate the current wipers .

Well then you are under the assumption that every new employee knows every detail about every car on the lot. That's probably not going to be a true statement.

 

[Marc Collins]

Yes, it's in the owner's manual that you have to "park" the wipers on the windshield to avoid chipping the paint. Page 7.33

So for people who live with snow and ice you have to remember to do this when you turn the car off just in case it snows in between then and when you next use the car? Or, have stuck wipers that will chip the paint on the hood when you try to free them?

I like the Subaru approach--a giant defroster element (like a heavier duty version of the one in the back window) right under the wipers. Not only do you not have to remember to do something in advance, odds are you don't have to manual free the blades because by the time you clear the windows off the rest of the car, the defroster has melted the area enough to loosen or free them.

Or, Volvo, that has the entire front windscreen as a defroster element so you don't have to have all that air blasting on it...you can use that to warm the cabin.

 

[LeoDragon]

So for people who live with snow and ice you have to remember to do this when you turn the car off just in case it snows in between then and when you next use the car? Or, have stuck wipers that will chip the paint on the hood when you try to free them?

I suggest if your windshield is clear right now, try the technique on page 7.33 and it will make sense. When you do this you will then understand what you need to do if you have snow or ice on your windshield. Much easier to see that way. After the engine is off just put it in the "mist" position on the wiper column. Push up on the wiper column like you are doing a one time clearing of the windshield. Hold that position for a few seconds and the wipers will go into about a half wipe on the windshield and stay in that position.

 

[Kamauxx]

Well then you are under the assumption that every new employee knows every detail about every car on the lot. That's probably not going to be a true statement.

My assumption is that a good manager of a company would be training its employees--new and old--on how to properly operate the equipment it deals in.

 

[LeoDragon]

My assumption is that a good manager of a company would be training its employees--new and old--on how to properly operate the equipment it deals in.

I would assume that to, but I think that's a reach, my salesman did not know every feature of my car( being there a short time). That was left to the team that does the checkout of when I bought the car and it was sitting in the cleanup bay for final checkout. Plus when they tell someone to go out and clear cars (probably the new guy) they would have to actually physically get into each car just to remove snow and ice. But I hear ya. I think more care should be taken when doing the smallest detail and that includes just cleaning the windshield off.

 

[Marc Collins]

I suggest if your windshield is clear right now, try the technique on page 7.33 and it will make sense. When you do this you will then understand what you need to do if you have snow or ice on your windshield. Much easier to see that way. After the engine is off just put it in the "mist" position on the wiper column. Push up on the wiper column like you are doing a one time clearing of the windshield. Hold that position for a few seconds and the wipers will go into about a half wipe on the windshield and stay in that position.

That's fine as long as they are not already stuck due to snow or ice, which is very common in the Winter in half of North America and Europe. You will need to anticipate the precipitation and do the procedure as you leave the vehicle--hours ahead or even day ahead. It's too late when you get to the car post snow or freezing rain

 

[LeoDragon]

That's fine as long as they are not already stuck due to snow or ice, which is very common in the Winter in half of North America and Europe. You will need to anticipate the precipitation and do the procedure as you leave the vehicle--hours ahead or even day ahead. It's too late when you get to the car post snow or freezing rain

Yup, I agree with that. We will all need to do that for sure.

 

[robz32]

Has anyone had this issue? I noticed this today when I went to clear the snow off my windshield. As I lifted the wiper arm off the windshield I noticed it bang into the hood. It does not lift all the way up. When I looked closer I saw this. A small amount of paint was scraped off. I didn't lift it enough to do this so it must have been there and didn't notice it until the snow removal. I'm guessing it happened at the dealership.
View attachment 5283

You may want to get that fixed and treated soon, the metal got exposed and there is some oxidation happening there already.

 

[Bobr]

If you use the proper technique to put the arms in the proper position shown on page 7.33 you won't need to protect the edge.

I know that, but issue is — you need to remember about that always, as well as your wife (if you have one and she drive ) So, better to wrap it anyway to not blame yourself later when it accidentally chipped. All things should be convenient.

Btw, does anybody know how common that kind of wipers location where you can't "normally" extend them from the bottom position?