# Windshield Wipers **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chrysler, windshields\ **Created:** [March 19, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792 "2011-03-19T22:18:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dolphin53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@dolphin53](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dolphin53)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/1 "2011-03-19T22:18:49Z")
While visiting family recently, I noticed that many people pull the wipers away from the windshield when parking. They said in the winter it is better and they last longer. I have never heard of this before. Is there a reason for this, or is it harmful? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/2 "2011-03-19T22:28:08Z")
This is done to prevent the wipers from freezing to the windshield if weather conditions are such where this could happen. Because if the wipers are frozen to the windshield and are turned on, the splines in the wiper arms can strip out making the wipers inoperable. Tester ---
**Author:** ![ebko87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@ebko87](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ebko87)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/3 "2011-03-19T22:36:21Z")
This past winter here in New England where there seemed to be a major storm every couple of days in January, I’d pull into the parking lot at work and see a line of cars with their wipers pulled away from the windshield (literally every car). Tester is exactly right about ruining the splines. I know someone years ago who had a wiper freeze to the windshield and ruined it. The other advantage of pulling the wipers out before a snowstorm is that it’s easier to clean (brush) the snow off. ---
**Author:** ![dolphin53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@dolphin53](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dolphin53)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/4 "2011-03-19T22:46:41Z")
Thanks for answering. I live in the Buffalo NY area and have never had a problem with wipers freezing. Usually by the time I am finished brushing the snow off,the car is warm. Guess I would be more afraid of them freezing and breaking the arms when they are pulled away. ---
**Author:** ![jayhawkroy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jayhawkroy/32/33_2.png) [@jayhawkroy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jayhawkroy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/5 "2011-03-19T23:13:54Z")
Freezing rain followed by severe cold generally makes for a bigger problem than just snow. ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/6 "2011-03-20T01:01:20Z")
I have never had a problem loosening along the blade with a scraper, then whacking them a few times on the wind shield to get rid of any ice build up. Do it if you wish, it is not a bad idea, but I don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/7 "2011-03-20T03:04:42Z")
Not only snow, but ice on the windshield as well. You get a bunch of ice on your windshield, it’s nice to know you can scrape it all without having to worry about scraping the wipers too. [![](http://pic.photobucket.com/bwe.png) ](http://pic.photobucket.com/bwe.png) ---
**Author:** ![psanzone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@psanzone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/psanzone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/8 "2011-03-20T14:12:22Z")
I cracked my windshield once doing that kind of whacking. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers/62792/9 "2011-03-20T15:41:54Z")
It’s also a good idea to do it in very hot weather; the rubber lasts longer if it is not “glued” to the windshield.