RookieLEX

When I try to change my wiper blades the arm is touching the hood. I cannot even lift up the passenger side at all unless I open up the whole hood.
I have try to adjust the arms and move the blades up on the windshield, that fixed the hood clearance but when i sit inside the car it's in the way and when I turn the wipers on it wipes too far out and reach outside the windshield. I notice the arm section with the spring does not sit on the windshield flush. i have try to tighten the 14mm bolt while holding the arm down but still no luck.

jagtoes

In order to change the blades you need to open the hood.

RookieLEX

So the arm touching the hood is normal too?
Along with passenger side not able to lift up?

mlacomb

I just fire up the wipers, then shut the car off when they're in a good spot... never thought about opening the hood

jagtoes

Yes that is the way it is designed.

RookieLEX

I don't think it's normal. Not sure if you see the close up pic but because of this I have paint chips on the hood.
I have changed wiper blades on many cars (lifting the blades on a 90 degree angle) before and this is the only one that require to open the hood to do it.

jagtoes

Our kids Audi A4 and our Jaguar all require the hood to be raised to change the blades . Other cars have also partially covered the lower part of the wiper arm with the hood. If the wiper arm is actually touching the hood then there is a problem where either someone tried to lift the arm and chipped the paint or the hood is mis-aligned. There should be around 1/8" clearance between the arm and the hood. If it is touching then someone did something to make that happen. I have also seen some cars that have a "park" position in order to change the blades.

jagtoes

OK looking at the picture I can see where someone improperly lifted the arm and chipped the paint. Clearly the incorrect way to replace the blades and the results have shown the damage. Operator error.

codejd

Or just put them into winter-mode first.

LexBob2

When I had my ES350's that's what I did.

RookieLEX

I guess from now in I either pop the hood or turn the wiper on half way up and turn car off right away to install new wiper blades.

codejd

In case you don't have the manual, go online and download a PDF as it is very helpful;

2008 ES350 Manual

On page 170, it explains what I (and LexBob2) were talking about;

nguyent8

Thank codejd, it's very helpful. Makes sense that we don't need to open up the hood to clear out snow

codejd

Sure. It's also very helpful to leave them in that position during the winter as your windshield defrost will work better, melting the snow/ice from your blades so you don't have to knock them with a scraper or whatever.