Wipers Sit in the Void!

[SolarFarmer]

Have any other snow dwellers had their BS wipers encased in ice under the back of the hood? I'm shocked at the size of the void that house the wiper blades. I can't see a way of raising the blades in the event of a freezing rain or as it was last week, a wet snow that froze over night. I would love to hear some hacks that other BS owners have used to deal with this.

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[KidWiff]

i was wondering about that myself. my old vw gti had a feature that allowed you to shut the car off, then engage the wipers and they would stop the mid-sweep. Then you could raise them off the glass.. Overnight snow was easy (easier) to remove without the wipers getting frozen in.. Nice feature and i don't think the BS has it. Hoping the defroster has some serious oomph!

 

[Mark S.]

I would be careful about lifting the wipers off the glass when mid-sweep. When you power the car back up the wipers will immediately park. If they are raised off the glass the arms will contact the hood, likely taking a gouge out of the paint. If you need to keep your windshield clear in inclement weather consider a windshield cover. A bonus with a cover is you never need to scrape the ice off.

 

[KidWiff]

I would be careful about lifting the wipers off the glass when mid-sweep. When you power the car back up the wipers will immediately park. If they are raised off the glass the arms will contact the hood, likely taking a gouge out of the paint. If you need to keep your windshield clear in inclement weather consider a windshield cover. A bonus with a cover is you never need to scrape the ice off.

Definitely wouldn’t recommend that. With the vw, you would only raise the wipers off the glass with the car off and wipers STOPPED mid-sweep. (It was a feature of the vw) it would be nice if most cars had that capability.

 

[Bucko]

And add a beep sound.

 

[Big Ben]

Have any other snow dwellers had their BS wipers encased in ice under the back of the hood? I'm shocked at the size of the void that house the wiper blades. I can't see a way of raising the blades in the event of a freezing rain or as it was last week, a wet snow that froze over night. I would love to hear some hacks that other BS owners have used to deal with this.

You have to turn off the ignition while the blades are operating and in mid swipe. Very annoying as they resume when you start up.

 

[Jill]

Have any other snow dwellers had their BS wipers encased in ice under the back of the hood? I'm shocked at the size of the void that house the wiper blades. I can't see a way of raising the blades in the event of a freezing rain or as it was last week, a wet snow that froze over night. I would love to hear some hacks that other BS owners have used to deal with this.

The cowl area in my 21 BL is heated. I’m in Canada.

 

[Mark S.]

The cowl area in my 21 BL is heated. I’m in Canada.

Well lah-dee-dah for you! Rub it in why don't you?

Seriously, isn't it funny how marketers make decisions like this? If you live in Winnipeg and buy a Bronco Sport your wipers are protected from the winter elements. If you live a couple of hours south in Grand Forks, ND, too bad, so sad!

 

[Jill]

Well lah-dee-dah for you! Rub it in why don't you?

Seriously, isn't it funny how marketers make decisions like this? If you live in Winnipeg and buy a Bronco Sport your wipers are protected from the winter elements. If you live a couple of hours south in Grand Forks, ND, too bad, so sad!

Ford Canada has its own Marketing Department and advocates for equipment and options that are important to Canadians based on climate and preferences. Often Canada has different option packages than the US. Example: I had a Canadian Touring Package $2000 option on my previous Escape Titanium.

 

[SolarFarmer]

The cowl area in my 21 BL is heated. I’m in Canada.

Wild...I have to suffer with the ice in my BB.

 

[RushMan]

Have any other snow dwellers had their BS wipers encased in ice under the back of the hood? I'm shocked at the size of the void that house the wiper blades. I can't see a way of raising the blades in the event of a freezing rain or as it was last week, a wet snow that froze over night. I would love to hear some hacks that other BS owners have used to deal with this.

After seeing the size of that gap, for the first time in my driving life, I bought a windshield cover. Ordered it from Amazon. It'll arrive months before my car arrives.
My car is garaged when I'm home about 99% of the time, but once a week, I do an overnighter and park outside in a public location. I'll be prepared.
If you're not familiar with these things, there are two flaps which tucked into the doors, straps around the side view mirrors, and lower straps which tie down to the fenders or hook to your wheels.

 

[SolarFarmer]

After seeing the size of that gap, for the first time in my driving life, I bought a windshield cover. Ordered it from Amazon. It'll arrive months before my car arrives.
My car is garaged when I'm home about 99% of the time, but once a week, I do an overnighter and park outside in a public location. I'll be prepared.
If you're not familiar with these things, there are two flaps which tucked into the doors, straps around the side view mirrors, and lower straps which tie down to the fenders or hook to your wheels.

I see how that isn't a huge pain in the ass for you once a week. As a daily thing...I'll take my chances with occasional ice!!

 

[RushMan]

I see how that isn't a huge pain in the ass for you once a week. As a daily thing...I'll take my chances with occasional ice!!

You just throw it in the trunk and install it when the forecast calls for snow or icing conditions.
I don't see it as a big deal, and not much of a hassle at all.

 

[coopny]

I got my vehicle in March so I was spared the worst of northeast winters and haven't experienced it yet.

All models except OBX in the US lacked the heated windshield wiper (Canada was all trims as I understand it). 2024 models cut the heated wiper from the OBX (effectively all trims) in the US. Can't speak to Canada.

Generally every car I've had I've been able to pick up the wiper blades so they're facing out (like I'm changing them) without their range of motion able to scratch any paint in any way. However, I haven't tested the BS with this with the wipers fully off and at rest position yet. That prevents ice from adhering to the rubber of the wiper blades and the wiper blade assembly at least. It doesn't prevent ice from freezing the arm itself at the base, but it gives you more surface area to get at with an ice scraper (in conjunction with the front defroster running to help).

Sunshades are often double sided and switching to the darker side before expected cold temps/icy or snowy condition can help keep the windshield and interior warm to deter ice buildup.

Wild...I have to suffer with the ice in my BB.

Assuming that Lethbridge is Alberta, Windshield Wiper De-Icers are standard in all trims of the BS in Canada, at least in the 2023 model year (I believe this was true for 2021 and 2022 MY as well, can't speak for 24). This also assumes the vehicle was originally ordered (retail or custom) for shipment to Canada and not the US. The windshield wiper de-icer is on whenever you hit the rear defroster button to on.

 

[SolarFarmer]

I got my vehicle in March so I was spared the worst of northeast winters and haven't experienced it yet.

All models except OBX in the US lacked the heated windshield wiper (Canada was all trims as I understand it). 2024 models cut the heated wiper from the OBX (effectively all trims) in the US. Can't speak to Canada.

Generally every car I've had I've been able to pick up the wiper blades so they're facing out (like I'm changing them) without their range of motion able to scratch any paint in any way. However, I haven't tested the BS with this with the wipers fully off and at rest position yet. That prevents ice from adhering to the rubber of the wiper blades and the wiper blade assembly at least. It doesn't prevent ice from freezing the arm itself at the base, but it gives you more surface area to get at with an ice scraper (in conjunction with the front defroster running to help).

Sunshades are often double sided and switching to the darker side before expected cold temps/icy or snowy condition can help keep the windshield and interior warm to deter ice buildup.



Assuming that Lethbridge is Alberta, Windshield Wiper De-Icers are standard in all trims of the BS in Canada, at least in the 2023 model year (I believe this was true for 2021 and 2022 MY as well, can't speak for 24). This also assumes the vehicle was originally ordered (retail or custom) for shipment to Canada and not the US. The windshield wiper de-icer is on whenever you hit the rear defroster button to on.

I see that in the manual now, thanks. I'm looking forward to the next snowfall to see how well it clears the cowl. I bought the car for my wife so I haven't gone through the manual with a fine tooth comb yet but it does seem like an odd place for it- and nothing in the contents about it. I drive late model pick ups most of the time so this is new to me. Cheers.

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