Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

Why are my windshield wipers sticking up?

It was raining on my way home from work tonight and when I parked and shut the wipers off, they didn’t return to the down position—why are my windshield wipers sticking up?

avatar
Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
This is a great question—there are several reasons why your windshield wipers might get stuck in the upright position, but the most common is improper locking of the wiper transmission due to a bent metal tab.
When your wipers are working as intended, this metal tab is meant to touch the transmission so that it can be locked onto when the wipers are switched off, keeping them in the down position. Over time, however, this tab can get bent out of place, preventing the wipers from locking correctly.
To remedy this issue, you’ll need to open up the hood of your car and find the wiper transmission on the driver’s side of the vehicle—-it can usually be found underneath a removable plastic cover. This will require a flathead screwdriver and a wrench.
Once you locate the bent metal tab, use the flathead screwdriver and a hammer to bend the tab back into the correct position, so that it can be caught by the transmission.
Make sure you aren’t paying too much for your car insurance with
Jerry
, the #1
car insurance
comparison app and broker—all you have to do is sign up, answer a short questionnaire, and Jerry will start comparing quotes. On average, Jerry users save $887 a year on their car insurance payments, so download today to find out how much you could be saving!
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings