These instructions apply to the Volvo XC60 Mk2 (246) 2018-present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
To change the blades or clear snow on your Volvo XC60 (246, 2018–present) you need the wipers in their upright service position. Park them normally and they sit tucked under the bonnet lip out of reach — the XC60 sets the service position from the centre touchscreen. It’s a deliberate feature, not a fault: the car simply lifts the arms clear of the scuttle so you can work on them without straining anything. On this model there’s no lever or button on the arm itself; the whole thing is handled through the screen, which is why owners who go looking for a mechanical release come up empty.
Why There’s a Service Position
When the XC60’s wipers finish a sweep they drop right down to the base of the windscreen, where the arms sit low against the scuttle panel under the trailing edge of the bonnet. That’s good for aerodynamics and keeps them out of your line of sight, but it leaves almost no clearance to grab and lift them. Levering an arm up from that parked spot forces the wiper linkage against its stop and can flex the arm or chip the paint on the bonnet lip. Raising the arms to the middle of the glass first gives you room to unclip a blade or fold the arm fully forward, which is exactly what the service position is for.
Before You Begin
- Close the bonnet fully. With the bonnet open the arms would foul it as they rise, so the mode won’t behave as intended — latch it first.
- Have the car stationary and safely parked before you begin.
- Switch the wipers fully off at the stalk; the service option won’t arm while they’re running.
- Free any frozen blades first. If the rubber is iced to the glass, warm the screen and lift the blade gently by hand before raising the arms, so the motor isn’t fighting a stuck blade.
- Have the new blades to hand and work one arm at a time so the other stays supported.
Activating Service Position
- Make sure the bonnet is closed, the car is stationary and the wipers are switched off.
- On the centre touchscreen, scroll to and select ‘Windscreen wipers – service position’.
- The arms move to the raised service position; lift them off the glass to change blades or clear ice.
Once the arms are standing off the screen you can fold each one fully forward on its pivot to reach the blade clip. Take the weight of the arm as you do it so it doesn’t drop back against the glass.
Returning Them to Normal
Fold the arms back onto the screen, then switch the wipers on (or deactivate service position on the screen) to return them to park. Let the motor draw the arms down to their parked spot on its own rather than pushing them by hand — forcing them against the drive can knock the park position out. If the arms still stand proud, run a single wipe and they should settle back under the scuttle line.
Won’t Activate?
- Switch the wipers fully off first — the mode won’t arm otherwise.
- Close the bonnet and make sure the car is stationary.
- Check you’ve selected the right screen entry — the wording sits with the vehicle/wiper settings, not the climate or media pages.
- Free frozen blades before retrying; a blade stuck to the glass can stop the arms lifting cleanly.
- Try again after cycling the screen if nothing happens; make sure the car is fully awake and the wipers are idle.
Changing the Blades
With the arm raised and folded forward, support it so it can’t spring back and crack the glass. Most blades on this car use a common clip or hook fitting — press the release tab and slide the old blade off the arm hook, then click the new one on until it locks. Check the exact blade length and fitting for your car in the handbook before buying, as they differ between the driver and passenger sides. Lower the arm gently back onto the screen when you’re done and confirm it sits flat before you drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put Volvo XC60 wipers in service position?
With the bonnet closed and wipers off, select ‘Windscreen wipers – service position’ on the centre touchscreen; the arms rise to the middle of the glass so you can lift them off to swap blades or clear ice.
Why won’t they lift the normal way?
They park low under the bonnet lip on purpose, with barely any room to grab them. Use the service mode to raise them clear rather than forcing them, which can bend an arm or chip the paint.
How do I get them back down?
Fold the arms onto the screen and switch the wipers on, or deactivate the mode on the screen. Let the motor park them itself rather than pushing them by hand.
Any tools needed?
None for raising the arms — it’s all done from the touchscreen. To fit the new blades you just need the replacement blades themselves; no tools are required for the clip fitting.
Does using the service position reset anything?
No. It only moves the wiper arms; it doesn’t clear the service reminder or any stored codes. The maintenance light is a separate reset done after a service.
Can I just lift the wipers at their parked spot instead?
It’s not worth the risk on this car — there’s little clearance at park and levering them up strains the linkage. The service position takes a few seconds on the screen and saves a bent arm.
Doing winter prep? A stored fault can be checked on autodtcs.com, and our XC60 service reset clears the maintenance reminder after a service.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Volvo. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.