These instructions apply to the Polestar 2 (2021-2024).
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
To change the wiper blades on your Polestar 2 (2021–2024), the arms first need to be lifted into their service position. You activate it from the central touchscreen so the wipers move clear of the bonnet.
The service position — some owners call it the maintenance or winter position — simply lifts the wiper arms high off the glass and holds them there. You reach for it whenever you need the arms out of their normal parked spot: renewing worn blades, standing the arms up before a hard frost so the rubber doesn’t freeze to the screen and tear when you drive off, or clearing built-up leaves and grit from the scuttle channel at the base of the windscreen. On the Polestar 2 there is no lever under the bonnet and no fiddly knack with the stalk; the arms are commanded up through a setting in the car’s central display. It is a designed-in feature, not a fault, and it takes only a few seconds to trigger.
Why There’s a Service Position
At rest, the Polestar 2 parks its wipers low, tucked down against the bottom edge of the windscreen where the arms sit partly beneath the trailing lip of the bonnet. That tidy parked position is exactly what makes them awkward to service. If you try to haul an arm straight up from park, it fouls the bonnet edge before it reaches a useful angle — enough to bend the arm, strain the linkage, or chip the paint along the bonnet lip. Putting the car into service position first drives the arms up and away from that pinch point, so they stand well clear of the panel and you have room to work on the blades without forcing anything.
Before You Begin
- Keep the bonnet closed. The arms swing up high into the space the bonnet would occupy, so the panel must be down before you activate the mode.
- Stop the car and switch the wipers off. The setting is meant to be used stationary, with the wipers idle rather than mid-sweep.
- Free any frozen blades first. If the rubber is iced to the glass, clear it before you trigger the position — a blade stuck fast makes the motor labour against it.
- Have the new blades to hand. The arms hold their raised position, but it is easier to work with the replacements open and ready.
- Work one arm at a time so you are never fighting to steady both at once.
Moving the Wipers to Service Position
- Stop the vehicle and make sure the wipers are switched off.
- On the central display, open the menu and select ‘More’ > ‘Mirrors and wipers’.
- Activate service mode — the wipers move up to the service position.
- Lift the arms and swap the blades.
Returning the Wipers to Normal
When the new blades are fitted, fold each arm gently back down onto the glass first — never let one snap back on its own. Then deactivate service mode on the display, or simply operate the wipers, and the arms return to their normal parked position under the scuttle. Give the screen a quick wet sweep afterwards to check the blades sit flush and wipe cleanly across their full travel.
If It Doesn’t Work
- The car isn’t stationary. Bring it to a complete stop before you go into the menu.
- The wipers were still running. Switch them fully off, then select the setting again.
- The bonnet is open. Many cars block the raised position while the bonnet is up as a safety interlock — close it and retry.
- The blades are frozen down. Ice locking the arms to the glass can stall the movement; clear it first.
- You’re on the wrong menu. The control lives under ‘More’ then ‘Mirrors and wipers’ — not the general wiper on/off screen.
- Nothing moved at all. Wake the display, confirm the car is on but stationary, and select the option once more.
Changing the Blades — What to Expect
With the arms raised, support the arm with one hand while you release the old blade so it cannot spring down and crack the glass. Most blades use a simple clip or hook fitting: press the release tab, slide the blade off the arm, and clip the new one on until it locks. If you are unsure which length or fitting your car takes, check the handbook or measure the old blades before buying. Once the new blade is seated, lower the arm slowly back to the glass rather than letting it drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put the Polestar 2 wipers in service position?
With the car stopped and the wipers off, open the central display, go to ‘More’ then ‘Mirrors and wipers’, and activate service mode. The arms rise clear of the bonnet ready for you to work on the blades.
Why can’t I just lift the arms from park?
Parked, the arms sit under the bonnet lip and can’t swing up far enough. Forcing one risks bending the arm or chipping the paint. Service mode raises them clear and protects the linkage.
Do I need any tools?
No. Putting the wipers into service position is entirely a touchscreen setting — no tools involved. You’ll only need the replacement blades themselves for the actual swap.
How do I get the wipers back down?
Fold the arms back onto the glass, then deactivate service mode on the display or operate the wipers. They drop back to their normal parked position under the scuttle.
Why won’t it enter the service position?
Usually the car isn’t fully stopped, the wipers are still on, or the bonnet is open. Make sure the car is stationary with the wipers off and the bonnet closed, then reselect the option.
Does using service position reset anything?
No. It only moves the wiper arms to a raised parking angle for maintenance. It doesn’t clear service reminders or change any other settings — the wipers simply return to normal when you deactivate it.
If a wiper-related warning appears afterwards, you can look up what the fault code means on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Polestar. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.