These instructions apply to the Volvo V40 Mk2 (525) 2012-2019.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
To change the blades or clear snow on your Volvo V40 (525, 2012–2019) you need the wipers in their upright service position. Park them normally and they sit tucked under the bonnet lip out of reach — the V40 uses a short ignition-and-stalk routine. It’s a built-in feature, not a fault: the car lifts the arms clear of the scuttle so you can renew blades or stand them up in frost. There’s no menu on this generation; instead you cycle the ignition and give the stalk a specific push, and the arms swing up on their own.
Why There’s a Service Position
When the V40’s wipers finish a sweep they drop to the base of the windscreen and sit low against the scuttle, tucked under the trailing edge of the bonnet. That keeps them out of the airflow and out of sight, but it leaves little room to grip and lift them. Levering an arm up from park loads the wiper linkage against its stop and can flex the arm or chip the bonnet edge. Raising the arms to the middle of the glass first gives you the clearance to unclip a blade or fold the arm forward, which is exactly what the service routine is for.
Before You Begin
- Close the bonnet fully before you begin — the arms rise into the space just below it, so latch it first.
- Get the timing ready. The stalk only triggers the lift for a few seconds after you switch the ignition off, so know the steps before you start.
- Free any frozen blades first. If the rubber is iced to the glass, warm the screen and ease the blade loose by hand so the motor isn’t dragging a stuck blade up.
- Have the new blades ready so you’re not leaving the arms standing while you fetch them.
- Work one arm at a time so the other stays supported against the screen.
Activating Service Position
- Make sure the bonnet is closed.
- Briefly press the start/stop button to turn the ignition to position I, then briefly press again to turn it to position 0 (off).
- Within 3 seconds, push the wiper stalk up and hold it — the arms move up to the service position.
- Lift the arms off the glass to change blades or clear ice.
On cars without a start/stop button, switch the ignition on then off and do the same stalk-up within a few seconds.
Once the arms are standing off the screen you can fold each one forward on its pivot to reach the blade clip. Support the arm as you do it so it doesn’t spring back onto the glass.
Returning Them to Normal
Fold the arms back onto the screen, then switch the ignition on and operate the wipers once to return them to park. Let the motor draw the arms down itself rather than forcing them by hand, which can knock the park position out. If an arm still stands proud, run one more wipe and it should drop back under the scuttle line.
Won’t Lift?
- Too slow — the stalk only triggers it for a few seconds after ignition-off; retry.
- Bonnet ajar — latch it fully.
- Wrong ignition state — you need to have gone to position I and then back to 0 before pushing the stalk, not simply pressed the stalk with the car live.
- Blades frozen — free them from the glass first so the motor can lift them.
- Wipers left running — make sure they’re parked and switched off before you start the routine.
Changing the Blades
With the arm raised and folded forward, hold it so it can’t spring back and crack the glass. Blades on this car use a common clip or hook fitting — press the release tab, slide the old blade off the arm hook, then click the new one on until it locks. Check the correct blade length and fitting for your car in the handbook first, as the driver and passenger sides differ. Lower the arm gently onto the glass when you’re done and confirm it sits flat before driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put Volvo V40 wipers in service position?
Ignition to position I then 0, and within 3 seconds push the wiper stalk up and hold; the arms rise to the middle of the glass so you can lift them off.
Why won’t they lift the normal way?
They park low under the bonnet on purpose, with little room to grab them. Use the service routine 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 them onto the screen, switch the ignition on, and run the wipers once so the motor parks them. Don’t push them back by hand.
Any tools needed?
None — just the wiper stalk to raise the arms, and the replacement blades themselves. The clip fitting needs no tools.
Why won’t it enter the service position?
Most often the stalk push came too late — it only works for a few seconds after ignition-off. Switch the ignition to I then 0 and push the stalk up straight away, with the bonnet closed.
Does using it 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.
Doing winter prep? A stored fault can be checked on autodtcs.com, and our V40 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.