Set the Wipers to Service Position

To change the blades or clear snow on your Volvo XC40 (536, 2017–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 XC40 sets the service position from the centre touchscreen. It’s a normal feature, not a fault: with the wipers off, the arms rest low and there’s little to grab, so Volvo lets you raise them on demand from the screen. You’ll want it whenever you fit fresh blades, stand the arms up before a frosty night so the rubber can’t freeze to the glass and tear, or reach into the scuttle to clear leaves. Because it’s a menu function rather than a stalk trick, there’s no timing to catch — you just tap and the arms move.

Why There’s a Service Position

When you switch the XC40’s wipers off, the arms drop to a low park against the scuttle, with the pivot end tucked partly under the trailing edge of the bonnet. That keeps them out of your eyeline and cuts wind noise, but it leaves almost nothing of the arm exposed to grip. If you lever one straight up from park you’re fighting the bonnet lip and the arm’s return spring at once, which is how arms get bent, blade clips snap, and bonnet paint gets chipped. The service position moves both arms up onto the glass to a raised rest point where there’s room behind them and the hinge folds forward freely — and on this car you trigger it from the display rather than by any stalk sequence.

First, a Few Checks

• Close the bonnet fully — open, it sits in the arms’ swing path, so raising them could catch it.
• Make sure the car is stationary and the wipers are switched fully off — the mode won’t arm with the wipers still active.
• Check the blades aren’t frozen to the glass — free them with de-icer or warm (not boiling) water first, so the motor doesn’t stall lifting a stuck arm.
• Have your replacement blades unpacked and ready before you raise the arms, so they don’t stand under spring tension longer than needed.
• Work one arm at a time and keep clear as the arms move to position.

Activating Service Position

1. Make sure the bonnet is closed, the car is stationary and the wipers are switched off.
2. On the centre touchscreen, scroll to and select ‘Windscreen wipers – service position’.
3. The arms move to the raised service position; lift them off the glass to change blades or clear ice.

Returning Them

When you’re finished, fold each arm back down onto the screen by hand — don’t let a spring-loaded arm snap onto bare glass, as that can crack it. With both arms flat, switch the wipers on (or deactivate service position on the screen) to return them to their normal parked spot under the bonnet lip.

Won’t Activate?

• Switch the wipers fully off first — the mode won’t arm while they’re still running or on auto.
• Close the bonnet and make sure the car is stationary; the option may be greyed out otherwise.
• Blades frozen down — if the arms strain but don’t rise, clear the ice from the rubber first, then try again.
• Menu not showing the option — make sure you’re on the wiper/climate area of the screen and scroll through fully.
• Nothing moved — confirm the car is awake and stationary, then re-select the option.

Changing the Blades

With the arm raised, hold it steady so it can’t spring back while you swap the blade. The XC40’s blades use a clip or hook fitting: press the release tab, slide the old blade off the hook, and push the new one on until it clicks. Give it a gentle tug to confirm it’s seated, then lower the arm slowly onto the glass rather than letting it drop. Do the second arm the same way, lowering each one by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I put Volvo XC40 wipers in service position?

With the bonnet closed and wipers off, select ‘Windscreen wipers – service position’ on the centre touchscreen; the arms rise so you can lift them off the glass.

Any tools needed?

None — it’s all done from the touchscreen. You’ll only need your hands, plus the new blades if you’re fitting them.

How do I get them back down?

Fold both arms flat onto the screen by hand, then switch the wipers on or deactivate the service position on the screen. They’ll return to their normal parked spot.

Why won’t they lift the normal way?

They park low under the bonnet on purpose, so there’s little clearance to pull them up by hand. Forcing them risks bending an arm or chipping the trim — use the service mode instead.

Why won’t it enter the service position?

Usually the wipers aren’t fully off, or the car isn’t stationary with the bonnet closed. Make sure all three are true, then re-select the option on the screen.

Does service position reset anything?

No. It only repositions the wiper arms and doesn’t touch service reminders, fault codes, or any settings. It’s purely a mechanical aid for blade changes and winter parking.

Doing winter prep? A stored fault can be checked on autodtcs.com, and our XC40 service reset clears the maintenance reminder after a service.