NHTSA Complaint #10201243 — 2005 AUDI A6

IN ORDER TO WASH THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2005 AUDI A6, I NEED TO LIFT THE WIPERS OFF THE GLASS BUT, ON THE A6, YOU CANNOT LIFT THE WIPERS BECAUSE THEY SET BELOW THE HOOD LINE. THE HOOD BLOCKS MY LIFTING THEM. AUDI PROVIDES A "SERVICE POSITION" FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH MOVES THEM A FEW INCHES ALLOWING ME TO LIFT THEM OFF THE WINDSHIELD SO I CAN CLEAN THE GLASS. IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE "SERVICE POSITION" FOR THE WIPERS, I AM REQUIRED TO MOVE THE IGNITION KEY TO "ON." I TURNED THE IGNITION ON, CHOSE THE "SERVICE POSITION" FOR THE WIPERS, HEADED OUT OF THE CAR AND LIFTED THE WIPERS OFF THE WINDOW. THE WIPERS WERE NOW SEVERAL INCHES AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD, OUT IN SPACE, ALLOWING ME TO WIPE THE GLASS EASILY. WHEN I APPLIED MY WINDEX, THE AUTOMATIC SENSOR THAT STARTS THE WIPERS IF IT SENSES RAIN, NOTED THE LIQUID ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BEGAN TO MOVE THE WIPERS BACK AND FORTH EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STICKING UP AND AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE MOVEMENT BROUGHT THEM TOWARDS MY HEAD AND I JUST MOVED MY HEAD IN TIME NOT TO BE STRUCK IN THE EYE BY THE WIPERS. SINCE THE CAR REQUIRES THAT I TURN THE IGNITION ON TO ACCESS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS "SERVICE POSITION," THE CHOICE OF "SERVICE POSITION" SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF THE AUTOMATIC RAIN SENSOR SO THE WIPERS CAN BE HANDLED SAFELY. UPDATED 01-16-08. *KB