Left Wiper Arm scrapes hood when raised

14468 Views 21 Replies 13 Participants Last post by ringmaster, Sep 13, 2018

Aggie81

Discussion Starter · May 22, 2016

3

I washed mine and found that the left wiper arm will hit and scratch the back of the hood deck when raised. I don't know if this is just mine but be careful when you raise the arm to clean the windshield. I hope the photos show what happened better than I can explain. I am going to get some touch up paint and go from there as it is all the way to the metal.
It was the last thing I expected when I raised the arm. The right one is fine but be careful on the left.
I've had mine a little over a month with 500 miles and really enjoy it.

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Michael P

· #2 · May 23, 2016

The manual tells us to raise the wipers only in mid position. The dealer did the same thing to mine.

Mike

Paul Bry

· #3 · May 23, 2016

Thank for the heads up!

Aggie81

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 24, 2016

Alright I give, where in the manual does it say to raise only mid position? I have looked in the big manual and supplement and can't find it.
And what man reads the instruction manual anyhow? (I would insert a confused emoji now but they aren't working yet). I try to read mine but fall asleep.

I hope they fixed your scratch and it looks as good as new.
Take care.
Lee

Michael P

· #5 · May 24, 2016

Lee,

I will find the page for you sometime tomorrow when I get off work. This group has been a little slow jumping on me for reading the manual. You would be surprised what is in the darn thing.
My biggest surprise was the torque specs for the lug nuts--150lb/ft. That is just crazy!
I have been too busy driving the car to get the scratch fixed but will soon. Mine is much smaller than yours.
Good luck with the car and enjoy it. Did you get the track package? And are you going to Utah for the day on the track with a GT350?

Mike

Reactions: 2

rob-wl

· #6 · May 24, 2016

I'm really bummed for you that your car got scratched - but "thank you" for the heads-up. Hope you're able to get it touched-up soon.

Aggie81

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 24, 2016

I didn't know there was such a thing that existed in Utah. I am interested in going and will give them a call. I would like to meet and shake the hands of the engineers that designed the car.
Mine is white with blue stripes and Tech package. Being in southeast Texas and over 50, I need AC. I am waiting for the diff and tranny coolers to come out and will install them on the car. I've added the oil separators and found them cheapest at Ford Racing Parts for Less - BuyFordRacing.com and they are real easy to install. The right one is the same as for the coyote 5.0 engine and the one you really need. They won't be that easy to service but ok. The fit and finish is better than the aftermarkets I looked into. I think the man I talked to is named Mike but I don't remember. They are good folks.
Texas is a front license plate state so I bought the Craig front plate holder and it was an easy install as well.
I will need to find a cheater pipe to break the lug nuts loose and tighten.
Time for bed and where did I put that manual?

Lee

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Michael P

· #8 · May 24, 2016

Lee,
Go to the Ford Racing School website. Click on programs and at the bottom of the page is a small blue block "GT350 Track Attack". It will direct you to the appropriate place, provide you with information about the program, dates and contact information. I have talked to both Bill and Tom and they are just great guys to work with.
Don't confuse the Track Attack program to the program they have at different tracks to promote the car. This is the third SVT vehicle that I have and I never got notified that they had that promotional. I had to find out about it thru a friend in the PCA (Porsche Club of Amer).
If you go to Track Attack, you don't need any prior experience and you may want to consider a second day to make your trip worth while.
I am schedule for Oct.
Mike

Michael P

· #9 · May 24, 2016

Page 38 of the Shelby supplement Changing the wiper blades. I thought I saw it in another spot that was more towards the cleaning side but will look again
Mike

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Copyless

· #10 · May 24, 2016

I read every manual and instruction sheet, it drives my wife crazy (well, crazier) I will even read the instructions that come in a package even though I have maybe built or used the item several times. It is important to read it, for the wiper arm as you now know, and also for what Michael pointed out, I don't think anyone would even think of using 150lbft on the lug nuts unless you read the manual, I mean that would break off probably 85-90% of most lug studs.

The school in Utah is gt350trackattack.com and the one that you get the letter in the mail about is the North American Track Tour and it is at gt350tracktour.com, but you need the number off of the letter to get past the home page, unless they changed something.

Aggie81

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 25, 2016

Michael P said:
Page 38 of the Shelby supplement Changing the wiper blades. I thought I saw it in another spot that was more towards the cleaning side but will look again
Mike

Well what can I say?! I was expecting something more along the lines of don't lift the blades unless in the middle or you will scratch your hood big time.
Thanks, I hope that others don't do the bonehead move I did but then I wouldn't have had a reason to meet the others in here.
I too read the manuals but need to pay closer attention.
Thanks for the heads up on the track attack.

tomt23

· #12 · May 27, 2016

CHASSIS #4058, Shadow Black, Tech Pak. After reading your thread I went to check mine and yes I scratched the hood in the same place. Got out my black Sharpie and colored it in. Guess I am getting some touch-up paint. That is really something that deserves a hang-tag from the factory.

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GT350 Stevie

· #13 · Nov 13, 2016

I've had my car just over a month now I had it in the dealer last week. When I went to pick it up all washed and nice and shiny. I noticed it's first and only scratch on the left side of the hood edge. I brought it to the attention of the dealerand they took full blame for it. I think they were hoping I wouldn't notice. They said they would repair the scratch by blowing it in with a paint gun. I'm a little nervous about this because I think it may show, that a repair was made. My other option would be to just touch it up with a match stick, old school. Any advise on these two options, would be great.

kartguy898

· #14 · Nov 14, 2016

Thanks for the heads-up on this.

I put one of those clear vinyl bumpers that you use on a cabinet door on the cowl facing side of the wiper arm. You can't see it from outside the car and it contacts the hood edge first with a bit of resistance in case you forget...

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HELLFIRE

· #15 · Sep 12, 2018

Well I have a little chip in where the wiper hits as well, nothing as big as the original poster, it's tiny but pissed cause it must of been the dealer who did it.
Anyways anybody putting a pad or something like that on the arm of the wiper as like a precautionary thing? I think that would be smart as long as it is a low profile pad or dark foam?

HELLFIRE

· #16 · Sep 12, 2018

kartguy898 said:
Thanks for the heads-up on this.

I put one of those clear vinyl bumpers that you use on a cabinet door on the cowl facing side of the wiper arm. You can't see it from outside the car and it contacts the hood edge first with a bit of resistance in case you forget...

Can you show a picture of this or send me a link to what you used?
Thanks

ringmaster

· #17 · Sep 12, 2018

HELLFIRE said:
Can you show a picture of this or send me a link to what you used?
Thanks

Some folks are using a small piece of XPEL, Suntek, or some other paint protection film on this area to keep the wiper off the paint. Might work a little better than a cabinet bumper. ;-). Or you can just remember to not lift the driver side wiper blade up too far.

johnny1

· #18 · Sep 12, 2018

My 16 and now 17 didn't have the scratches (lucky me) but both cars the arm seems to be at an angle to where if you pulled up on arm it would hit the bottom edge at an angle to where it wouldn't scratch and you would have to pull hard enough to almost bend the arm (if thats possible the way they're made) and even then couldn't pull the arm enough to make a scrape or scratch. They just bump at the bottom of hood. You would have to put brute force on both of my cars to force the arm enough to leave a mark. And even then I think the angle would make the arm try to bend first.

fpGT350

· #19 · Sep 12, 2018

You are not alone. Discovered the same thing on my new 2018 when washing for the first time yesterday.

HELLFIRE

· #20 · Sep 12, 2018

ringmaster said:
HELLFIRE said:

Can you show a picture of this or send me a link to what you used?
Thanks

Click to expand...

Some folks are using a small piece of XPEL, Suntek, or some other paint protection film on this area to keep the wiper off the paint. Might work a little better than a cabinet bumper. 😉. Or you can just remember to not lift the driver side wiper blade up too far.

No sure thats enough protection for the force people use when lifting them. I think the cabinet pad maybe a better solution because of this.
And it's not me I'm worried about but rather the dealership service department and any other people that do work on it. Like for example when I go to get my expel film on next week then ceramic coated the week after that..

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