I've looked in the owners manual and googled but can't find it. I remember in my other Lexus cars being able to pull up on the wipers to put them into winter mode. I tried doing that on LS and the wipers don't stay. I have a 2007, does it have this feature?

 

I don't how you possibly could, the hood gets in the way of the wiper arms in every position I've tried. Even changing the blades is a pain because the arms don't move far enough away from the windshield.

 

No winter mode for the LS wipers as in other models.

The LS has an unusual articulating drivers side wiper. If you notice the drivers wiper pushes out to the side similarly to a bus or truck wiper. The LS has always had this wiper design, it's very unique. Not compatible with a winter mode.

When you change the blades on the LS, turn the car off when the wipers are in their full upwards sweep position and they will freeze there. Much easier.

 

Unusual unless you've had GM and Chrysler land-yachts of yore.

I was truly surprised to see this on the LS. Made me smile, actually.

This design, an articulated one, is essential for windscreens which are wide but not all that tall. The LS qualifies, obviously.

The alternative is either a monowiper geared so it drops it as it reaches the middle of its sweep, see the Mercedes W124 series (I had one, I think it still holds the record of most glass percentage swept at 94%), or offset the left wiper farther to the right so it passes vertical by quite a bit, like on the W126, which is kinda odd-looking and takes a while to not be distracting.

 

Correct, you did used to see it on old Detroit cars that's true. It's uncommon on modern cars.

 

Seems like a weird decision by Lexus.

 

The LS has had these style wipers since the very beginning...I like them personally.

 

Not really. Articulated wipers allow greater coverage of the windshield. Without them, you get larger areas uncleaned. A better design, but a more complicated (and, therefore, more expensive) design.

 

First World problems....lol

I love how well the LS wipers work. My windshield has a heated segment on the lower edge of the windshield which quickly deices that area. No need for "winter mode".

 

I just wanted to get them up and out of the way to clean the windshield but I'll just turn them on with the car running and leave them in the upward position, no biggie, thanks.

 

Just don't forget to lower them before starting your car, or you'll do some paint damage to the trailing edge of your hood!

 

Thanks for the tip Chris.