History Main / WiperStart

** Since most ambulances in the United States are Fords, many [=EMTs=] and Paramedics will end up doing this when trying to turn on the headlights, since most [=E350s=], the usual model ambulances are based on, have the windshield wiper control on the left hand side where the light controls are on most regular cars. Or do the inverse when their (often 24 hour) shift is over and they're going home in their own cars.

** Since most ambulances in the United States are Fords, many [=EMTs=] and Paramedics will end up doing this when trying to turn on the headlights, since most [=F350s=], the usual model ambulances are based on, have the windshield wiper control on the left hand side where the light controls are on most regular cars. Or do the inverse when their (often 24 hour) shift is over and they're going home in their own cars.

** Since most ambulances in the United States are Fords, many [=EMTs=] and Paramedics will end up doing this when trying to turn on the headlights, since most [=F350s=], the usual model ambulances are based on, have the windshield wiper control on the left hand side where the light controls are on most regular cars. Or do the inverse when their shift is over and they're going home in their own cars.

** Since most ambulances in the United States are Fords, many [=EMTs=] and Paramedics will end up doing this when trying to turn on the headlights, since most [=F350s=], the usual model ambulances are based on, have the windshield wiper control on the left hand side where the light controls are on most regular cars.

[[folder: Film]]

* In TheFilmOfTheBook ''{{Jumanji}}'', RobinWilliams' character accidentally opens the sun roof of a car when trying to start it. Played for suspense rather comedy, as this almost lets giant poisonous mosquitoes into the vehicle.

* ''MyFellowAmericans'' does this to emphasize that neither of the two former presidents has driven ''themselves'' anywhere in years.
* Sulu does a Wiper Start in a helicopter in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome''.
** Of course he then becomes such a skilled chopper pilot that he can accurately slot plexiglass slabs into the hatch of an ''invisible'' spaceship.
**** That and he's like 50 in the movie. Which means it's been several decades since he's flew one in his academy days, I'd like to see you drive a car you drove in high school. (That is if you're like 30 now.)
***** The 300-year old antique cart you drove, presumably once.

* In ''Film/StarWars [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]'', Anakin does a literal WiperStart.

* During the chase scene near the end of [[Film/WhatsUpDoc What's Up, Doc?]], as Judy tries and fails to drive the Beetle she and Howard are in off a pier and onto a ferry pulling into the ocean ([[ItMakesSenseInContext it really makes sense in context...kinda]]), she manages to turn on the water squirters to clean the windshield and the radio (which promptly starts blaring unfitting country music). Given Judy's track record throughout the movie, this is meant to highlight her terrible luck more than incompetence.

* Used by Costa Gavras in "Z". Yves Montand suffers heavy head wounds, and a passing car is summoned to bring him to hospital. The driver demonstrates utter incompetence by executing the trope. [[spoiler: In the next scene in the prosecutor's office, it is revealed that he is in reality the general's personal driver, and that the unmarked car belonged to the police. He was in fact trying to sabotage the victim's rescue.]][[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''[[TheDresdenFiles Cold Days]]'', Toot-toot accidentally turns on the wipers while ''parking'' a car.

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Original]]
* Bree starts the wipers in the ''{{lonelygirl15}}'' episode "Learning To Drive".

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand''
** In one episode, Buzz is trying to take control of a derelict ship. The first button he presses the turn signal. He then deploys the cup holder. After pressing every other button and failing to accomplish anything (although he does make the wipers work), he finds the crew. Turns out the "cup holder" is actually the steering wheel.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' Fry turns on the coffee maker on the Planet Express ship when trying to start it up in "Space Pilot 3000".

--> "You win again, gravity!"

* A Wiper Start is only the first of many things to go wrong with ''Mike's New Car'' on the ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' DVD.
* The titular character of ''[[WesternAnimation/{{WALL-E}} WALL* E]]'' does a Wiper Start as one of many things he tries in an attempt to shut off the self-destruct sequence of a spaceship lifepod.
* In an episode of ''WackyRaces'', Sergeant Blast ends up in the Compact Pussycat (Penelope Pitstop's car). Trying to stop it, he activates the controls that apply face powder and lipstick. Granted these are not standard controls in a car, but it does raise the question of why he thought the brakes would be activated by a button on the dashboard.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}} 2'' when the penguins' first attempt in hotwiring a safari Jeep.

* The first time [[WesternAnimation.TheMightyDucks Nosedive]] tries to fly the Hoverquack in order to help the rest of the team, it ends in this.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* Used for dramatic effect in ''RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes''. Charles activates the windshield wipers of the neighbor's car while he's trying to figure out driving it and then crashes it into the cars parked around it. The sequence is to show us how much his mental state has deteriorated.

[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''[[TheDresdenFiles Cold Days]]'', Toot-toot accidentally turns on the wipers while ''parking'' a car.
[[/folder]]

* In a memorable scene in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Franchise/{{Batman}}, MartianManhunter, and TheFlash are trying to figure out the controls of an alien space ship on the front steps of Wayne Manor. [[MartianManhunter J'onn]] admits that he doesn't know how to fly the device, and TheFlash suggests pressing buttons. The first one activates the ship's weapons systems, blowing a large hole in the side of the mansion and irking Franchise/{{Batman}}.

* In ''StarWars [[ThePhantomMenace Episode I]]'', Anakin does a literal WiperStart.

* In a memorable scene in ''JusticeLeague'', Franchise/{{Batman}}, MartianManhunter, and TheFlash are trying to figure out the controls of an alien space ship on the front steps of Wayne Manor. [[MartianManhunter J'onn]] admits that he doesn't know how to fly the device, and TheFlash suggests pressing buttons. The first one activates the ship's weapons systems, blowing a large hole in the side of the mansion and irking Franchise/{{Batman}}.

** In one episode, Buzz is trying to take control of a derelict ship. The first button he presses deploys the cup holder. After pressing every other button and failing to accomplish anything (although he does make the wipers work), he finds the crew. Turns out the "cup holder" is actually the steering wheel.
** In another episode, Buzz tries to find the controls of a spaceship and accidentally activates the turn signal. Of course he eventually starts the wipers too.

* On ''CanadasWorstDriver'', a contestant accidentally popped the hood while trying to start his car.
* A [[WomenDrivers female]] designer does this on ''RestaurantMakeover'' when she tries to drive Igor's huge delivery truck. Igor has to get a member of the camera crew to drive it.
* Marcia Brady does a this on her road test on ''TheBradyBunch''. Slightly different, because she's actually a good driver, just extremely nervous. She also manages to cause the convertible top to go up and down before starting the car.
* In one of the episodes of ''{{Eastenders}}'' in which Dot is learning to drive, she turns on the windscreen wipers by mistake while trying to use the indicator.

* A Wiper Start happened to Clegg in an episode of ''LastOfTheSummerWine'' when asked to drive strangers' cars in Foggy's attempt to set up American-style valet parking.

* Invoked on ''TopGear'' by Richard Hammond, while hypnotised into believing he didn't know how to operate a car[[note]]When he was unhypnotized and drove off, the wipers, hazard lights and turn signal were all on, and the truck flew open[[/note]].

* There is a {{Metroid}}/{{VideoGame/StarFox}}/{{Futurama}} crossover short called ''Metroid Confusion'', in which {{Space Pirate}}s stole an Arwing from [[VideoGame/StarFox Fox]]. Every button on the ship plays ''Whalers On The Moon'' from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''...and they are trying to Grandma's ''delicious cookies'' back from the jerk, Samus.

* In ''{{Critters}}'', when the alien bounty hunters first try to drive the abandoned police car, they succeed in honking the horn, blasting a hole in the roof with the mount-locked shotgun, and finally getting it started ''in reverse''. Naturally, the second time they use it, the driver looks over his shoulder in expectation that it'll go backwards again, only to shift it into first and drive forwards.

* Occurred on one episode of ''Series/ScrapheapChallenge'' when a car's wiring loom had been cut. After the first attempt to reconnect the severed wires, the wipers ran whenever the ignition was on.

* Occurred on one episode of ''ScrapheapChallenge'' when a car's wiring loom had been cut. After the first attempt to reconnect the severed wires, the wipers ran whenever the ignition was on.

* BillCosby also touched on this trope in an old routine, commenting how the sound and rhythm of the errantly engaged wipers seem to mock the driver (''dumb'' guy...''dumb'' guy...''dumb'' guy...).

* In a memorable scene in ''JusticeLeague'', {{Batman}}, MartianManhunter, and TheFlash are trying to figure out the controls of an alien space ship on the front steps of Wayne Manor. [[MartianManhunter J'onn]] admits that he doesn't know how to fly the device, and TheFlash suggests pressing buttons. The first one activates the ship's weapons systems, blowing a large hole in the side of the mansion and irking {{Batman}}.

* Invoked on ''TopGear'' by Richard Hammond, while hypnotised into believing he didn't know how to operate a car[[hottip:*:When he was unhypnotized and drove off, the wipers, hazard lights and turn signal were all on, and the truck flew open]].

* There is a {{Metroid}}/{{VideoGame/StarFox}}/{{Futurama}} crossover short called ''Metroid Confusion'', in which {{Space Pirate}}s stole an Arwing from [[VideoGame/StarFox Fox]]. Every button on the ship plays ''Whalers On The Moon'' from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''...and they are trying to [[hottip:*:whatisthatidonteven]] Grandma's ''delicious cookies'' back from the jerk, Samus.

If there is some threat involved, this is also a case of MyCarHatesMe. If it's the faulty wiring of the car that caused this to happen, rather than the incompetence of the driver, it's a DIYDisaster. For more comedic driver incompetence, see HadTheSillyThingInReverse.