Will They Fix The Rear Wiper?

Smooth Operator · 07-11-2006, 11:53 PM

I remember when the '04s came out there was discussion about the rear wiper being on the wrong side. The sweep fails to take snow off of the right side, the side where a driver needs good rear window visability when changing lanes.

At the time, the conjecture was that the rear wiper was designed for the right-hand drive Japanese market and wasn't adjusted for the left-hand drive markets.

I see that the late model Prius still has the rear wiper on the left side. If they can manage to move a steering wheel from the right side to the left side, do you think they will move the rear wiper from the left side to the right side?

brandon · 07-12-2006, 12:04 AM

Do you really find this is a major issue? You need to be able to see out of the center of the rear windshield, not the small corner near the top that gives you a nice view of the sky (as opposed to the horizon). In my experience, I don't use that corner of the window when changing lanes. I use the rear-view mirror to look directly behind the car, look at the side mirror, then turn my head over my shoulder to check my blind spot through the right rear passenger window.

Besides, I don't use the windshield wipers to brush the inches of snow off of my car in the morning. That's just lazy.

grasshopper · 07-12-2006, 09:33 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Smooth Operator @ Jul 11 2006, 11:53 PM) [snapback]284784[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The sweep fails to take snow off of the right side,
[/b]

<span style="color:#666600">What is this "SNOW" thing? </span>

daronspicher · 07-12-2006, 09:58 AM

You don't need to see out the back when it's snowing that hard.

You can rest assured you have either a 4x4 Pickup, or a hummer that wants you to move to the right so they can get going past 8mph. They are only 6 inches behind you.

Just cut out the picture of a F350 grill from a magazine and tape it to your rear view mirror.

nerfer · 07-12-2006, 10:42 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Jul 11 2006, 11:04 PM) [snapback]284791[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Do you really find this is a major issue? You need to be able to see out of the center of the rear windshield, not the small corner near the top that gives you a nice view of the sky (as opposed to the horizon). In my experience, I don't use that corner of the window when changing lanes. I use the rear-view mirror to look directly behind the car, look at the side mirror, then turn my head over my shoulder to check my blind spot through the right rear passenger window.

Besides, I don't use the windshield wipers to brush the inches of snow off of my car in the morning. That's just lazy.

[/b]

Believe it or not, in some places it snows while you're driving! It's not the extreme upper-right corner in question, it's pretty much the whole right-hand side. Being on the tall side of average, I really don't see sky out of any of the back window. The window is small enough as it is - fine for backing up especially with the lower window, but not real good for switching lanes even when it's clean. Means you have to be a bit more diligent, but an improved wiper would help.

Acelin · 07-12-2006, 11:41 AM

Get the 20" JDM/Euro wiper arm. While I don't usually have to deal with snow, I do live in the PNW so rain is a constant issue.
The 20" wiper makes a dramatic difference in rear visability. I can't think why Toyota does not make this the standard in
all markets.

daniel · 07-12-2006, 11:55 AM

The issue is not which side the wiper is on. The issue is that the wiper clears such a small part of the rear window. Toyota's engineers could have designed a system that would clear much more of the window. Regardless of whether we're talking about snow or rain.

jtullos · 07-12-2006, 12:11 PM

Even driving in heavy snow, I've never had a problem with rear visibility with the standard wiper. But as long as I'm moving at a decent speed, then most falling snow tends to fly right over the car. That's good aerodynamics. In fact, I recall several times driving through snowy weather and only needing to use the wipers (front and rear) when I was at a stop sign or traffic light.

Oh, and as for the trucks around here, they're bad at the beginning of snow season (which can begin as early as September or October here), but after a month or two, they get better. Car drivers tend to be good the entire time, except when they become afraid and start driving 5 miles an hour everywhere. Though it's always a good reminder to see the photos from the first big snow of the year with lots of SUV's and pickups stuck on the side of the road. They just seem to forget how to handle it, and get overconfident.

koa · 07-12-2006, 12:18 PM

Have you tried a product called Aquapel? It's like RainX but lasts a lot longer. Here's the cheapest I've found it.

http://www.autobodydepot.net/scripts/depot...pgm=aquapel.bbx

Sho-Bud · 07-12-2006, 12:22 PM

I haven't driven my Prius in the snow yet, but I allways have a small wiper in the car. Before driving away I allways wipe of all snow, orr when it rains I wipe the windows. During driving the windows usually stay reasonable clean.

07-11-2006, 11:53 PM	#1
Smooth Operator Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cowichan Bay, BC Canada Posts: 168 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I remember when the '04s came out there was discussion about the rear wiper being on the wrong side. The sweep fails to take snow off of the right side, the side where a driver needs good rear window visability when changing lanes. At the time, the conjecture was that the rear wiper was designed for the right-hand drive Japanese market and wasn't adjusted for the left-hand drive markets. I see that the late model Prius still has the rear wiper on the left side. If they can manage to move a steering wheel from the right side to the left side, do you think they will move the rear wiper from the left side to the right side? __________________ Smooth Operator Prius... "Minimum waste; maximum joy"

07-12-2006, 12:04 AM	#2
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 771 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Do you really find this is a major issue? You need to be able to see out of the center of the rear windshield, not the small corner near the top that gives you a nice view of the sky (as opposed to the horizon). In my experience, I don't use that corner of the window when changing lanes. I use the rear-view mirror to look directly behind the car, look at the side mirror, then turn my head over my shoulder to check my blind spot through the right rear passenger window. Besides, I don't use the windshield wipers to brush the inches of snow off of my car in the morning. That's just lazy. __________________ Brandon 2005 Driftwood Pearl Prius, BC (Package #6), Delivered 10/21/2004

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07-12-2006, 09:58 AM	#4
daronspicher Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,205 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	You don't need to see out the back when it's snowing that hard. You can rest assured you have either a 4x4 Pickup, or a hummer that wants you to move to the right so they can get going past 8mph. They are only 6 inches behind you. Just cut out the picture of a F350 grill from a magazine and tape it to your rear view mirror.

07-12-2006, 11:41 AM	#6
Acelin Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 49 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	Get the 20" JDM/Euro wiper arm. While I don't usually have to deal with snow, I do live in the PNW so rain is a constant issue. The 20" wiper makes a dramatic difference in rear visability. I can't think why Toyota does not make this the standard in all markets.

07-12-2006, 11:55 AM	#7
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 14,311 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 453 Thanked 1,326 Times in 928 Posts Friends: 0	The issue is not which side the wiper is on. The issue is that the wiper clears such a small part of the rear window. Toyota's engineers could have designed a system that would clear much more of the window. Regardless of whether we're talking about snow or rain.

07-12-2006, 12:11 PM	#8
jtullos Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dayton, NV Posts: 172 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Even driving in heavy snow, I've never had a problem with rear visibility with the standard wiper. But as long as I'm moving at a decent speed, then most falling snow tends to fly right over the car. That's good aerodynamics. In fact, I recall several times driving through snowy weather and only needing to use the wipers (front and rear) when I was at a stop sign or traffic light. Oh, and as for the trucks around here, they're bad at the beginning of snow season (which can begin as early as September or October here), but after a month or two, they get better. Car drivers tend to be good the entire time, except when they become afraid and start driving 5 miles an hour everywhere. Though it's always a good reminder to see the photos from the first big snow of the year with lots of SUV's and pickups stuck on the side of the road. They just seem to forget how to handle it, and get overconfident.

07-12-2006, 12:18 PM	#9
koa Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 979 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 39 Times in 34 Posts Friends: 0	Have you tried a product called Aquapel? It's like RainX but lasts a lot longer. Here's the cheapest I've found it. http://www.autobodydepot.net/scripts/depot...pgm=aquapel.bbx

07-12-2006, 12:22 PM	#10
Sho-Bud Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Posts: 184 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I haven't driven my Prius in the snow yet, but I allways have a small wiper in the car. Before driving away I allways wipe of all snow, orr when it rains I wipe the windows. During driving the windows usually stay reasonable clean.