Why Does the rear wiper do that?

Sheepdog · 04-21-2008, 09:28 PM

You know, the cap (cover) on the rear wiper arm? It keeps you from lifting the arm?

Why does it so that? I've never seen that on any car before. It seems to serve no purpose other than to annoy! and yes I know how to butcher it so it doesnt do that anymore, just wonder what the thinking was?

Does the wind make it go flying? Fear of car washes? Just gotta know!

wchardin · 04-21-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

You know, the cap (cover) on the rear wiper arm? It keeps you from lifting the arm?

Why does it so that? I've never seen that on any car before. It seems to serve no purpose other than to annoy! and yes I know how to butcher it so it doesnt do that anymore, just wonder what the thinking was?

Does the wind make it go flying? Fear of car washes? Just gotta know!

I'm not for sure why it is like that, unless its on there so the wiper doesn't flap into the "erect" position. More-so I think that the plastic piece is on there to give the wiper unit a finished look. I know that most Toyota/Lexus have them, my mothers RX330 and my 2006 4Runner both have the plastic clip. I usually remove them when I wash the cars.

**efusco** · 04-21-2008, 10:21 PM

it's so it doesn't get ripped off in a car wash.

Sheepdog · 04-21-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efusco

it's so it doesn't get ripped off in a car wash.

I take it that has happened Doc? A lot of 04's take it on the chops I guess? I guess I wont cut mine then just in case it ends up at a car wash sometime. Bet the whip antennae isnt really car wash friendly either.

**Tideland Prius** · 04-22-2008, 12:22 AM

Stylized purposes is my guess.

Note that the UK rear wiper is a regular flip-up wiper design (sorta like the front). The blade is a bit longer and it looks ugly imo. I prefer our more "solid" looking design.

cyberprius · 04-22-2008, 12:29 AM

So that thick-handed louts such as yourself will ask ***nicely*** for some help from some of us more delicately-boned people and we can refuse just for the hell of it.

**efusco** · 04-22-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

I take it that has happened Doc? A lot of 04's take it on the chops I guess? I guess I wont cut mine then just in case it ends up at a car wash sometime. Bet the whip antennae isnt really car wash friendly either.

Never heard of it happening, though there are probably only a handful of people who've ever taken the tab off to allow it to move up freely.

xsmatt81 · 04-22-2008, 01:51 AM

never even noticed that flaw..the rear wiper works as it should imo, have not done anything to it.

David Beale · 04-22-2008, 11:14 AM

Well, it isn't the "only" car with a rear wiper that doesn't lift up. The RAV4 is the same as is the Subaru. Or at least the one I owned. I modified mine. I doubt it would be any more or less car wash friendly either way. Car wash manufacturers spend a lot of time making sure they cause little or no damage. It's bad for business. At any rate, I use the hand spray car washes, but in the winter only. The automatic ones scare me. They look too much like car crushers.

Otherwise I hand wash at home.

You can easily remove the antenna as it just unscrews.

CMonster · 04-22-2008, 01:54 PM

I modified mine, because I prefer to wash the car myself and it's easier to clean the rear window when you can get it completely out of the way.

When I was forced by water restrictions to take my car to a car wash, the rear wiper didn't suffer any damage.

04-21-2008, 09:28 PM	#1
Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sanford FLorida Posts: 1,100 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 7	Why Does the rear wiper do that? You know, the cap (cover) on the rear wiper arm? It keeps you from lifting the arm? Why does it so that? I've never seen that on any car before. It seems to serve no purpose other than to annoy! and yes I know how to butcher it so it doesnt do that anymore, just wonder what the thinking was? Does the wind make it go flying? Fear of car washes? Just gotta know!

04-21-2008, 10:21 PM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 19,611 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 214 Thanked 870 Times in 505 Posts Friends: 47	Re: Why Does the rear wiper do that? it's so it doesn't get ripped off in a car wash.

04-22-2008, 12:22 AM	#5
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,177 Times in 850 Posts Friends: 31	Re: Why Does the rear wiper do that? Stylized purposes is my guess. Note that the UK rear wiper is a regular flip-up wiper design (sorta like the front). The blade is a bit longer and it looks ugly imo. I prefer our more "solid" looking design.

04-22-2008, 12:29 AM	#6
cyberprius Mtn Bikes don't need foglights Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: oregon Posts: 185 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Why Does the rear wiper do that? So that thick-handed louts such as yourself will ask *nicely* for some help from some of us more delicately-boned people and we can refuse just for the hell of it.

04-22-2008, 01:51 AM	#8
xsmatt81 non-AARP Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Vegas Posts: 522 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Why Does the rear wiper do that? never even noticed that flaw..the rear wiper works as it should imo, have not done anything to it.

04-22-2008, 11:14 AM	#9
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 3,440 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 5 Thanked 372 Times in 296 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Why Does the rear wiper do that? Well, it isn't the "only" car with a rear wiper that doesn't lift up. The RAV4 is the same as is the Subaru. Or at least the one I owned. I modified mine. I doubt it would be any more or less car wash friendly either way. Car wash manufacturers spend a lot of time making sure they cause little or no damage. It's bad for business. At any rate, I use the hand spray car washes, but in the winter only. The automatic ones scare me. They look too much like car crushers. Otherwise I hand wash at home. You can easily remove the antenna as it just unscrews. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" was a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius. "Pearl S" is coming and is a Seaglass Pearl Tech. package Prius.

04-22-2008, 01:54 PM	#10
CMonster Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 114 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Why Does the rear wiper do that? I modified mine, because I prefer to wash the car myself and it's easier to clean the rear window when you can get it completely out of the way. When I was forced by water restrictions to take my car to a car wash, the rear wiper didn't suffer any damage.

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