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Prius Rocking When Wipers are on High

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Jasonsprite, Dec 7, 2009.

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  1. Jasonsprite

    Jasonsprite Junior Member

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    This was a new experience in the Prius for us today. We were driving down the street and I had the Wipers on high due to some heavy rain here in Los Angeles. We came up to a red light and stoped. The wipers were going full blast. We suddenly started to feel the car rocking from side to side. It was not major but enough for us to feel it.I put the wipers on low and the rocking stoped. It was a very funny experience. Those are some powerful wipers LOL :)
     
    #1 Jasonsprite, Dec 7, 2009
  2. aapoppa

    aapoppa formerly known as "Popoff"

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    Anything else going on in the car that might have contributed to the rocking? :p
     
    #2 aapoppa, Dec 7, 2009
  3. Jasonsprite

    Jasonsprite Junior Member

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    LoL Im sure the people behind us were thinking the same thing !!
     
    #3 Jasonsprite, Dec 7, 2009
  4. W3Bconsultor

    W3Bconsultor New Member

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    I felt the same thing here in LA as well with my 2010 V. I was hesitant to post it. I wonder how it would be driving on the 405 while the wipers on at 60MPH...will it take off?
    ;-)
     
    #4 W3Bconsultor, Dec 7, 2009
  5. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    If the Prius is a-rockin...don't come a-knockin...:D
     
    #5 stream, Dec 7, 2009
  6. Salsawonder

    Salsawonder New Member

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    I was on the same page today with this lovely storm we are having. I was thinking it must have been in my head...thing is I rarely have my wipers on high, this was just on intermittent. Too bad we can't harness some of the power in that motor for the rest of the car.
    Bombs are falling outside, hope I can get to the car safely!! ( we have tall monterey pines in the front and this high wind is sending pine cones down real hard)
     
    #6 Salsawonder, Dec 7, 2009
  7. going red baby!

    going red baby! still a n00b

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    Don't park under those trees, those pine cones can crack a windshield!
     
    #7 going red baby!, Dec 7, 2009
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Interesting. I haven't noticed it during the thunderstorms in the summer.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Dec 7, 2009
  9. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    The OP is right, the car does rock, especially with the gas engine off
     
    #9 cossie1600, Dec 7, 2009
  10. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    I have noticed it as well!
     
    #10 bighouse, Dec 7, 2009
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I wish I had those wipers on our 1988 Ford F-350 today. We only got about 3"-4" of snow and the wipers wouldn't budge even after I wiped half the snow away. Grrr
     
    #11 F8L, Dec 7, 2009
  12. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I will be sure to remember to offer this explanation to the officer when he taps on my side window :)
     
    #12 Penny's Dad, Dec 7, 2009
  13. R2Pre2

    R2Pre2 Feel the Force!

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    Too Funny!

    Rain has been so scarce here in Cali that some of us haven't needed to even turn on the wipers, let alone put them on high. :rain:

    I experienced the same "rockin' wipers" on my V yesterday. Add in vibration of a cranked up stereo and it was *almost* a total body experience!

    :censored:
     
    #13 R2Pre2, Dec 7, 2009
  14. Jasonsprite

    Jasonsprite Junior Member

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    we were just glad that it was not one of them californian earth rockers.
     
    #14 Jasonsprite, Dec 8, 2009
  15. Econ

    Econ Member

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    Quite normal.... I have other cars that do the same. This will probably lessen when the glass get dirty. I notice this rocking after cleaning the glass and using a glass polish. Less resistance would be my guess.
     
    #15 Econ, Dec 8, 2009
  16. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

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    I think the rocking is due to mass (a weight) moving. There is no solution.

    At least you are having problems in the fast position. I would seek a cure when you are having a problem in the intermittent position. OK. Enough joking.

    I noticed it on a Ford, a Toyota and a Lexus in addition to the Prius when the wipers are set on high. So my guess is that they are all built this way now.
     
    #16 Rhino, Dec 8, 2009
  17. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Sure there is. You simply need a properly sized bra-less woman to act as a dynamic counterweight.

    :D

    Tom
     
    #17 qbee42, Dec 8, 2009
  18. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    "he"? I've seen plenty of ladycops!
     
    #18 bighouse, Dec 8, 2009
  19. bighouse

    bighouse Active Member

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    If you rock violently sideways in your seat from left to right in the opposite direction as the blades you can counter the effect by dampening out the amplitude of the effect. Sure, people will point and stare and give us funny looks- but they do that to us already, right?
     
    #19 bighouse, Dec 8, 2009
  20. garygid

    garygid Senior Member - Blizzard Pearl

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    Our first "winter-weather" week (with "bitterly cold" (for us) daytime temperatures - in the 50's)
    and some limited real rain yesterday in So. Cal., and I only used the intermittent speeds.
    Actually, I am not yet sure how to get them on "high"! :)
     
    #20 garygid, Dec 8, 2009
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