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No rear wiper??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by paulccullen, Aug 11, 2008.

  1. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    I just drove from Seattle to Walla Walla, pulled into the hotel, parked next to another Prius (looks like an '04 or '05) and noticed something odd about it.

    It has no wiper on the rear window!

    :huh:

    Never noticed that on any Prius before. Was there a year/package in which the rear wiper was an option?
     
  2. mingoglia

    mingoglia Member

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    I'd imagine he either removed it and you didn't see the splined end where it was removed, or he even removed that. Honestly, all us Prius owners know the rear wiper is almost useless as it barely wipes half the window.... so perhaps he wanted a cleaner look. ;)
     
  3. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    Maybe he replaced the entire rear window. The black mask/border around the window is different (doesn't have the bulge on the lower left where the wiper is attached). I had to snap a photo to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Weird!

    [​IMG]
     
  4. mingoglia

    mingoglia Member

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    Hmmm, interesting. I honestly never really looked to see where the wiper was actually attached to. If it's attached to the glass perhaps it's even easier to "remove". He may have had his rear glass replaced (purely speculating here) and perhaps the rear window can be had with or without the rear wiper and he chose without?
     
  5. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    In 2004 models package #1 (base package) there was no rear wiper.

    Wayne
     
  6. nmrickie

    nmrickie Member

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    Yep. The only one without a rear wiper was the '04 #1. By '05 even the base had a rear wiper.
     
  7. McDonald

    McDonald New Member

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    You Obama people sure do know how to apply your stickers!
     
  8. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    Ah! That explains it. Thanks!

    You people? Yes, we the people do know a thing or two... :)
     
  9. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    Actually it was the package 2 that did not have the rear wiper in 2004.

    Here is a partial package list for 2004.

    "For quick reference, here are the equipment options which differentiate the nine Prius models:

    Intermittent Rear Window Wiper. Included With Package: 1-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

    Airbags On The Outboard Side Of Both Front Seats & Side Curtain Airbags For Both Front And Rear Seats. Included With Package: 2-3-5-6-7-9 "
     
  10. Kcissem

    Kcissem New Member

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    yeah hopefully those stickers are a pain to take off when obama loses this november.:p
     
  11. SparrowHawk60

    SparrowHawk60 Happy to be green!

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    Only good use for those stickers is to cover up rust on the underside of a Ford! :D
     
  12. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Please kindly keep this crap in FHOP. This is the Prius Main Forum, to talk about the Prius, not your personal political preferences.
     
  13. Ct. Ken V

    Ct. Ken V Active Member

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    all,

    I can't seem to find my '04 brochure right now , so I'm trust'g that seasalsa is correct about which '04 pkg(s) don't contain the rear wiper. I am confused why the addition of the rear wiper as a standard item in 2005 cut the number of option pkg's from 9 in '04 to 6 in '05 (at least that's the way I remember interpret'g it back then) if there was only ONE pkg that didn't contain the rear wiper. It would help if I could find both the '04 & '05 brochures.

    nmrickie : It depends on what you call a base unit in 2005. A pkg #1 had at least one option, so I don't think that would be considered a base unit. In Jan of '05 my 1st dealer was tell'g his cutomers that he wasn't allowed to sell any "zero option" or base Priuses to the general public [because the stripped down (with no rear wiper) versions were all reserved for the car rental companies or municipal fleets]. My 2nd dealer (the one I took delivery from) told me there were 7 Prius versions for 2005 (my year). They were pkg's 1 through 6 for the public & the pkg zero that I already dicussed. He told me HE could order me a pkg zero if I really wanted it though. None of the Priuses I saw in the Enterprise rental fleet had the rear wiper. Nowadays the base unit is designate by a different model number (1220) from the model 1224 standard version or the model 1226 touring version. I don't know if they used the same model number designation for the base unit back in '04 & '05.

    So, without the rear wiper, paulccullen could be look'g at an '04 or '05 ex-rental or an '04 pkg #2 (if seasaksa is correct).

    Ken (in Bolton,Ct)
     
  14. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    If you want to "talk" politics, take it some where else. This is a car forum where we all have a common interest. Let's keep it that way please.
     
  15. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    Yep, it was a fleet vehicle. It had a fleet number on the bumper, and a "Please return to car pool" sticker on the dash.
     
  16. mcsj

    mcsj Member

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    So if such a prius is available for sale, is it a wise decision not to buy it?
     
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It's useful but depends on how much rain and snow you get. When you're driving along, nothing really accumulates on the rear window. It's only when you're stopped then obviously falling precipitation will accumulate on the rear window. I've used mine intermittently when it rains. I rarely leave it on INT or ON. I just do a sweep every now and then.
     
  18. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    The lack of rear wiper shouldn't be an issue (I find it minimally useful for the same reasons as Tideland Prius mentions). But the lack of wiper implies a 2004 model, probably with high mileage if it was an ex-fleet or rental.
     
  19. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    And to articulate on what Bill said ... this is why folks ought to keep it in FHOP, and keep their words soft & sweet ... in case you ever have to eat 'em.
     
  20. peterbright

    peterbright New Member

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    I see what you did there. I actually find the rear wiper very useful in the mornings in Southwest Florida