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Poor wiperblade contact with windshield: Wiper arm/linkage Troubleshooting

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MPGS-LOL, Jan 10, 2024.

  1. MPGS-LOL

    MPGS-LOL Junior Member

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    Hi folks,

    Has anyone else had an issue with the driverside wiper arm/linkage with age in colder climates? Car is old, 2013 with 180,000 miles.

    I’ve tried two 26” wiperblades (driverside) in the past few weeks and both are yielding lousy contact with the glass. The middle section of both wipers make contact okay, but both “ends” of the driverside wiper are lifting and causing a big visibility issue in inclement weather. It was working great in the warm weather, but now that ice/snow are here, the performance has been abysmal.

    It would appear that something (I’m assuming not the curvature of the OEM glass, despite a large crack on the passenger side) in the linkage (not the wiper blade/rubber) is perhaps contributing to the wiper lifting at both ends, but not the middle.

    I have lifted the plastic tab on the wiper arm linkage to expose and unbolt the 14mm retention nut for the assembly, and discovered:

    1. The splines on the arm while visible, are probably a little bit worn
    2. I have rotated the resting/start position of the driverside wiper further up and down with little effect
    3. The tension for the wiper to the windshield seems to be very weak and easily affected

    Thinking out loud, is there any intentional up/down play between the arm and the stud on the linkage/transmission?


    Any thoughts?

    • Perhaps just a new wiper arm with not-so-old spring will fix my issue (not available on rockauto, dealer perhaps?)
    • Wondering if I stacked a washer/lockwasher between the retention nut and the top of the arm to limit any play away from the glass
     
    #1 MPGS-LOL, Jan 10, 2024
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are these OEM Toyota wipers?
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jan 10, 2024
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Buy oem arms and blades

    Blade, Front Wiper, LH 85222-47040
    Blade, Front Wiper, RH 85212-47060

    Arm, Front Wiper, Rh 85211-47140
    Arm, Left Wiper, LH 85221-47120
     
    #3 rjparker, Jan 10, 2024
    MPGS-LOL likes this.
  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    ^That.
     
    #4 ETC(SS), Jan 10, 2024
  5. MPGS-LOL

    MPGS-LOL Junior Member

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    New to me 2013, previous owner was meticulous but also stingy, I would assume the same arms that left the factory.

    Thank you, I'll be ordering up a new LH arm.
     
    #5 MPGS-LOL, Jan 10, 2024
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Be very very careful with those splines.

    They should not wear from normal use of the wipers, because the arm should be fixed down firmly enough that there is no relative motion to cause wear.

    However, the splines are very very fine, and you risk clobbering them any time you loosen or reinstall a wiper arm, if you aren't extremely careful.

    In the repair manual, you'll see instructions to clear out the splines (vertically, along them, never across) with a brass bristle brush before reassembly.

    Hold the wiper arm carefully and lower it straight down onto the shaft, doing your best to feel for a spline mating position without moving the arm side to side. Check that you've found the position where the tip of the wiper blade is at the dot formed into the (original Toyota) windshield, or, if not, lift the arm and delicately lower it again in the right position. Never just twist it while the splines are in contact, you'll flatten 'em.

    Having found the right position, hold the arm very still while torquing the nut to spec.

    This sounds like perhaps the most likely solution. Maybe you could take your old arm to the dealer and compare the spring tension to a new one before buying it.

    Have you tried a different style of blade? If it was a non-Toyota blade, have you tried the Toyota one? If it is a jointed style, have you tried a beam style?
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Jan 10, 2024
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  7. MPGS-LOL

    MPGS-LOL Junior Member

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    While I did not know the splines were so delicate, I was intentional in its removal/reinstallation.
    I'll clean the threads up with a brush when I redo it.
    I torqued to hand tight, not crazy tight, any chance you have the torque spec? I can follow instructions.

    All the replacements have been non-OEM beam types, being parked outside in the elements, I just get a new one every winter for my fleet. I'll check out the OEM blades in person, but at nearly $50/pop (yay canada), I suspect it'll be a no from me with the abuse that we receive from winter ice.
     
    #7 MPGS-LOL, Jan 10, 2024
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    For a Gen 3 liftback it's 17 foot pounds. I wouldn't expect it to be a lot different for a v.

    You do want it secure enough it won't wobble and mess up the splines.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Jan 10, 2024
  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Factory blades are not too bad if bought with ship to dealer

    IMG_3868.jpeg
     
    #9 rjparker, Jan 10, 2024
  10. Papawrench

    Papawrench New Member

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    Just a note on the wiper arm splines...the wiper motor/linkage assembly has splines on it but the arm itself comes from the dealer perfectly smooth. I had reinstalled my wiper arm poorly at one point and when it stopped working I took it apart to see only slight indentations in the wiper arm. Thinking it was worn out, I bought a new wiper arm from for around $175 CAD only to realize the new one was smoother than the old one and just wedges over the splines on the linkage assembly. I ended up reinstalling my old one more securely and no issues since other than the new wiper arm sitting in the garage and the egg on my face.
     
    #10 Papawrench, Feb 8, 2024
    Air_Boss likes this.
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