Found Source for Longer Rear Wiper Blade (NAPA 6020-59)

Most parts stores have a wide selection of blades in various lengths. Most have a ruler build into the display to measure the length of your old wiper blade. Replacement blades have the length printed on the packaging. Simply select the length you need.

If you're not sure, ask the sales folks. Most will be very helpful. I've had sales people grab a handful of various lengths and walk to my car to compare whether the new length would fit and not hit anything when wiping.

 

I don't understand your requirement. Assuming you didn't procure the rear wiper from a parked Mitsubishi Outlander sometime after midnight, contact the local Mitsubishi parts department for an appropriate 18 or 20 inch blade. Even if the arm normally takes a 16" blade, the parts "person" will probably have an idea of which larger blade will work.

If a local department can't supply it, use the web and phone to contact other Mitsubishi dealer parts stores and have them ship it to you.

 

Indeed, it's obvious Toyota forgot to change the rear wiper on the Prius. It's perfect for right hand drivers, not cleaning the rear window directly behind the driver.

In the next model they should swap the rear wiper to the right side of the car.

 

Of course its far easier to briush the snow off the window before you get into the car with a brush. Its also safer as the snow wont fall of you car onto the road into the path of the following car, and more fuel efficient as snow weights a ton! :wink:

 

It is clear from your post that "Up a creek without a paddle." is nowhere near snow country! There are times when we get 1/4" of snow on the car in the time it takes to clean it off starting at the front and working back. AND, falling snow is just as happy to drop on top of moving vehicles as it is on those which are stationary. The wiper needs to clear as much of the rear window as possible. The Camry wagon had 2 rear wipers, maybe the 2005 Prius can as well.

 

I take it you have never been to Bavaria in deep winter! Having 6 inches of snow in a couple of hourse and temperatures under -20C during the day is quite normal -> Not so far away <- from where I live.

So Yes I do live in a snow area and yes I have had, shall we say "Fun" clearing snow from one eand of the car whilst the other is piling up again. Ive also seen, and nearly been involved in, accidents where several inches of snow have slide off the car in front of me, caused by drivers going fast on the Autobahn and the (by now melting) snow flying of the car into my windscreen.

Out here its illegal to drive with just a hole in the snow (or ice) on a window, but its often ignored. :x

Maybe you dont know, or understand "Up a creek without a paddle" so just for you I will change it. :roll:

 

True Victor, I have only been in Munchen once, at the end of September about 15 years ago. I have a 'Bim bam' clock on my wall I purchased in Munchen. No snow on that trip. No sympathy for the -20C though -30C here is not at all uncommon in January and February.

I don't disagree with you regarding the need to get off as much as possible before driving I have seen large sheets of ice fly off cars, and more scary - large semi trailers (not that they could clean them anyway). My comment was due to the fact that your original post seemed to suggest that if people would clean off the car before driving, the effectiveness of the rear wiper wasn't all that important.

Danke Victor. Given that "Up a creek without a paddle" is not a specific location but a state of distress, it was a bit hard to guess your knowledge of driving in snow! It is nice to know where you are, really and thanks for the picture

 

Your weclome Bruce, but going back to topic, why cant you get a blade from Mitsubishi or a 3rd party for Mitsubishi ? I find it difficult to accept you must have a VIN. You could say its for a car at work and you dont have the VIN or say its for a mod?

P.S. The coldest I have ever had here was -40C during the nights about 7 years ago. I hope it was a once off. One of my concerns with the Prius is how good the heater is in winter, or maybe I will need an extra one plugged into the accessory outlet?

 

Steve, as you said in the first post, you have a Mitsubishi arm, so you wont find a Prius blade to fit. Maybe you should aproach the problem another way. Find and arm and blade set that is large enough to do what you want. If you cant find the 18" blade easily now, what will you do later when you need to replace it?

What about other MRT arms? Maybe from the RAV4, Land Criuser or Hi-Lux? Otherwise goto a local parts dealer and with the mearurments and see whats available.

 

have you tried going to the Trico and see if they have any ideas on this
www.tricoproducts.com.
I saw my first Mitzi Outlander today and see what you mean, but the wiper arm on the Prius and Outlander are a new breed of wiper. Trico is probably the largest manufacture of wiper blades in the world.

 

I'm interested in converting the wiper blade as well. Did you just order the wiper arm from Mitsubishi? If so what is the part number? Have you been successful in locating a longer length wiper blade?

 

Nice!

The OEM arm angles to the left, thusly wiping left side of the window at the expense of not reaching the more critical bottom. The Mitsubishi arm angles to the right, thusly wiping the bottom of the window and not the left side.

Three questions:

Your last picture looks like the blade will scrape the non-glass top of the hatch, does it and how long is it?

Does the right leaning arm, when stored, interfere with the view out the back more than the left leaning arm? (no political connotations here)

Is the new arm hinged to facilitate glass cleaning better than the OEM?

Thanks.