Why is there a rear windshield wiper? and how to remove?

Wiping the window will make for better rear vision after the overnight dew.

Do some searching in the Gen 3 forum for removal info.

 

when you lift the wiper arm, there should be a set screw holding the base to the shaft splines.

 

As soon as some one totals a Two Eco, you could buy their hatch. The Two Eco has no rear wiper, they seem to expect to sell it where there is no rain.

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I don't use the rear windshield wiper very often. BUT...when I do want it, it is nice, and I would think it actually is more valuable because the windshield is so horizontal. The Prius rear windshield IMO does NOT have a steep slant as it is almost horizontal.
Therefore anything that does get on it? Has a tendency to stay on it. Unlike "normal" hatch windows which are vertical, and where raindrops will automatically fall down the back.

I could live without the rear wiper, but a standard Prius IMO has a greater potential to need it.

 

Rear wiper rarely gets used, but I am in SOCAL where it rains 3 times a year, if we are lucky!

 

same here, couple times a year. nice to have, but i could live without it.

i wonder if the aerodynamics of the gen 4 make it even less useful?

 

We had two days last month where more than an inch of rain fell, so I live where wipers are a good thing.
(We had 17 days with over an inch of rain last year, so it seems a normal amount)

 

That wiper is pretty ineffective tho. When it's coming down I'll activate it, look back and think: that's nice, about 30% of the shallow sloped rear glass is clear now. Big woop.

I guess it would be more helpful with snow.

 

On a Prius Liftback, a rear wiper is useful occasionally for partially clearing water or light snow that's accumulated while the car was parked outside. Downsides are that it adds aerodynamic drag, it partially blocks the rear view, and it costs money

On vehicles where the rear window that is used to see following traffic is directly exposed to the dirt laden turbulent air behind the car a rear wiper is almost a necessity. (Station Wagons, most hatchbacks, minivans, SUVs, Prius C, Prius v etc.)

Vehicles where this rear window is separated from the dirt laden turbulent air don't need, and don't normally have, a rear wiper (Sedans, Pick ups etc)

The Prius Liftback is more like a sedan in this respect than it is like a hatchback with no spoiler, or one with a spoiler above the window. The reason is that the the upper rear window in the Prius Liftback that is used to see following traffic is separated from the dirt laden turbulent air behind the car by the spoiler mounted between the upper and lower windows.

I suspect that the rear wiper may shortly disappear from the rest of the Prius Liftbacks, not just the Eco, and having thought about it, I don't think I will miss it.

 

Aside from what has already been stated...if the cost of a yearly wiper blade and a guestimate of about 0.1 mpg loss bothers you that much...take it off. Save the parts for resale/trade-in time though.

 

Snap it off and you gain 5 mpg

 

Perhaps it's because I don't wash my elderly (1998) Lexus sedan very often, but I've often wished it had a rear wiper like the one on my wife's middle-aged (2005) Prius. That problem is likely to be fixed soon, as I'm making plans to replace the Lexus with a new Prius.

 

welcome! all the best with your car search!

 

I prefer the sleek look without it. U can remove it. There are seals u can buy from Japan that fit the Gen3 or go to Lowes for a electrical knock out cap.


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Clearly, you don't live in a winter state. Here in Minnesota, my rear wiper gets used on a very regular basis. It's not just for snow, which comes down far too fast for defrost to keep up with. Any type of melt will cause the road sand & salt to dirty the window. The defrost will make that worse by cooking it on.

 

Removing the weight of the wiper motor will do more to improve MPG than the arm. The rear washer fluid pump and wiring won't help much.

He really wants the entire hatch of a Two Eco.