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Gen 4 Wiper Speed

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Tideland Prius, Mar 15, 2016.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Has anyone noticed the slower wiping speed on the Gen 4? Both front and rear wipers wipe at a slower rate than on the Gen 2 or 3 (or any other car made in the last 15-20 years). It was adequate in the driving rain a few days ago so I guess it must've passed legal requirements.
     
  2. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    Doesn't is speed up or slow down depending on how hard it's raining ?
     
  3. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    Mine does...
     
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    If you are concerned that the slow wiper speed might cause problems, your best solution is to not drive in the rain.
    You're welcome. :D
     
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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's with the rain-sensing wipers. Ours doesn't have that. We have the equivalent of a U.S. 3T.

    Rain-sensing wiper only.

    :(
     
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  6. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    Just like don't sit in front of a moving car;) ;)
     
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  7. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Use Rain-X :)

    You won't need to use them at higher speeds.

    BTW, you got a Gen4?
     
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    lol. I guess. Too lazy. The local automatic car wash has a liquid wax that does something similar.

    Replaced the Gen 2 cause the battery went kaput. I still have my Gen 3.
     
  9. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    How much was the quote for the new hybrid battery? My other 05 Prius has 250,000 miles. I'm starting to get worried about it. I can feel the battery getting weaker and weaker. It only takes a little tap on the gas pedal to start the engine at full battery. The time is coming...:(
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Approx. Cdn$3,000 including labour ($120/hr I think) and taxes (12%)
     
  11. Doron

    Doron Junior Member

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    Yes!
    When it rains I have to drive slower than I did with my previous 10 years old Prius!
    Did you find a solution?
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    No lol. I suppose, I could use "HI" more often. (I only use HI on my Gen 3 in absolute downpours. I'm talking thunderstorms or just coastal rains).
     
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  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I notice that if I suddenly hit very heavy rain, the wipers take a while to get up to speed - seemingly starting at intermittent, then moving to slow and steady, increasing over the next 5 minutes - at least it feels that way, probably only 45 seconds.
     
  14. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    It may be something to do with the huge 28" wiper on the front. It seems pretty frail to me, it wipes ok but wobbles a bit at the bottom end and it looks like it would fall apart if I left them on Hi speed.
     
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  15. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I just leave mine on AUTO unless I'm washing the screen, they eventually get to fast - but, as you say, maybe fast with a long wiper is different speed from a short wiper like say a '65 Morris Mini or Beetle.
     
  16. pilotgrrl

    pilotgrrl Senior Member

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    It's been raining to the point of high flood warnings over the past week, and it's raining hard now. No problems with regular wipers on my Gen 4.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  17. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    It's a fiendish Japanese scheme to alert a driver that he's going too fast for the conditions! ;)

    We get a good regular supply of the wet stuff out of the sky, but my Prius doesn't have the auto wipers. It is easy enough to knock the lever down 1 to intermittent, 2 to normal and 3 to fast, but like kithmo, I find the long driver's side blade tends to wobble near the horizontal position.
     
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  18. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    I guess rain is the liquid version of what falls here. ;)
     
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  19. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    Auto wipers don't do much for me.

    When I go to the car wash, I turn them off. Then I forget to put them in auto.

    When it rains, I gotta put them back on.

    After the rain my car gets dirty, I go get a wash.....
     
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  20. KilgoreTrout

    KilgoreTrout Junior Member

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    Seriously, if you haven't tried Rain-X you really should. I took a 1400 mile trip in the rain recently. On the way there I had that carwash wax stuff on my window and I struggled to see through mist generated by semis... On the way back (after applying Rain-X) it wasn't an issue at all...

    Those madmen that pass you in the road in the rain? They can see.