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Windshield wiper fluid not shooting up high enough

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Technical Discussion' started by theRob, Jul 26, 2023.

  1. theRob

    theRob Member

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    Please see my video. It looks like the driver side nozzle is not shooting the fluid high enough compared to the passenger side. I’ve noticed this since I had the vehicle and wondering is this is normal? Doesn’t seem like it’s normal. It seems like maybe there is something in the nozzle that may be clogging up. Can anyone post a video of their car showing the same so I can compare.

     
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    For almost every vehicle on the road today..........
    Those nozzles can be cleaned with a straight pin.
    And they are adjustable by some simple means.

    Most often, they are a "ball joint" that can be moved with the same
    straight pin.
     
  3. AndersOne

    AndersOne Active Member

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    Stupid question - why does one whiper has this huge block on the end? It seems to be missing in vehicles for non american markets.
     
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  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Aim them however you like with a pin, no big deal.
     
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  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    In the first three generations, for the US, the passenger-side wiper has a funny double-jointed linkage that makes it sweep a different shape than a plain circular arc, and cover more of its side of the windshield. I thought they had done away with it in Gen 4, but if that video is a Gen 5, apparently it's back. If you watch how the bottom end of that wiper moves, you can see how it sort of dances side to side instead of just pivoting in place.

    In Gen 3, that was also the reason we in the US can't change our spark plugs without taking the whole wiper linkage out, but people in those other markets can.
     
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  6. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    edit: Anders is correct in that the US/Canadian models are the only ones that have the double-linkage. And that explains why I ended up with a tiny wiper blade insert that was useless. I mis-ordered a set for the non-US models. The US model has a MUCH longer passenger side blade.
     
    #6 Hammersmith, Jul 26, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2023
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  7. theRob

    theRob Member

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    Thanks! I did not know they were adjustable. Never had this happen to me with any of my previous vehicles. I found some videos on YouTube. I will try adjusting it myself when I get a chance.
     
  8. AndersOne

    AndersOne Active Member

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    Makes sense!

    Any idea why this is the case? Stronger regulations? So far it seemed Toyota tries to save some bucks in the US model by e.g. not having dual zone climate and side mirrors with blinker. So having a seemingly superior (function not optics) passenger wiper seems counterproductiv.
     
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I guess the strongest thing you can say is that different markets have different regulations, and who knows what accounts for which things are emphasized in one set of regs and not in some other set of regs? In the US, one would just assume that whoever invented the double-jointed wiper has paid a good lobbyist, and the blinky side mirror guys didn't spend enough.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I believe it's the regulation for the area swept by the wipers. It's a larger area than the European regulations.

    The regulations also changed for the rear seat headrests that need to be a minimum height which is why since Gen 3, we no longer get those headrests that can be tucked down into the seatback (the L-shaped ones) but rather these large and ungainly ones that are always in sight of the rearview mirror. The ironic side of that regulation is that some models have gone back to fixed rear headrests (e.g. some Corolla models... I think non-SE models? or the Tesla Model S and 3).
     
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  11. AndersOne

    AndersOne Active Member

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    Good points - interesting how regulations can be so different in small details. And I think its not just different from European but basically all other markets as well.

    As for the headrests - I saw some pictures here where the US middle seat had a fixed headrest. In Europe all three are L-shape which looks tidier I think.

    Some funny detail regarding regulation: Prius Prime in Switzerland doesnt have any power sockets - in Rest of Europe we have one at least.
     
  12. theRob

    theRob Member

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    I just wanted to post an update on this. I did try to see if I can adjust it myself but I found that nozzle seems different from what I see on videos online. The nozzles does not seem to have anything on them that moves to adjust the angle it is spraying. I decided to let Toyota have a look at it cause I definitely do not want to brute force anything on the nozzle and break it. I had to get my 2nd key fob programmed today so I told them to have a look at it. When I got my vehicle back, they said they have to replace it and that they ordered the part and will let me know when it comes in. I'm hoping this will resolve it.
     
  13. theRob

    theRob Member

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    Update: They replaced nozzle today and I can confirm this has solved the issue. I guess the nozzle that came with the car was defective.
     
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