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Changing wiper blades inserts- is it possible to do it wrong?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Reagle, Jun 14, 2014.

  1. Reagle

    Reagle Junior Member

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    This one got me stumped. About a month ago I bought new wiper refills from a Toyota dealer. They were exactly the same as what came with my 2012 Prius 3. After installation I noticed the area where the two blades meet does not get wiped at all and water tends to collect there.The blades just kinda went over that without swiping. That did not happen before. So I figured maybe it matters which way the inserts go in- switched them around relative to the lock positions and got the same results. When at the dealer for service I asked them to take a look. The answer they came back with was weird- by installing them incorrectly i damaged either the inserts or the metal tension strips that go in. Is that even possible? The whole thing seems rather simple and straightforward and no undue pressure was applied at any point of the process ;) They wanted $20+ for the new inserts at which point I figured I may be better off getting new beam style blades instead. The OEM ones tended to get all frozen up solid in the winter anyways . Looking at Bosch CA/Icons or Valeo Ultimate if anybody cares to comment on.
    Thanks!
     
    #1 Reagle, Jun 14, 2014
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I'm thinking you've got the right blades, installed them right, but: the replacement blades were stored improperly, got a slight kink, or there's just a manufacturing defect. Draw it to the dealership's attention? Not a big thing, but frustrating, and they're not cheap.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jun 14, 2014
  3. Reagle

    Reagle Junior Member

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    Hmm, that could be it. They came from Toyota dealer selling parts on ebay, and were not individually packaged like I usually see for example when I get the same for my HCHII
     
    #3 Reagle, Jun 14, 2014
  4. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    You are better off going to your Toyota dealer and buying the blade refills there and having their service department install them. That is what I recently did and the service department did not charge me anything for installing them. There is a knack for installing them. Toyota does it all the time so they will install them in a matter of minutes.
     
    #4 Okinawa, Jun 14, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    something about wiper blades, i have to relearn every time i change them. and i'm always doing it in the rain.:mad:
     
    #5 bisco, Jun 14, 2014
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Bought Bosch wiper blades from Amazon when they were on sale.

    Very happy with their performance.
     
    #6 xliderider, Jun 14, 2014
  7. Reagle

    Reagle Junior Member

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    Well, back from the dealer. Turned out I had the metal inserts in the wrong way (against the curvature of the glass). So that messed up the inserts. They put new ones in, flipped the strips and now all is happy. That was a lesson to pay attention. In the process found this pdf by Toyota
     
    #7 Reagle, Jun 14, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2014
    dogfriend and Mendel Leisk like this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    even the pdf looks complicated.:cool:
     
    #8 bisco, Jun 14, 2014
  9. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    I did it last weekend I had no problem changing the inserts ... the front ones I took them off but couldn't figure out how to take the rear wiper blade so I change the insert in place. Needs little dexterity but not too bad.
     
    #9 szgabor, Jun 16, 2014
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    To remove the rear wiper blade you rotate the blade in the holder, 'till it's a T shape. At that point it comes loose, can be removed.

    Somewhere along that rotation it resists, feels like it's going to break. Just push a little harder, it works.

    Trust me.... ;)

    Why the eff the following excerpt from the Repair Manual isn't in the Owners Manual escapes me:
     

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    #10 Mendel Leisk, Jun 16, 2014
  11. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    Thanks. I will try next time...
     
    #11 szgabor, Jun 16, 2014
  12. walterm

    walterm Active Member

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    To get the wiper arm out enough so you can rotate the blade to remove it you might have to remove the plastic cover that's at the bottom of the arm covering the attaching bolt. You just have to spread it a little and it should lift right off.
     
    #12 walterm, Jun 16, 2014
  13. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Nothing personal.

    But in general my observation with humanity as a whole is that "Yes, it's possible to do it wrong".
     
    #13 The Electric Me, Jun 16, 2014
  14. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    This last part I did know ... I spent +30 minutes trying to de-attach the blade then I just gave up and switched the insert in place.

    Does it matter which way to rotate ?? clockwise ??
     
    #14 szgabor, Jun 16, 2014
  15. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The instructions make it seem more difficult than it really is.
     
    #15 El Dobro, Jun 16, 2014
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    You keep moving the top tip away from the glass. So yeah, clockwise, when you're standing at the driver's side fender.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Jun 16, 2014
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