Windshield washer tank level sensor location

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Dion Kraft, Mar 1, 2025 at 11:28 AM.

  1. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    279
    80
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My wifes 2009 Prius has the windshield washer empty icon displays but the tank is full of fluid. Rear wiper sprays but the fronts do not. I see only wires leading to the tank with the dual spray motos but where is the LEVEL SENSOR located. Suppose to be in the tank but I don't see it on the vidoes of replacing the tank. I think my problem is the sensor is bad but it does not stop the washer fluid from spraying so that means one tank motor is bad or no voltage to it.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    11,081
    1,930
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I'll have to go out and look for the level sensor It should be similar to the one that's in the brake reservoir but obviously in the washer fluid tank I haven't had to replace one in this generation type 2 car yet The pump motors go bad all the time and all the washer fluid pump manufacturers make a motor that can fit in either of the two places on the washer jug Don't take it off until you have a replacement in hand once you pull it out you got to have something to put back or you're not going to have any washer fluid in the jug I guess you can shove the old motor back in.
     
  3. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    279
    80
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I looked at all these Utube videos on tank removal and installs but all of them show the twin washer motors and unplug them...no sensor shown.....I guess I will buy two motors (because its the wife !) or whole tank and 2 motor setup to do this only once LOL!
    Thanks for the quick response...
     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    11,081
    1,930
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I mean somebody here should know this I don't have the factory manual available to quickly open and see but either there's something that floats in the tank that goes up and down as you feel it around that area where you're filling or something along those lines or it would be a separate things screwed right into the side about where it would go off when it got below that it would turn on a light set off an alarm whatever it does I didn't even know it had such a thing not to empty mine and see what happens if it's the kind that's in the tank maybe there's a bunch of crap in the tank take the tank out clean it out with some super clean that purple stuff whatever and then you'll be able to see inside of it better and see if there's someone you flip it over if there's something rattling around maybe it's just stuck
     
  5. MAX2

    MAX2 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    735
    215
    43
    Location:
    Third planet from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can you take a photo of what the low washer fluid indicator looks like on your wife's car?
     
  6. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    279
    80
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Alright ya'all....mystery solved and APOLOGIES on this wild goose chase......The indicator on the dash is NOT the LOW washer fluid icon but the Windshield defroster icon displaying that it is ON. I took my wifes word for it and did not validate her claim as she told me the windshield washers (Fronts) did not work either....threw me off even though I am a retired prof mechanic with 50 years wrenching in the fleet repair profession...2004-2009 Prius does not have a LOW Washer fluid sensor. I have the 04 and the wifes the 09. I ordered an Amazon washer pump so that should take care of the problemo....I thank everyone who participated !
     
  7. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    279
    80
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I took my wifes word that the icon displayed was for LOW Washer fluid as the front washer nozzles did not spray but the rears worked. I thought I would be slick and swap out the plugs on the washer pumps but they are indexed so you can't do that to test if the rears would power the fronts.. Anyways both plugs show 12 volts+..so I assume the front pump has died so I ordered another from Amazon...two day shipping!!
     
  8. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    279
    80
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for replying and helping me out but I screwed up royally in not investigating the ICON symbol on the dash as my wifey told me the washer fluid icon is on and the front windshield is not getting sprayed....I took her word and proceeded with bad information.
    The ICON was the Defroster ON indicator. I tested voltage to both pumps and they have 12v so I ordered one pump thru Amazon and should arrive today. 2004-2009 have no washer Indicator as their is no sensor in the tank! Thanks again for help irregardless!
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    279
    80
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Just a few technical details I found out with washers pumps on the 2004-2009 Prius. When opening the hood and you are in front of the vehicle looking left....the pump nearest the right front fender is for the rear and next to it toward the engine is the front.
    The plug ins are indexed so you can't mixed them up. On mine the rears worked so I thought I would plug the rear plug into the front motor but you can't....had to resort to my DVOM to check for voltage. When ordering pumps the most common one is the front pump plug in configuration.