No wiper fluid indicator?

My 1993 Ford Escort had a sensor for the washer fluid level. I'm like the rest, if an economy car from 20 years ago had a feature I would certainly hope car 20 years would still have it. My Escort didn't even have electric windows or locks but had a washer fluid sensor....

 

My 1984 Ford Lemon POS also had this sensor, part of an included upgrade package. It was one of many nice little features, but was still lipstick on a pig. The headlight warning was useful twice, letting me know about burned out lights so I could acquire replacements before darkness arrived, but I never had the washer fluid run down far enough to trip its warning.

My household has bought 6 cars since, from Honda, Acura, Subaru, and Toyota, all lacking this feature. But the better cars / engines / transmissions far more than made up for the missing warning light.

As for carrying a spare jug:

You are making excuses. It belongs on the rear passenger floor, not in the open hatch.

 

Why don't I complain to toyota since they don't have sunglasses that come with the car its a safety issue. They don't give me tire chains, snow, tires..ect.......all safety issues... better yet, they give me a distracting radio and blue tooth for my cell phone, all distracting and potential safety issues...

the reservior holds nearly a gallon of fluid if you run it dry, its kinda like gas...if its that important, then you need to pull over buy a gallon and head on down the road.

and yes I have to deal with salt, and sunshine during the PM rush hour. I feel your pain...

 

There is no way I'm having a gallon container rolling around in the back seat area. Not only is it extremely distracting, it's still in the passenger compartment. Nothing rides in my cars unsecured. I MAY end up keeping a small bottle in the charge-cord compartment if I can fit it. Further, Toyota's 'solution' to not using 10 cents worth of wire is to have everyone in northern climates carry an extra 8lbs around in their cars for half the year? What's the cumulative fuel cost of that?

You guys can justify this all you want, but it's another example of extreme cheapness that overall is really turning me off from this car. There is plenty I still like about it, but I'm not so biased that I can't point out these kind of little things that can be, that should be, a lot better.

Marc, the car DOES have sun visors, right? - I imagine you'd complain if it didn't (or would I get 'just wear sunglasses?') It also has a gas gauge.

 

but when the sun is low, like during the PM rush hour the visors are worthless...

heck its got a bunch of blind spots...all safety issues...

Any complaint could easily be a "safety" issue....

if you put the jug in the back in the storage area under the floor it won't be unsecured.

and I'm pretty sure that we all carry around more than 8lbs of junk in our car burning extra fuel with out complaining.

Heck once the temps get over 50, my golf clubs don't leave the care for nearly 8 months..50lbs of dead weight...

we all bought an economy car, and because we we paid a premium for it, we expect toyota to equip it like a luxury car...Aint gonna happen...

BTW here is toyota's sensor for a late model corolla 60 bucks... far cry from 10 cents... that one sensor will buy me 30 gallons of washer fluid... and we all know it woudl be the one sensor that we really don't need which woudl leak and fail, and then we'd gripe about having to fix a $60 sensor just so we could keep washer fluid from leaking out.

2013 Toyota Corolla Windshield Washer Reservoir (with Pump & Low Fluid Sensor Provision) at 1AAuto.com

 

Sorry wasn't familair with lack of storage. I guess thats were your batteries are...

Yes it a PITA to have to stop and purchase fluid, especially when you have zero warning. Its one of the those things you juts gotta "suck it up" not trying to be mean or condescending...... toyota could have done so much more with the cars I think we all can agree on that... but then they be priced out of reach, or add so many options its just a bloated pig with OK fuel mileage instead of great fuel mileage...or increased complexity, whichmeans higher cost of ownership...

I don't think Ive ever had a car with a washer fluid level sensor... but I can think of so many other senors I'd rather have gauges for which the car already logs, and it woudl not add any weight to add another layer to the screen options(hey I really don't need 3 pages for XM radio presets, or two for FM... for displaying...so I end up with an android phone and torque, and a blue tooth OBDII plug...

 

Normally, I think my tendency would be to agree with this.

I've never owned a vehicle with a electronic windshield washer indicator light. They've all been, you just pop the hood and look.

And I have no problem with owners responsibility. Check and fill...

HOWEVER....

The Prius windshield fluid reservoir is horrible as far as being able to actually look and see how much fluid you have left or how full it is. I ran empty and poured a whole jug of fluid into the reservoir and it it just disappears through the long necked labyrinth of the reservoir intake. I'm still not sure what the capacity is...however if empty you can pour a whole jug in. And that yellow plastic "dip stick"? IMO useless. Doesn't really tell you anything but either dry...totally empty...or "wet" some is in there.

This is in contrast to every vehicle I've owned before, where the reservoir was a lot more visible, and knowing what your level was, was as easy as popping the hood and just looking.

Yes, and I still take personal responsibility. Even with the difficulties the Prius reservoir presents. It's not too hard every few months to pour some in. So I'm NOT going to whine about it being a safety issue. But I also will say, that that a few weeks ago, right as a snow storm hit my area, my reservoir happened to go empty. So I was stuck with a snow storm hitting and no windshield wiper fluid.

I'm not asking Toyota to put in an idiot light, but I would say the whole design doesn't make checking or knowing how much fluid you have left easy.

 

I agree the "dip" stick is pretty useless...

if the washer fluid ever went in my wifes car, I think she's juts keep trying use it and end up burning out the pump. I guess I just take maintenance for granted... I pop the hood every couple weeks and poke my nose around. But thast juts the way I am...

 

Why are you so opposed to securing a jug of washer fluid the way you'd secure all other cargo? Or do you just never carry any cargo?

The one car I've had with a washer fluid indicator did a lot of little things very nicely -- and cheaped out on big important things, such as the engine.

This car had the washer indicator, and other extra status indicators, clearly called out on the feature list. None of my household's subsequent (and much superior) vehicles -- 6 cars of 4 different brands -- had this indicator, so I have not been conditioned to expect it when not called out in the features listing. That is why I attribute your surprise to lack of due diligence when making your purchase.

Maybe I have suffered some Pavlovian conditioning on this. Put some nice lipstick and jewelry on a pig, and it is still a pig. I'll take a lesser featured but mechanically superior, more reliable and long-lived car, any day.

 

Zhenya, I lived in CO for 25 years with awful winter weather, I DO KNOW what I'm talking about. Please don't presume you know better. Actually you don't because you assumed your car had a feature it didn't have. While I currently may not have the weather conditions you have, I do use my windshield washer almost daily to clean the grime off. I just may not use as much as you, but do know I have to periodically check it. Believe it or not, cars didn't use to have this feature, but maybe it was before your time. Also, god forbid, I used to have to actually shut off my headlights myself or else the battery would be drained - OMG - how did I ever manage. Do you wait until the red light comes on to check the oil? Be a responsible driver and check your fluids regularly, just like air in the tires that should be check periodically. Also, don't complain about your car not having a feature, and then when someone offers a suggestion, knock it down because it's not convenient for you. If it's a big of deal as you say it, you'll find a way to be sure you don't run out. But maybe the best advice one can give you is to trade out of the car because it doesn't have that stupid "wire".

Electric - I agree about the design of the reservoir is not ideal. I was surprised it swallowed the whole container I poured into it, but glad it was large enough to hold that much. Never owned a car that would take a whole container of washer fluid before! LOL

 

Also worth noting: There are no indicator lights for low oil, low inverter coolant, low engine coolant, or low brake fluid. (The lights will only tell you when your engine has seized, inverter has overheated, engine has seized again, and brakes have stopped functioning.) Also, by the time the TPMS light comes on ("low tire fluid"?), you've already lost quite a bit of efficiency - and are now into the range where it might be getting unsafe. Pop your hood once in a while, and check ALL of 'em.

 

I just open hood, get my gallon jug and fill every week. I have never run out yet. As long as I am in their I also check out other things to.

 

Correct, they are not supposed to be consumables, but if for some reason you get into a low oil, low coolant, or low brake fluid. it could cost you thousands of dollars, or someones life, in the case of brake fluid...

If I had my druthers, I'd rather have some sort of indicator/warning light on them as opposed to wiper fluid...

better stock up... more winter weather coming...

 

I've always been under the impression that you should check your fluids every time you fill up with gas which with the great mpg with these cars equates to about once a month. It's not to much to ask in my opinion

SPH-L710 ?

 

Rob,

As a boater I am sympathetic...

its really is a shame since the OBDII measures and logs tons of stuff. it would be so nice to have options to display the information

heck I almost want to install a tablet so I can put up the torque displays, but then I'd never watch the road...

 

Add "Pop the hood, verify all fluid levels" to your car's pre-flight checklist. You DO do a walk-around of the car before each drive, right?


It's easy for me to not complain about the lack of this feature, though; I've only filled it once in 4 years. Good weather FTW.

 

My 02 Camry has the warning indicator light, but I was surprised to find out that my Prius doesn't.