I'm trying to figure out a way to make it bigger so it clears more of the window. The area it does now is almost useless.

I don't even use the thing.

I took mine off,looks a lot better

I took mine off,looks a lot better

What did you put in its place......fill the hole?

I removed mine as well. It was like a rattle snake in my trunk when I bumped my music.

I think there's about a 3 page thread on this if you do a search.

Anyone post a DIY to replace the wiper with a backup camera? Couldn't find it in search...

Anyone post a DIY to replace the wiper with a backup camera? Couldn't find it in search...

hmm thats an interesting idea....

The rear wiper is a joke.. it can't even wipe off dust correctly... streaks all over the place

I'm trying to figure out a way to make it bigger so it clears more of the window. The area it does now is almost useless.
I find the rear wiper and fluid dribbler moderately useful for seeing out the back in bad weather. The wiper blade is just 12 inches wide. It looks like it may be possible to increase the blade size to 14, 15, or even 16 inches. If a longer blade could be mounted, I think the wiper would be more effective.

Has anyone tried a larger blade?

RPM

wiper works fine for me...

My Box evolved and grew a tail:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v250/thescionicman/Boxtail.jpg

That wiper is useless, I just try to keep it Rain-Xed back there.

My idea is to take out the wiper, take out the wiper fluid sprayer thing, re-route the small washer fluid hose to the front, and spilt it into two smaller hoses. Then, have it in the wheel well facing the tires. When you press the spray button, it'll lightly mist the tires evenly.


A little cheat to get a good burnout. My brother uses it alot on his Dually truck. It wins tons of burnout competitions that way.

This is just an idea, I understand we're still talking about a 100hp scion here.

Anyone post a DIY to replace the wiper with a backup camera? Couldn't find it in search...
Go to FRY's or some electronics store and get a home security camera. They are usually like $40 or so. its usually like a square piece with a lense on it.

1. Take out rear wiper assembly.
2. Trim rubber grommet to correct length for the lense length.
3. Mount camera however u like...glue, tape, cant drill unless u like holes sticking out of your trunk
4. Connect power for camera to a power inverter.
5. Connect RCA cables into inputs on screen.

DONE :clap:

wiper works fine for me...

Dittos.
Just clean it good every few weeks then polish it w/ rain-X.

It works when I use it, but I'd be much happier if it was intermittent. When do you ever need a continually running rear wiper?

The rear wiper needs to be larger and intermittent. I was driving behind a Prius and that wiper looked bigger. I'll have to look at one up close parked.

MotoMan_YZ400 was looking into intermittent.

Yeah, the wiper does suck.

But for me, I never had a rear-wiper in my life. I've been driving a 1991 Corolla since my highschool days! I'm sort of dissapointed at the wipe, but at the same time I'm smiling because I have a rear wiper LOL

Rear wiper are of dubious usefulness to begin with. Sedans get by just fine without them. That said, I use mine on occaison. In a rainstorm or if the back window is dirty. Rear wipers always cover only a small area, they can only be so big, unless you're going to have TWO rear wipers side by side. or a Mercedes style wiper that pivots.

As limited as it's usefulness is, the only think less practical is taking it off altogether! But I guess if you think it looks better and that is more important than being able to clear the back window, go for it.

I have never used the rear wiper.

I would advise anyone who has one on their car not to use it either. There's no better way to scratch up the rear window than continuously leaving the rear wiper on. And Please don't use it when the back window is really dirty.

Dirty window + Wiper + Little Moisture = Scratch

Take the damn thing to a gas station or car wash to clean it.

Even in a rainstorm, the xB ___ is completely vertical so little to no rain even comes into contact with the back window.

:silly:

Amen

As limited as it's usefulness is, the only think less practical is taking it off altogether! But I guess if you think it looks better and that is more important than being able to clear the back window, go for it.

Well, all practicality was lost since I refused to use it. My Box has never gotten dirty enough that i can't see out the back. I have never seen it rain hard enough to allow the arm to pass twice without streaking. I hate the thought of the wiper fluid dribbling down the hatch and crusting up. I thought it was impractical to have to wash, chamois and wax around something that I refused to use. What good was it to have it then? It collects dust, covers valuable sticker real estate, rattles with a good bass beat. It doesn't add anything to the appearance of the car. The tail is unique, I never had someone ask me too turn on my rear wiper, but I'm always getting asked to wag the tail.

Luckily we don't all see things alike or all our cars would look alike. Sometimes things can improve the looks without a sacrafice. Rain-X and the downforce of the air on the rear window from my Fab spoiler keeps it pretty clean, cleaner than before with a foot wide semicircle streaked across the back.

My Box evolved and grew a tail:
.

Thats great, I love that.

As cheap as the whole set-up is, when you live in a filthy dump of a city like Pittsburgh, that little crummy wiper and it's dribbler is a God send. It actually helped me this winter.

... My Box has never gotten dirty enough that i can't see out the back. I have never seen it rain hard enough to allow the arm to pass twice without streaking...
I believe this is a regional thing. In much of Cali and the U.S. South, weather is limited to clear, clean rain and not the crap and stuff we encounter in other regions where snow, precipitation, mud and dirty slush regularly builds up on our back window.

As cheap as the whole set-up is, when you live in a filthy dump of a city like Pittsburgh, that little crummy wiper and it's dribbler is a God send. It actually helped me this winter.
Agreed.

:P RPM

PS/BTW: I think I'll give Rain-X a try... I hear so many on SL recommend it. Thanks.

As limited as it's usefulness is, the only think less practical is taking it off altogether! But I guess if you think it looks better and that is more important than being able to clear the back window, go for it.

Well, all practicality was lost since I refused to use it. My Box has never gotten dirty enough that i can't see out the back. I have never seen it rain hard enough to allow the arm to pass twice without streaking.

I can see that, I guess.

I don't get the tail thing though, seems retarded.

Why not just remove the wiper all togther and cover the hole and make the back look nice and clean instead of having a 1/2 a broken wiper sticking out and calling it a tail? :rofl:

If your looking for a good fix for your wiper tail here is what fireturtle did to his xB. I thought it was a very good idea. So I took pics of it. Check www.strictlyscions.com for all the pics of what we do. Here is a link directly to his. http://www.strictlyscions.com/DSC02098.JPG
All it is, is a $3 cap for a sink that you can get at home depot. Make sure you check the fitting size first but it seals fine with no leaks. Tell me what you think.

As limited as it's usefulness is, the only think less practical is taking it off altogether! But I guess if you think it looks better and that is more important than being able to clear the back window, go for it.

Well, all practicality was lost since I refused to use it. My Box has never gotten dirty enough that i can't see out the back. I have never seen it rain hard enough to allow the arm to pass twice without streaking.

I can see that, I guess.

I don't get the tail thing though, seems retarded.

Why not just remove the wiper all togther and cover the hole and make the back look nice and clean instead of having a 1/2 a broken wiper sticking out and calling it a tail? :rofl:

It's not a broken wiper, it's a T-Rex tail and its funny to me and THAT'S why i put it on there. I didn't want the stub sticking out, wasn't comitted to take all the hardware out in case I changed my mind, haven't found a plug I like, waiting for ICE to put in a rearview cam, love the look on people's faces behind me when I turn it on and it wags, my kids think it's funny(my son wants me to mount the head on the front bumper), preferred it over the Scion Fist-NES Controller-CellPhone-etc. that others are running. There, maybe one of those reasons is satisfactory...

Why is it that everything you don't agree with is wrong?

If your looking for a good fix for your wiper tail here is what fireturtle did to his xB. I thought it was a very good idea. So I took pics of it. Check www.strictlyscions.com for all the pics of what we do. Here is a link directly to his. http://www.strictlyscions.com/DSC02098.JPG
All it is, is a $3 cap for a sink that you can get at home depot. Make sure you check the fitting size first but it seals fine with no leaks. Tell me what you think.

It looks OK, but just as unfinished, IMO. Besides, I've still got 14 bright spots on my exterior that I'm trying to get rid of, not add more. I've got four taken care of ,planning-wise, at least...

I rarely use it, so it's coming off in the next few months

Hi,

Ok, so lets say I used my rear wiper and now I have some actual scratches in the glass...

Any thoughts on removing the scratches short of replacing the window glass ??

This could also apply to the front windshield also...


Dave

Check a detail supply place for Glass Polish. It's like a light rubbing compound for glass. i used to use it alot...

If only the blade hole was in the middle of the hatch, so it gave a semi-symetrical look. The way it's placed (off to the right a tad) makes it not worth to take it off. IMO atleast; i'd rather deal with putting something between the glass and wiper to cease bass ratles.

////Say NO to Wipers////
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/hotxb990/xB990gasdoor.jpg

This thread is not about removing the rear wiper. Instead it is asking a simple question:

Has anyone found a way to make the wiper bigger and more effective for cleaning the rear window?

The original post reads:
I'm trying to figure out a way to make it bigger so it clears more of the window. The area it does now is almost useless.
*BUMP* Can anyone answer our question?

Thanks. RPM

There's only two other options I can think of besides what's already been stated (larger blade, Rain-X) - Those NASCAR pull sheets... or an air ducting that would force some air down the back window, but it'd introduce drag and probably whistle/windnoise...

... what's already been stated (larger blade, Rain-X) ...
Right, has anyone been successful in mounting a larger blade?

It looks a little tricky... may require an adapter.

Thanks. RPM

Here's what I'm talking about:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/RPMxB/xBRearWiper1.jpg

There may be fitment issues with a larger blade.

RPM

As limited as it's usefulness is, the only think less practical is taking it off altogether! But I guess if you think it looks better and that is more important than being able to clear the back window, go for it.

Well, all practicality was lost since I refused to use it. My Box has never gotten dirty enough that i can't see out the back. I have never seen it rain hard enough to allow the arm to pass twice without streaking.

I can see that, I guess.

I don't get the tail thing though, seems retarded.

Why not just remove the wiper all togther and cover the hole and make the back look nice and clean instead of having a 1/2 a broken wiper sticking out and calling it a tail? :rofl:

It's not a broken wiper, it's a T-Rex tail and its funny to me and THAT'S why i put it on there. I didn't want the stub sticking out, wasn't comitted to take all the hardware out in case I changed my mind, haven't found a plug I like, waiting for ICE to put in a rearview cam, love the look on people's faces behind me when I turn it on and it wags, my kids think it's funny(my son wants me to mount the head on the front bumper), preferred it over the Scion Fist-NES Controller-CellPhone-etc. that others are running. There, maybe one of those reasons is satisfactory...

Why is it that everything you don't agree with is wrong?

It's not 'wrong'. Like I said, I just don't get it and it seems retarded.

If it makes you smile, that's all that really matters. Who cares if I am in the car behind you laughing my a$$ off?

My idea is to take out the wiper, take out the wiper fluid sprayer thing, re-route the small washer fluid hose to the front, and spilt it into two smaller hoses. Then, have it in the wheel well facing the tires. When you press the spray button, it'll lightly mist the tires evenly.


A little cheat to get a good burnout. My brother uses it alot on his Dually truck. It wins tons of burnout competitions that way.

This is just an idea, I understand we're still talking about a 100hp scion here.

~If you mist your tires with bleach instead of water, they'll get five times the grip of regualar, kinda being the opposite of misting with water, 100% pointless unless you have 500 horsepower or you really like turning sharply, but just interesting enough to merit posting I think. (P.S. this is about the worst thing you could do to your tires as far as making them last awhile goes, it also kills your tread, so don't do it if you plan on ever driving in the rain again.)

I had a set of bullets that replaced my front wiper blades on one of my cars, picked them up at a local hot rod show and I remember they came in different styles here is a link shows what I am talking about you could probably repaint it following the write up someone did on emblems so it would match the box. http://store.yahoo.com/go-kat-go/winwipbul.html

I see the instructions in RPMxB's post, and I've seen the same instructions on alldatadiy.com. But I don't get it -- don't see how I could rotate the blade to a 60-degree angle from the arm without exerting a lot of force and breaking something. I thought of trying to post a picture, but I'm sure my 2005 xB's rear wiper looks the same as everyone else's. So what am I missing?

I agree. I have tried to follow the instuctions too. They don't seem to work.

So I take it that it must rain where you folks live :P

I wouldn't know what to do without mine. Even after I clean it in the winter, the whole back is gray again from salt after a couple miles.

Bump... Has anyone out there removed the rear wiper blade from the arm, please?

This thread wins for Most Useless Series of Replies. :silly: It's taken almost two years to reach its full potential, but despite four or five request from the original poster, not a single reply was posted that answered the question!

...including mine. :doh:

Also: rear wipers rock. I'll never buy a car without one again. Not in Chicago, Land of Salt.

I haven't tried yet, but when I do, I'll let you know.
I want to put one of those rigid silicone blades in there, I think it'd clean better and it doesn't really need to conform to any curves. Only problem is I don't even know where to buy a rear blade.

So... I'm not helpful either.

The rear wiper needs to be larger and intermittent. I was driving behind a Prius and that wiper looked bigger. I'll have to look at one up close parked.
.

Maybe you could replace it with the Prius part :)

...I seem to be good at ending conversations... :loser:

Picked up the xB after getting it serviced at the dealer. I had asked them to replace the rear wiper refill (finally), but they reported back that they can't get refills, only the full blade at $77(!) each, and even those have to be ordered. Scion Customer Experience confirmed that refills are indeed not available, and the full blade is the only option. They suggested trying the aftermarket, or trying another dealer. Well, another dealer that's on my way to work has the refills in stock for $3.68, so I bought three of them. I don't get it, why all the drama just to maintain a rear wiper, sigh.

I've seen far too many rear windows scratched up from a rear wiper. Just shave it off, Rain X the window and be done with it.

Well guys I use my rear wiper. My car is totally a daily driver with 58,000 miles on it for a 2006. I like to see who or what is behind me. I live in Ohio and I have salt and road debris thrown up on the rear window from frequent highway use. I just flick the rear window wiper switch with a little fluid once or twice and I can see the A Hole on my butt more clearly. Never would i turn it on and leave it on for like 20 minutes as that is unnessicary. But yes, It is time for a wiper replacement on the rear. I did the front like 6 months ago only to find out the auto parts store had no rear wiper replacement. If I remember right my 2001 Celica had a rear wiper on it. Oh yeah it was part of the COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. For those of you that live in California or Florida yeah its probably useless. But hey here in Ohio its kinda handy as i dont have to stop every 2+ miles to use the squeeges and bug buckets at a gasoline station to get the salt off my window so I can see out.

there is really no reason the xB should have a rear wiper...the window is straight up and down, its not like rain is just gonna sit there and hang out...no its gonna fall down using gravity...

i say shave the rear wiper or get a plug from keytechniques and be done with it.

there is really no reason the xB should have a rear wiper...the window is straight up and down, its not like rain is just gonna sit there and hang out...no its gonna fall down using gravity...

i say shave the rear wiper or get a plug from keytechniques and be done with it.once again someone who lives down south where there is little if no snow. Road salt doesnt care if your window is horizontal or vertical. In fact I washed my xB 2 days ago and it is right now completely white with road salt. Great for you guys who live where you dont need it. But, yes, Toyota put it there for those of us who have to put up with winter conditions.

They should have made it an option so we wouldn't have a useless hole drilled in our hatches. Let the northern owners have the dealer drill them out and install the wiper. At extra cost of coarse. :rofl:

I don't know about road salt, but any kind of water/liquid sheets right off with a decent application of RAIN-X. We've had an unbelievable amount of rain this year in SoCal, and even with dirty/muddy stuff flying up on the rear window (especially on the freeway) all but a thin coat the dirtiest stuff runs right off. I don't miss my wiper at all, and with the Keytechniques plug in the hole, the rear of the car looks light-years better. :clap:

I've driven in salt a few times and the snow and salt stuff just runs off with rain X applied. I think the snow people are afraid to try something new. :lalala:

haha...i have lived in montana and illinois...both places gets a lot of snow...we have been using rain X on the back window for a long time on back windows in snowy and salty conditions...

Just try it out...bet you will like it :)