kc_blue_box

From my search this seems to be a topic of interest, but nobody seems to have solved the problem. I own an 05 xB and it drives me crazy when there is a light rain and only one speed for the rear wiper.

Long story short, I have plans to tackle the problem this summer. I think that I can solve it with one of these: http://www.arduino.cc/, some programming and a few minor components.

I just wanted to get some feed back, and see if anyone else was still interested? Interest from others would go a long way in motivating me to start/complete/make the solution available.

Also, it looks like this is still a problem with the second gen xBs can anyone confirm that?

Thanks.

burstaneurysm

Yea, give it a shot. I'm sure people would be interested in changing it up a bit.

Personally, I removed the wiper months ago and I haven't looked back.

snowromance

if you can design the unit, as i've thought about but just do not have time in between other projects, i will pay you for it :-)

bB2NER

Who still has a rear wiper hardly. I don't drive my box in the rain so it was useless anyhow. If you rain x the window tho you should not even need to use it. Plus it scratches up the glass over time.

blimey

I would be interested.Drives me nuts too.

scooter123

The only two complaints that I've had with the XB are the interior lighting (I've added a dome light from a Paseo) and the rear wiper.

I Rain-X the glass, I change the blade, but the bottom line is I live in New England and drive into Boston. I need an intermittent wiper.

If you can contrive a solution I'm in.

bB2NER

Has anyone checked any other Toyota products for intermittitent wiper switches that might interchange?

snowromance

so the intermittent function comes from within the switch itself?

ZOMGXB

I would cry TEARS OF INDESCRIBEABLE HAPPINESS if someone discovered a way to solve this problem. It drives me insane - since it's a BOX, water almost never hits the back window. Even in heavy downpours at highway speeds, I only nee the wiper every 5-7 seconds.

If my box could do that...it'd be perfect.



*cough ahem*

Would like to see out back of car during months of November - April, thankyouverymuch. :D

ZOMGXB

I'm sorry to ask an unrelated question, but where on earth did you find replacement blades for the rear wiper? I can't get one from any of the usual suspects and after three years mine's worse for wear. =p

Thankye!

Skuff_Box

WOW I just want to spray that xB with a water hose.

WhoKilledTheJAMs

I bought a wiper blade (I think 15", because it was the smallest I could find, and you can't just get refills anymore), and took the blade out of the armature and trimmed it to more or less the right length (you'd think you could leave an extra inch or so on it, but it doesn't really help). Then, I unclipped the blade off the xB's wiper arm, and put the new on. Beats spending $55 at the stealership for a new wiper arm assembly just to get a $5 blade.

scooter123

If memory serves it was a 12 inch blade. It may have been an Anco or Trico but I just used the blade and not the frame. I use Rain-X blades up front but they don't make them small enough for the back.

kc_blue_box

Its good to know that I am not alone here. I am going to move this up my (long) list of things to get done this summer. I will update here as I progress.

High level: I hope to develop a module that will plug in to the power supply for the wiper and provide an adjustable intermittent wiper delay.

scooter123

At least we know that misery loves company.
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/wipe.htm
http://www.miata.net/garage/int_wiper/index.html

kc_blue_box

And I was unable to find the time to complete this project... However, I was able to build a prototype...

Here is the code for the arduino.
http://meterproject.googlepages.com/wiperdelay

The hardware required includes a couple of relays, a resistor, and a transistor.

Let me know if anyone is interested in the diagram.

I might have a channel to produce and sell these if there is really enough interest... does the new model xb have this same problem?

eh, make some noise if you are interested...

PhillyCamoBox

for the front wipers get a 04 vibe switch its a direct swap and has intermittent fronts. same switch for the rear though ....

snowromance

a vibe like pontiac vibe?

PhillyCamoBox

yea

bB2NER

Is there another? JK