YES! I have reigned victoriously. I used what I think they call a "break adjuster spoon" (used to use it on my old pontiac drum brakes)

Gave just the right type of leverage and ... pop ..pop ... pop ... pop ...
all the clippies out and not one broken. Woohoo.

For those who are interested ... very straight forward to pull the wiper motor at that
point. 3 nuts and an electrical clip. I highly recommend electrical taping the end of the
clip and don't just let it dangle after you remove the motor. I've had shorts occur that way.

Thanks all for your help!!!!!

I'm on my way to the hardware store for a "plug". :D

 

Cool - let us know if you find something that will cleanly plug that hole. The only thing I'm aware of is a rear view camera, so if you find something new let us know!

 

There are 2 grommets in the spare tire well, you can use that. Ive been using that since Jan. They work great.

 

I am plugging the hole with a "faucet hole cover" available at most
hardware stores. I have the good luck that I'm working on a white
car and found a white cap. I was planning to cover the cap with vinyl
but not necessary in this case!

This is not the actual one I bought, but here is a pic of a similar product ...



Hey Denz - where EXACTLy are those grommets you mention, I looked and see nothing?
Thanks!

 

Denz - Do you have any pictures of that installed?

 

Its under the plastic riser underneath the spare tire...

Infiz, Here is a pick from speed options

 

Sorry... I can't agree with the whole form over function thing....

 

Denz, still hoping for a pointer to where specifically the pluggie is?

under the tire? on the cover? looked and not seeing?

 

spoon

if you take the spare tire out, then take the foam thing out (both sides) you will see carpet. take the bolt on the left out that has the little loop for a hook off. now you can go under the carpet and there is then a plastic support shield. lift this up as well and there will be this 50 cent size rubber plug. this is what he is talking about. the plug is in the middle of that spare well. hope this helps.

 

A lot of these people live in socal where there really isn't any rain, so it makes sense to take the rear wiper off.

Make sure to use a lock washer, you don't want that thing rattling off.

 

Just an idea, how about someone does a tech page write up. I live in So Cal where theres virtually no rain and I'm interested in taking off my rear wiper and also because i'm putting in a 15" sub and dont want it to rattle but knowing how to take off the rear wiper and the motor and knowing how to plug up the hole from start to finish would be great :D

 

It rains atelast once a week here in MA, i couldnt live without my rear wiper. Although it does have a good look, ive got some surprises for my rear hatch.. ill let ya all know what ive done once its done ( in a couple weeks) and ill be posting pics!

 

hell, i use rainx on all my windows and i dont even need to use the wipers (front or back) if i'm goin 30mph or faster. it's great stuff...only thing is, you need to reapply it like 3 times a month or else you get this nasty residue over the window that only comes off with harsh soap...i'm in MD and this is the first time i've seen the rear wiper takin off...looks clean...i'd deff. do it if there was a write up with pics...hint hint

 

I see why some people remove the wiper, but as being my first real new car, I payed for it and dam it!! Its gonna stay there, or else I would have bought it without a wiper. Still looks pretty clean with out it, someone in the photo booth has a lava with pics showing the body shop covered it and painted it to the lava color. :D

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16307

 

Here it is..



Ok go to the hardware and buy a 3/8 inch carriage bolt (1 1/2 inch long should do it)
remove the rear panel on the door. Remove the three bolts that hold wiper motor onto door. Remove the wiper motor, but leave the rubber plug in rear door.

Now take the carriage bolt and file the letters of the end so it is smooth and then prime it. Then paint it black or gloss black (your preference)

Put bolt through the rubber and install a washer on the back with nut. This will compress the rubber and the bolt head being the right size will seal out water.

Hope you like my cheap, Yet quality fix.........

Greg

 

something about me just won't let me plug the hole. if I was going to do it, I'd want it bondo'd and repainted.

 

A couple of xb owners here in Az took the motor out and put a key lock cylinder in the hole. It looks clean and gives the impression you need a key to open the hatch. I can find out what make the cylinder is or where they got it, I know it is a basic automotive door lock cyliner tho.

 

Ok, I found a pic of the mod.

 

that key-looking mod ^^^^^ looks awesome. It'd really throw ppl off.


If that IS a key-looking mod......

 

how about a backup camera there instead? that would be trick of you didn't want to use the OEM Toyota one.