Cleaning Highlander w/ spoiler, rear wiper - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jmuhammad · 02-01-2010, 08:43 PM

My HiHy gets dirty a lot in the winter with road salt and whatnot. When I pull into a gas station I take advantage of the *free* windshield washer bin to clean my front and rear windows, lights and license plate cover.

I can never clean the top of my rear window because the spoiler is in the way. Also the rear wiper does not have the 'break away' feature that the front wipers have so I can't do a good job of cleaning the rear window.

Am I missing something or did Toyota like not give us a way to clean the rear window when a spoiler and/or rear wiper is installed

***TrailDust*** · 02-01-2010, 08:52 PM

Well, with the rear wiper at least you can raise it perpendicular to the window by simply pulling up on the cover at the wiper arm attachment/rotation point. I posted pics to a thread somewhere here in the Highlander forum a while back showing how to do it if you needed to see it. A search of this forum ought to turn it up...sorry, I don't have the time at the moment to post up a link....

***RedLdr1*** · 02-02-2010, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmuhammad

Am I missing something or did Toyota like not give us a way to clean the rear window when a spoiler and/or rear wiper is installed

You are not missing anything, the rear window is a real PITA to clean. I lightly scratched my spoiler with an old squeegee using the "free" gas station cleaner.

Now I carry a small spray bottle filled with Windex and use the "free" paper towels to clean the top of my rear window... Just one more minor annoyance with the Highlander....

***TrailDust*** · 02-02-2010, 11:41 AM

I've never had a problem with the rear window because I don't clean it except when I actually wash the car, kind of a philosophy like the guy in Gumball Rally who ripped off his rear view mirror and said, "The first rule of Italian driving......what's behind me is not important!"

Seriously, just in case anyone wanted to see it, here's a repost of how to lift up the rear wiper to a near vertical position. It's easy and literally a snap to do....

-

kesawi · 02-02-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrailDust

I've never had a problem with the rear window
Seriously, just in case anyone wanted to see it, here's a repost of how to lift up the rear wiper to a near vertical position. It's easy and literally a snap to do....

Interesting, on my Kluger all I have to do is pull the blade up, no need to lift the cover back.

thenebula873 · 02-02-2010, 04:42 PM

Thanks for posting that. I always thought it was weird the rear blade could only lift a couple dozen degrees from the windshield.

***TrailDust*** · 02-02-2010, 04:53 PM

Glad to help out. I thought the same thing about angle and one day said, "There's no ****ing way that blade can't come up!" and then grabbed the end piece and pulled. Add it to the list of things the owner's manual doesn't tell you squat about.

And, kesawi, how is it you guys rate with the Kluger wiper that bends upright and we don't? How did you guys sweet talk Toyota into that one?

kesawi · 02-02-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrailDust

And, kesawi, how is it you guys rate with the Kluger wiper that bends upright and we don't? How did you guys sweet talk Toyota into that one?

Don't know, perhaps it could be a specific requirement of our car design laws?

Don't complain though, you guys have a few things that we miss out on, such as:

Rear 110v outlet (would be 240v here in Oz) and auxiliary A/V inputs.
You appear to have more spaces for auxiliary switches in the bank next to the steering wheel by the driver's door.
A stereo that allows some adjustment of bluetooth mic volume.
Fitted all-weather rubber floor mats (can't even find any aftermarket ones here).
Decent vehicle name (Highlander sounds far better than Kluger or Klugger as a lot of people mispronounce it).
Warranty repair for the A/C odour.

***TrailDust*** · 02-02-2010, 08:11 PM

That's amazing! I didn't realize there were so many differences between the two countries.

thenebula873 · 02-02-2010, 08:47 PM

I guess they don't think Australia has as much crazy weather as the States to warrant rubber mats....quite silly to me.

kesawi · 02-02-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenebula873

I guess they don't think Australia has as much crazy weather as the States to warrant rubber mats....quite silly to me.

Yes Toyota, we don't have weather extremes. There's nothing extreme about having dust storms, +40C heat waves and bush fires in the South while simultaneously getting flooding due to cyclones and king tides in the North. Mud doesn't exist in Australia at all.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/g...17382,00.html#
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...08/2485534.htm