'02 Echo Wiper Issue

[icedsun]

Hey everyone - finally got my first Echo this week and I'm more than happy with it. (It's a 2002 4dr with 59k miles.)

It does seem to have one problem that's perplexing me... The driver's side windshield wiper misses a large section directly in the driver's field of vision, and it wipes an equally large portion of the ROOF. The passenger side is a 14" blade and the driver's side is a 22" blade. I thought perhaps someone installed an incorrect blade, but the auto parts store here looked it up and their books all say that it's a standard 22" blade for the driver's side. It seems like it should have an off-set 22" blade (standard ones connect to the wiper arm dead center...) Hopefully someone here can impart some knowledge on me!

Also, I'm missing the "O" from "E C H O" on the trunk of the car... I'll probably have to pay the $30 for all four letters, unless someone has a spare one I could probably ebay the spare E C H of course, if I do have to order the set!

[icedsun]

Aha, I've figured it out! Apparently the body shop that fixed the car (it's a rebuilt salvage) didn't realize that "D" is for "Driver" and "P" is for "Passenger." Freaking idiots put the wiper arms on opposite sides. Now I'm scared as to what else they put on backwards...

The only nice thing is how easy that kind of stuff is to fix on this car - a 14mm socket and the switching process took about 1 minute. Seriously though... Toyota freaking LABELED each wiper arm and the repair shop idiots still put them on the wrong way.

[ReTread]

Glad you found the problem - I was going to suggest adjusting wiper arms, but wasn't aware of body work and the possiblity of the switch as you described. They use some pretty strong solvents in body work places.....