Passenger wiper becomes useless in cold weather

[engineeer]

I tried searching and couldn't find anything (I gave up), so apologies if this has been covered.

My passenger wiper stops making contact with the windshield in sub~30˚ weather. The only fix I've found is to bump the stalk (the 1engineer trick) so that the wipers sit high on the windshield and then blast the window defroster to try to warm them up through the glass--the picture below shows them in the "bumped" position. Sometimes this helps, but if it's cold enough (e.g. < 10˚) it doesn't help. The wiper de-icers don't help at all.

Here's my windshield after running the wipers for 3 cycles--you can see that the passenger wiper is doing almost nothing:

I'm not as concerned about the passenger side as I am this happening on the driver's side. Has anyone had this happen on the driver's side?

Edit: I should mention that this has been happening since less than 2,000 miles on my 4Runner. The windshield wipers work great and wipe clean in warm weather.

Edit #2: adding a video



Right at the 5 second mark I spray the windshield with fluid and you can see the driver's side wiper wipe it cleanly away.

 

[Cuse Runner]

I use the rain-x all season washer fluid, it is like an orange color. I can spray it on the ice and it wipes off with the wipers in a couple of passes. Usually just the very outer edge of the windshield is frozen when on the highway, where the wiper doesn’t reach. I usually buy a couple jugs of it and keep the wife’s car and my Runner topped off.

Also, once you use it for awhile it will start to help bead up water for when it rains. I use it year round!

 

[engineeer]

I use the rain-x all season washer fluid, it is like an orange color. I can spray it on the ice and it wipes off with the wipers in a couple of passes. Usually just the very outer edge of the windshield is frozen when on the highway, where the wiper doesn’t reach. I usually buy a couple jugs of it and keep the wife’s car and my Runner topped off.

Also, once you use it for awhile it will start to help bead up water for when it rains. I use it year round!

To clarify, the wiper has no ice on it when this happens--I've inspected for this closely. The rubber seemingly shrinks and turns into a ( shape where the center stops making contact with the windshield.

I have wiper fluid for temps down to -15˚F and no amount of blasting the fluid and wiping fixes the problem. It's only when the weather or wipers warm up again that it goes away and it only happens on the passenger side.

 

[d_clark]

I have the same issue with the passenger side.

 

[EEEliminator]

To clarify, the wiper has no ice on it when this happens--I've inspected for this closely. The rubber seemingly shrinks and turns into a ( shape where the center stops making contact with the windshield.

I have wiper fluid for temps down to -15˚F and no amount of blasting the fluid and wiping fixes the problem. It's only when the weather or wipers warm up again that it goes away and it only happens on the passenger side.

Are you running OEM wiper inserts and/or arms? How old are they?

When this happens can you pull the ) shape down and does it move freely? I'd inspect the arm itself and see that there is no corrosion that is keeping it from straitening out or replace the rubber insert.

 

[engineeer]

Are you running OEM wiper inserts and/or arms? How old are they?

When this happens can you pull the ) shape down and does it move freely? I'd inspect the arm itself and see that there is no corrosion that is keeping it from straitening out or replace the rubber insert.

Everything is OEM. My first trip to the mountains when I experienced this was with less than 2,000 miles on the odometer (I bought it new). It has done it nonstop every time I take it up to the mountains for the past year. I've tried messing with the wiper to fix the shape, but it seemingly "freezes" into that shape. I'm sitting at a little over 17,000 miles now.

I'm going to take it to the dealer to have them inspect it and figure out what the problem is, but friends of mine with 3rd and 4th gen 4Runners seem to have the same passenger-side wiper problem. Makes me think it's a design flaw that Toyota hasn't addressed.

 

[WVhillbilly]

I've had a few vehicles do this.
Cold temps, curved windshield and the wiper gets stiff.

Sometimes you can run the winter style blades, they seem to be softer rubber or something and they are not as bad.

 

[flyrv9]

Did you try to see if the pressure of the wiper blade against the glass is the same for both wipers. If the pass side pressure is lighter it could explain why it works with rain but not when perhaps a little more pressure is needed. There might be an adjustment for this; or perhaps that pass side arm is weak for some reason. A pull test with a thick sheet of paper on both sides and in a few places during the sweep might work for an unofficial test.

 

[philsey]

I don't have your problem, but I'd suggest two things:



I'd shorten this spring. My guess is that it has gotten stretched somehow. Regardless, IMO you need more downward pressure of the arm. $.02.

I'd make sure the arm is free to operate (that the hinge isn't binding).

 

[EEEliminator]

Everything is OEM. My first trip to the mountains when I experienced this was with less than 2,000 miles on the odometer (I bought it new). It has done it nonstop every time I take it up to the mountains for the past year. I've tried messing with the wiper to fix the shape, but it seemingly "freezes" into that shape. I'm sitting at a little over 17,000 miles now.

I'm going to take it to the dealer to have them inspect it and figure out what the problem is, but friends of mine with 3rd and 4th gen 4Runners seem to have the same passenger-side wiper problem. Makes me think it's a design flaw that Toyota hasn't addressed.

I live in the Bay Area and head up to Tahoe in the winter (only really cold weather the 4Runner sees), I haven't had this issue. Mine is a 2011 with 85k on it now. I would think if this was a design flaw it would be well documented by those in colder climates, seems more like you have a defective mechanism in the wiper arm that is keeping it from articulating when it is cold. Either way I'm curious to see what the solution is.

Now the rotting rubber on the belt molding of the windows, that is a design flaw :frusty: (just ordered replacements for 3 doors)

 

[boyguan]

I live in the Bay Area and head up to Tahoe in the winter (only really cold weather the 4Runner sees), I haven't had this issue. Mine is a 2011 with 85k on it now. I would think if this was a design flaw it would be well documented by those in colder climates, seems more like you have a defective mechanism in the wiper arm that is keeping it from articulating when it is cold. Either way I'm curious to see what the solution is.

Now the rotting rubber on the belt molding of the windows, that is a design flaw :frusty: (just ordered replacements for 3 doors)

Funny. My friend just borrowed my car for Tahoe and he had this exact issue. The car sat in the snow though. When I went to Tahoe I was always driving so it didn’t get a chance to get covered by snow

 

[ADK Explorer]

Happens to mine in snow storms. I am going to try Bosch blades. I also get ice build up so thick on the base of drivers side arm it snaps and thunks with each wipe. I have to spray silicone on it before driving in a storm. Only way to keep ice build up off windshield is to blast defrost on high heat causing me to sweat my ass off.

P.S. I think it has something to do with the curvature of the glass on passenger side. I've driven through some intense storms and fortunately the driver's side does not ice up.

 

[nb rob]

I had the same problem for two winters.

I picked up the bosch icon blades this winter, and it was a big improvement, although they sometimes miss a patch on the passenger side too... but not the entire passenger side like the OEM arms.

 

[tri4cy]

2016 TEP and I have the same issue. I live in Iowa so it happens quite a bit. My wiper blade warmer does seem to help a bit though even if not perfect.

 

[engineeer]

I live in the Bay Area and head up to Tahoe in the winter (only really cold weather the 4Runner sees), I haven't had this issue. Mine is a 2011 with 85k on it now. I would think if this was a design flaw it would be well documented by those in colder climates, seems more like you have a defective mechanism in the wiper arm that is keeping it from articulating when it is cold. Either way I'm curious to see what the solution is.

Now the rotting rubber on the belt molding of the windows, that is a design flaw :frusty: (just ordered replacements for 3 doors)

Which mechanism are you referring to when you say "defective mechanism"?

To clarify, the wiper arm sweeps across the windshield like it should, but the rubber wiper blade does not make proper contact in cold temps. Here's a video of it in action. Right at the 5 second mark I spray the windshield with fluid and you can see the driver's side wiper wipe it cleanly away.

 

[e60ral]

it's working properly, this is just a design issue

 

[4REIGN3R]

I thought I was the only one! I assumed the wiper heating element wasn't contacting the blade at all so I had Toyota adjust it so it was sitting properly. That didn't fix it at all. Guess this is just a common issue.

 

[philsey]

Some owners are dealer-averse, I know. But I believe I'd take that video to the dealer and see what happens. They will first, of course, want you to put on new blades. I'd comply, and insist they do it. Be sure to document.

I'd want this issue started and documented promptly, as cold weather is going away, as will your issue -- until next year. Something's wrong, and you want it addressed within warranty.

 

[engineeer]

Some owners are dealer-averse, I know. But I believe I'd take that video to the dealer and see what happens. They will first, of course, want you to put on new blades. I'd comply, and insist they do it. Be sure to document.

I'd want this issue started and documented promptly, as cold weather is going away, as will your issue -- until next year. Something's wrong, and you want it addressed within warranty.

I'm not dealer-averse per se, but I'm getting tired of taking my 4Runner to the dealer. I've had to take it in once every month for the 12 months I've owned it and it's getting tiresome, but that's a story for a different thread

Making an appointment now. I'm guessing they're going to inspect it, say it looks ok, begrudgingly swap out the rubber portion, and send me on my way 6-8 hours later. But like you said, creating documentation of this issue is important.

 

[EEEliminator]

Which mechanism are you referring to when you say "defective mechanism"?

To clarify, the wiper arm sweeps across the windshield like it should, but the rubber wiper blade does not make proper contact in cold temps. Here's a video of it in action. Right at the 5 second mark I spray the windshield with fluid and you can see the driver's side wiper wipe it cleanly away.

I'm referring to the piece(s) that hold the rubber insert in place and are supposed to move to allow the rubber to adjust for the change in shape as the arm moves across the windshield. They are a couple of arch shaped pieces I was curious to know if they were binding up or freezing in place not allowing the rubber to reshape itself.

From the responses above it seems you're definitely not alone! What year are the 4Runners are having this issue? (within the 5th gen)