Did you ever make this mistake - wiper blades

[Sten deJoode]

This is my problem, in a nutshell...

Need to replace the 96 toyota 4runner base 2wd rear window wiper. I can't get it at Costco (even though they're on sale right now) because the shortest length wiper blade that Costco has is 17 inches.

But there are many types of 12 inch wiper blades online apparently.

12 A 12 B 12 C and so on.

So I set my filter on Amazon for the right year make & model vehicle. And I order these which are 12 inches allright.

But they don't fit the arm of the vehicle. OK. I says to myself. I'll just use the rubber & not the blade.

But the rubber inserts don't have any endcaps so they slip off each edge.

Did you ever make that mistake? How do you fix it?

[hubops]

You should go buy the proper 13 inch blade - rather than trying to stretch the 12 inch one !

John T.

[AMuzi]

Use any online auto parts page to get the correct part.

In your case, under $10

[Xeno]

Not so fast! You are linking to the 17" front wiper blades - which are easy to get. The OP is referring to the single *rear* wiper blade.

[micky]

I didn't know enough sten's car to completely choose the right model, and for that matter, maybe because it's a laptop with shorter screen, I couldn't even fill in what I did know, but I checked my own car, and I was please that they sell sets of 2 for only 16 and 17 dollars (unlike those really high prices we discussed a few weeks ago, and which they showed for sten's car too.)

I was displeased that they could not agree on what length my wipers shoudl be ranging from 22+21 to 20+20 to 26+20 to 19+19 to 22+22. Amazon usually does a good job on stuff like this but apparenly Jeff Bezos's grand-nephew was made assistant associate purchasing manager for wiper blades and he spends his nights clubbing and most of his days sleeping. I think I heard this mentioned on Bloomberg Radio.

[AMuzi]

Click on the 2d image down , top left:

Clearly marked "13 inch" for rear.

[Sten deJoode]

I think you're right that I bought a 12" wiper for the rear, but the proper length wiper blade is probably 13" instead (unknown to me).

Here is that Carid wiper blade for 13" next to the original.

Does it look similar enough that you'd buy it?

[AMuzi]

I don't own a Toyota and I try to stay far away from post-1967 government regulated autos.

But for auto parts, an auto parts seller such as RockAuto, CarID or the various big stores (Advance, O'Reilly, Bumper to Bumper and so on) will be much better about parts fit/spec than a general merchandise vendor such as Amazon, WalMart, Alibaba and the like.

A specialty vendor (do 4 Runner have a fan club ?) is best where there is one; Moss Motors for classic British sports cars, Clark's for Corvairs, GMClassics for Novas and so on.

[micky]

Even though i'm 99% sure I applied the filter to only show those for mey car, these all appeared in the search page, but when I looked at each one, only those of the right length were listed as fitting my car. So it wasted a little time but Amazon redeemedt itself.

[Bob F]

I have found that auto parts dealers, other than the manufacturers are not very reliable about matching the parts for my particular model of car.

[Bob F]

I did find that Toyota sold replacement rubber blades for a good price for the stock wipers.

[micky]

That happened to me once. All I wanted was the transmission codes read and I went to a small local shcnage that said they woudl do that for free. Instead they took my car, without asking me, for 20 minute test drive, in the rain. And later they told me things that were wrong with it. Yes, one of the tie rod ends was worn, but they also said I needed motor mounts. I bought the left and center motormounts at a regular parts store and when I got the old one out, the new one wouldn't fit.

then I started on the front, but I coudlnt' get it out at all and I scratched the radiator, which started leaking. Then I plugged the leak with something that partially plugged the radiator, so that going up one side of the Smokey Mountains I blew out a heater hose. It was right at the end so I found a spare inch in the old hose and repaired that but going to the crest of the Smokey Mountains, I blew out another. I repaired that and by that time I was carrying 5 gallons of water. I need a gallon of water ever 40 miles and finally came to a stop in Asheville, North Caollina. Had to buy another car, all because I took seriously the alleged transmission guy.

Maybe I'll try them. The dealer who tried to cheat me has sold the dealership to someone else.