DIY wiper fluid reservoir relocation for 1st Gen Tacomas

I just put on a Trail Gear low profile front bumper and on the right side it leaves the wiper fluid reservoir and a bunch of wiring exposed. I found a good work-around for anyone who wants to relocate their wiper fluid reservoir.

Here you can see that the wiper reservoir and some wiring for the wiper fluid pump and horn are now exposed. First I tried covering everything up and it looked OK from a distance but looked like shite up close:


I re-routed the wiring for the horn and it's in my review of the Trail Gear low profile bumper here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ow-profile-bumper-for-1st-gen-tacomas.441752/

I removed the OEM wiper fluid reservoir and pulled the wiring harness and fluid tubing up into the engine bay. Looks much cleaner now and both sides match:


I did the deckplate mod last year and the filler neck for the OEM reservoir was in the way. This looks much better now.

Before:

After:


There is an empty space behind the airbox on 1st Gen 2.7L Tacomas that's approximately 6" X 6" X 6." I went to the nearest pull-it-yourself salvage yard and eventually discovered that the 1993-2004 Kia Sportage has a wiper reservoir measuring about 6" X 6" X 6." It even has tabs on each side that could potentially line up with the threaded holes on the inner fender lip of my 2003 Tacoma. The salvage yard I was in had four 1993-2004 Kia Sportages. They charged me an obscene $11.00 for entry, the reservoir, fluid pump and pigtail connector. Looks like this might work:


Take an el-cheapo homemade tester with you when you're shopping for second hand relays, motors or other electrical bits:


This rubber 90-degree fitting and white connector came off of the OEM fluid pump. I positioned them like so and the wiper fluid tubing that I pulled into the engine bay was long enough to reach:

The OEM wiper fluid pump is slightly wider and taller than this P.O.S. fluid pump. Sometime I'll hit the Kia fluid reservoir with a heat gun and and make the Toyota fluid pump fit.

There is a short intermediate harness that's really just two terminal connectors and some wiring, which connects the chassis harness to the OEM fluid pump. Rather than cut into the chassis harness, I chopped up the little intermediate harness and spliced in the Kia pigtail connector. The gray one is the Toyota connector that plugs into the chassis harness on the truck, and the yellow one is the Kia connector that powers the P.O.S. fluid pump:

I used butt connectors and of course I saved the rest of the Toyota harness so it will be easy to re-use the OEM fluid pump.

I removed that gold bolt and used a pry bar to hold the ABS modulator bracket out of the way so I could thread in a cap screw for the Kia fluid reservoir:

That hole behind the ABS modulator bracket is pre-threaded. All of the pre-threaded holes on the inner fender lip take an M6X1.00 bolt. I already had a bunch of those in my coffee can full of random shit.

I was going to drill a hole in the inner fender lip and use a lag screw to fasten the other side of the reservoir, but that would make it sit at a weird angle and it looked like the hood might hit the top. Lag screws also tend to wallow out the hole over time, so I summoned my redneck upbringing and made a bracket out of a hose clamp, also found in my coffee can full of random shit. Now I can use a pre-threaded hole, the hood won't hit the reservoir, and it sits pretty level in there:


The chassis harness, tubing, wiper motor and pigtail connector all tuck neatly into the cavity behind the reservoir. The end result; an $11.00 relocated wiper fluid reservoir that looks almost like it was meant to be there:


I think this will also work on 3.4L Tacomas and 4Runners. It looks like they have a similar 6" X 6" X 6" space behind the airbox:

If someone with a 3.4L can confirm, I'll update the info in this thread.

EDIT: There's an Ebay wiper reservoir that's designed to fit in this same spot on the 1st gen Tacoma. Thanks @keakar!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Windshield-Washer-Reservoir-Bottle-with-Pump-for-95-00-Toyota-Tacoma-/310801491979?hash=item485d36680b:g:V-oAAOSwpDdU~~UG&vxp=mtr&rmvSB=true

You can also make one out of PVC pipe:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/31898-Washer-reservoir-relocation

 

Excellent, thanks!

 

Looks good. I did the same thing using a Mazda B2200 reservoir, which was a similar size and shape to you Kia reservoir.

 

That's good to know. I looked for Japanese parts first, but the few Toyotas, Hondas, Mazdas and Nissans there looked like they'd been skeletonized by pirahnas. There were tons of Kias, Hyundais and Audis, though.

 

Those that have factory cruise control, will have a big control module already mounted in the spot where you located your reservoir.

 

if you don't have a junk yard nearby to get one cheap, you could just buy it new, there is a inexpensive kit right here to move your reservoir to under the hood http://www.ebay.com/itm/Windshield-...ash=item485d36680b:g:V-oAAOSwpDdU~~UG&vxp=mtr

I used this to fix my 5 lug when the neck broke off my oem stock one

 

Thank you for the link, @keakar. I would have bought that so fucking fast but google clearly failed me when I was searching Toyota wiper reservoirs.

 

Cool. Thanks for the link.
I just noticed that mine has a bunch of cracks and is very brittle. Looks like I'll be ordering one of these soon.

 

Awesome write up, especially considering that the neck of my reservoir let's more fluid out than it keeps in when filling it currently. Sadly, the cruise control on my 3.4 takes up most of that room, but it has at least encouraged me to get creative before I cough up enough money for a replacement OEM reservoir.

 

I had cruise on my 99 5lug and it fit nicely tucked into that spot between the CC and the firewall, all you need is about 6-7" of space for it

 

I'll sell you mine for $20.00 shipped if you want it. It's in good shape, the plastic isn't deteriorated anywhere on it.

 

This is on my to-do list. Need to see how it fits around the cruise control, though.

 

i would be interested in your original one if no one else grabs it. i am just north of Salt Lake.

 

You can have it for $0.00 in cash if you come pick it up. I PM'd you my contact info. Sunday is fine with me, I'm a heathen.

 

pm'd thanks

 

Just checked my '04 with cruise control, and other than a small igniter module, the space is open. Gonna see if I can source that eBay linked 95-00 Tacoma reservoir. Does the pump/connector match up with the later 1st gens?

 

yep, its direct plug in ready to go, all you need to do is unplug the wire under the fender and pull it back up into the engine bay along with the water line and plug both in.

I recall on my 99 it was a PITA and hard to get my hands in those tight spots to unsnap the clips, you don't want to just pull on things so take your time and unsnap any wire clips holding it to the body

 

Finally got around to doing this today. Bought the linked 95-00 Tacoma reservoir, plugged right in (minus the fluid low-level sensor) and fits like a glove. Glad to get rid of the ugly, low-hanging, tire-rubbing stock one! Great mod, thanks @keakar !

 

All you fancypantses with your abs and your cruise control...I've got a wide open space there...But I'm saving it for battery #2. I'll have to see what other options i have for placement. I hardly ever use washer fluid...Maybe I'll put a tiny resovoir somewhere.

 

That looks good, @McMash. I'm going to get one of those if my junkyard reservoir breaks.