DIY wiper fluid reservoir relocation for 1st Gen Tacomas

otis24 · Jan 30, 2017

That's way nicer than my Nalgen bottle.

Phessor · Jan 30, 2017

I made mine out of ABS and retained the factory pump and level sensor.

TooMuchToDo · Jan 31, 2017

now...those are awesome!

Wulf · Jan 31, 2017

keakar said: ↑

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
Click to expand...

damn, that's an awesome find!

The OP is also a great write up

Jaysjammin · Jun 20, 2017

McMash said: ↑

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 !

Click to expand...

Did your connector match up directly? I just bought one and the connector looks way different. I haven't taken the old one out yet, is there a second connector?

McMash · Jun 20, 2017

Minus the low-fluid sensor wire (just capped it off), the plug was a direct fit on the one I bought:

Windshield Washer Reservoir w/ Pump for 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma fits TO1288134 / 8531504040 / 85315-04040

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P9WK6C6/

No leaks, clearance problems or any issues at all. Just move some wires and mount it.

boostedka · Jun 20, 2017

Subbed for future reference. Thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread

Jaysjammin · Jun 20, 2017

McMash said: ↑

Minus the low-fluid sensor wire (just capped it off), the plug was a direct fit on the one I bought:

Windshield Washer Reservoir w/ Pump for 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma fits TO1288134 / 8531504040 / 85315-04040

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P9WK6C6/

No leaks, clearance problems or any issues at all. Just move some wires and mount it.
Click to expand...

Figured it out. I was looking at some kind of extension piece.

It hooked up perfectly.

3.4 with cruise control

roosterburm · Jun 20, 2017

@Phessor do you have more pics? I am considering the pvc route because my ARB compressor took up some valuable real estate in my engine bay. Just trying to figure out how to mount it.

Phessor · Jun 20, 2017

roosterburm said: ↑

@Phessor do you have more pics? I am considering the pvc route because my ARB compressor took up some valuable real estate in my engine bay. Just trying to figure out how to mount it.
Click to expand...

I can get some pictures tomorrow.

roosterburm · Jun 20, 2017

Phessor said: ↑

I can get some pictures tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I'd appreciate it. Been with out a washer fluid reservoir for a while now.

DJB1 · Jun 21, 2017

roosterburm said: ↑

@Phessor[/USER] do you have more pics? I am considering the pvc route because my ARB compressor took up some valuable real estate in my engine bay. Just trying to figure out how to mount it.
Click to expand...

@roosterburm, here's a write-up for making one out of PVC:
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/31898-Washer-reservoir-relocation

se7enine · Jun 21, 2017

You could go with a Flambeau 065204. They also have different sizes as well.

sold here for $25 plus shipping. https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=117549&catid=934

Phessor · Jun 21, 2017

roosterburm said: ↑

I'd appreciate it. Been with out a washer fluid reservoir for a while now.
Click to expand...

@roosterburm I made mine out of ABS pipe and used a conduit clamp to secure the top and large zip ties for the bottom.

Level sensor on the bottom and pump on the side.

I extended the wires and tubing. It has worked great for me and holds almost one gallon.

2003ToyTaco · Jun 22, 2017

DJB1[OP] initial post: ↑

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
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say thanks to OP. Got my eBay relocation kit for $28. Couldntve done it without you. Can't tell you how excited I was to cut all that shi&#y sheet metal out of there.

Blinker relocation mod was perfect as well. Forget marker lights. Lol.

You definitely inspired me to go with the low profile Trail Gear bumper. Loving it. Just need a winch and some lights now. Thinking light bar somewhere on front bumper... Tho I love the rooftop ones.... Hmmm

DJB1 · Jun 22, 2017

Hello @2003ToyTaco, I'm happy you found it useful.

nw_chris · Jun 23, 2017

McMash said: ↑

Minus the low-fluid sensor wire (just capped it off), the plug was a direct fit on the one I bought:

Windshield Washer Reservoir w/ Pump for 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma fits TO1288134 / 8531504040 / 85315-04040

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P9WK6C6/

No leaks, clearance problems or any issues at all. Just move some wires and mount it.
Click to expand...

Just got mine installed tonight, fits great and factory plug in like you said!

McMash said: ↑

Minus the low-fluid sensor wire (just capped it off), the plug was a direct fit on the one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P9WK6C6/

No leaks, clearance problems or any issues at all. Just move some wires and mount it.
Click to expand...

Just got mine installed, direct plug and play!

Before

Removed the cruise control (I'm sure this is a cardinal sin to some). I used it once for around 20 seconds on the last 3k mile road trip so it's not a big loss for me. Plus the holes for the reservoir lined up perfectly in that spot aaaand I still have open space for a second battery or arb compressor. Personal preference...

In and done. Wires ran and plumbed. Works great and looks factory!

DJB1 · Jun 23, 2017

nw_chris said: ↑

Click to expand...

That looks great @nw_chris, like it came from the factory that way. If my Kia Sportage fluid reservoir breaks, I'm going to get one like yours.

NightProwler · Jun 23, 2017

Where is the go to spot for people relocating the cruise control module? I wanna relocate the reservoir here but also plan to get a second battery back there as well.

quetzal · Jan 8, 2018

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DIY wiper fluid reservoir relocation for 1st Gen Tacomas

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DIY wiper fluid reservoir relocation for 1st Gen Tacomas

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Wulf no brain just damage

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