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Washer Fluid Heater?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by swendling12, Oct 21, 2011.

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  1. Oct 21, 2011 at 9:16 AM
    #1
    swendling12

    #1
    swendling12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Anyone installed or used a windshield washer fluid heater? They're about $80 and pre-heat your washer fluid to make frosty mornings easy.

    Here's the one I'm looking at...

    AlphaTherm AT-38OD Windshield Washer Fluid Heater
    http://www.amazon.com/AlphaTherm-AT...W1WW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319213651&sr=8-1

    Here's a 2nd that is out there,

    $58 Hot Wash Wiper Fluid Heater
    http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Wash-Wipe...S4XY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1319213651&sr=8-3

    The 1st one has gotten great reviews, the 2nd, not so much. The 1st has a video on how to install it, seems like it would be pretty easy, and a nice winter addition to my truck...

    Any Opinions?
     
    swendling12, Oct 21, 2011
    #1
  2. Oct 21, 2011 at 9:24 AM
    #2
    xJuice

    #2
    xJuice My spoon is too Big!

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    I like the first one since it comes with the wire and fuse already. Takes a little guess work out of installing it.
     
    xJuice, Oct 21, 2011
    #2
  3. Oct 21, 2011 at 9:28 AM
    #3
    DEEVON911

    #3
    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

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    I like the idea of these, but I'd also be somewhat afraid. If you have a rock chip, would the sudden temp change poss cause a crack?
     
    DEEVON911, Oct 21, 2011
    #3
  4. Oct 21, 2011 at 4:38 PM
    #4
    swendling12

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    swendling12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, cracking the windshield is one concern, according to the info i've read its pretty safe though.
     
    swendling12, Oct 21, 2011
    #4
  5. Oct 21, 2011 at 4:59 PM
    #5
    romeo

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    romeo Wombat

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    i dont think id trust it, hot water and cold windows dont get along to good
     
    romeo, Oct 21, 2011
    #5
  6. Oct 21, 2011 at 6:49 PM
    #6
    wrxRome

    #6
    wrxRome Houston's Swamp Rat

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    Yeah... Even if my window doesn't have chips or cracks. I wouldn't do it. Wouldn't trust it either
     
    wrxRome, Oct 21, 2011
    #6
  7. Oct 21, 2011 at 7:16 PM
    #7
    three west

    #7
    three west Well-Known Member

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    if your fluid is old and the alcohol has evaporated and its freezing just go to walgreens and for 99cents get a bottle of isopropyl to add to the tank.
     
    three west, Oct 21, 2011
    #7
  8. Oct 21, 2011 at 7:39 PM
    #8
    griffin407c

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    griffin407c Well-Known Member

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    OME 885s on Bilstein 5100s set at 0 with 1/2" plate spacers. OME Dakars with Bilstein 5100 Extended Length Shocks. 16" Pro Comp 7032 wheels wrapped with 285/75-16 Duratracs
    i purchased the one you listed first. i absolutely loved it. i used it all year round. in the summer it helped temporarily clean bugs and such. in the winter it helped clear frost, salt, dirt, and mud a lot easier than regular ol' washer fluid. i even used it in below zero weather, multiple times, with absolutely no problems. i used it for 2 years before i sold the truck. my father took it out and installed it on his silverado. he has used it for the last 2 years with no problems either. he was skeptical of it when i bought it (a 40+ year mechanic), but stole it from me because he loved how it performed. i have install pics. give me a few minutes and i'll see if i can find them.

    DSC02705_f381bae4914eb48019ceb4f8f1eaa6f63699bfc2.jpg

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    DSC02713_4ced9829af396cc8c0f9754bd5376ae173d8774c.jpg
     
    griffin407c, Oct 21, 2011
    #8
  9. Oct 21, 2011 at 8:12 PM
    #9
    jw1983

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    jw1983 Well-Known Member

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    Didn't the Buick Lucerne have this and it didn't turn out too well?
     
    jw1983, Oct 21, 2011
    #9
  10. Oct 21, 2011 at 8:42 PM
    #10
    griffin407c

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    griffin407c Well-Known Member

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    OME 885s on Bilstein 5100s set at 0 with 1/2" plate spacers. OME Dakars with Bilstein 5100 Extended Length Shocks. 16" Pro Comp 7032 wheels wrapped with 285/75-16 Duratracs
    i remember reading somewhere years ago that several gm models had units similar, but the wiring was more in-depth.... and would catch on fire.

    the model i posted is only a positive and a ground. if i remember correctly, yes it's hooked to the battery at all times, but only activated (turned on) when the vehicle was running and the voltage was higher than 13.4 volts or something like that. i ran it for 2 years and now my father has for an additional 2. no problems at all
     
    griffin407c, Oct 21, 2011
    #10
  11. Oct 21, 2011 at 9:09 PM
    #11
    CtTaco

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    CtTaco Well-Known Member

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    Had one installed. Didnt work all that great. Helped a little bit but nothing spectacular. I took it out, especially when you consider that GM did a recall of almost all the units they had installed in cars due to cars catching fire...I'm gonna try the heated wiper blades instead this winter: http://www.everblades.com/

    Just think...No more reaching out the window into the snow to slap the wiper blade on the windshield to clear ice off :D
     
    CtTaco, Oct 21, 2011
    #11
  12. Oct 21, 2011 at 9:19 PM
    #12
    griffin407c

    #12
    griffin407c Well-Known Member

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    what unit did you have? the one i had gave about 4-6 secs of hot fluid, then you had to not use the washer fluid for about 10-12 secs. this allowed the fluid in the unit to heat up, then you could activate the fluid again for another 4-6 secs of hot fluid. repeat as necessary. i though it worked great for everything i wanted it to do. mine also kept the wipers free and clear.
     
    griffin407c, Oct 21, 2011
    #12
  13. Oct 22, 2011 at 9:21 AM
    #13
    swendling12

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    swendling12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wow! Huge Help. Thanks.
     
    swendling12, Oct 22, 2011
    #13
  14. Oct 22, 2011 at 9:23 AM
    #14
    swendling12

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    swendling12 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Those are cool, but I wonder how much heat transfer to the frost/windshield that there is. That and a $120 expense every time they wear out is steep.
     
    swendling12, Oct 22, 2011
    #14
  15. Oct 22, 2011 at 2:27 PM
    #15
    CtTaco

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    CtTaco Well-Known Member

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    the one pictured just above this post is the one I had. Maybe mine was just a bad unit, it happens...It's a cool idea, but I wasnt impressed with the performance... I was thinking of the blades more to prevent the icing on the wipers than to keep the frost off the windshield, since the defroster does a damn good job in these trucks...
     
    CtTaco, Oct 22, 2011
    #15
  16. Oct 22, 2011 at 3:21 PM
    #16
    06SR5canada

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    06SR5canada Well-Known Member

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    engines already hot, they should be using hot antifreeze to heat this stuff, stupid engine-ears :D
     
    06SR5canada, Oct 22, 2011
    #16
  17. Oct 22, 2011 at 3:39 PM
    #17
    pataco

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    pataco Well-Known Member

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    what ever happened to the old days when you scraped the windows and put it on defrost?hell we had an old ford that we had a candle on the dash to defrost the windshield lmao
     
    pataco, Oct 22, 2011
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  18. Oct 22, 2011 at 4:35 PM
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    SPENCAF

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    SPENCAF Well-Known Member

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    They work great and heat up fast, my wife has them on her 2010 Highlander.
     
    SPENCAF, Oct 22, 2011
    #18
  19. Oct 22, 2011 at 4:41 PM
    #19
    Steves104x4

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    Steves104x4 Well-Known Member

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    BUCKLE UP! It makes it harder for Aliens to pull you out of your Truck.
    For $80 I'll just get a homeless dude to pee on my windows.[​IMG]
     
    Steves104x4, Oct 22, 2011
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  20. Oct 22, 2011 at 4:45 PM
    #20
    KalamaKid

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    KalamaKid Well-Known Member

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    same shit as everyone else
    I don't understand why you wouldn't just put alcohol in your washer fluid? Like a 4% mixture?
     
    KalamaKid, Oct 22, 2011
    #20
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