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Can't see in the rain

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by 12DblCab, Mar 24, 2013.

  1. Mar 24, 2013 at 6:03 PM
    #1
    12DblCab

    12DblCab [OP] I don't know what to write here

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    Does anyone else have an extra hard time seeing at night when it rains? I can't tell if it's because the headlights and fog lights aren't that bright, or if the windshield just has a bad glare on it when it's wet. It seems like the windshield shows more glares from street lights and headlights than my old F150 did.

    What have you guys done that didn't involve adding offroad lights that blind other drivers? I'm pretty sure my headlights are adjusted correctly because the light stops just under the windshield of other drivers. It's pretty frustrating trying to see the lines on the road even in light rain.
     
  2. Mar 24, 2013 at 6:05 PM
    #2
    KeithB

    KeithB Well-Known Member

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    Cheshire, CT
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    SWB '09 Tacoma DCSB Sport 4x4
    Wheels and Tires: 17x8" Ultra Goliath wheels with P285/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3/W tires, Suspension: Fox coilovers set at 2", TC UCA's, 1.5" lift 3 leaf pack with overload left in Other: TRD SS exhaust, Pioneer AVIC 4100 H/U with Android Auto (awesomeness), sat radio bluetooth, Accessories: Toyota roof rack, black Toyota running board steps, cargo divider, weathertech floor liners, Literider roll up soft tonneau, thule bars over tonneau, USB ports front and rear, seat heaters, birddawg mirror riser Cosmetic: window tint, grillcraft black mesh upper/lower grill, vinyl armrest in doors, Clazzio black seat covers with blue stitch, Redline steering wheel wrap Lighting: fogs only mod, back up lights, amber interior accent lighting, amber 10" LED light bar in hood scoop, 33" LED bar behind the lower grill, amber lamin-x on fog lights, Tacomabeast headlights and matching tails.
    Try Rain-X
     
  3. Mar 24, 2013 at 6:05 PM
    #3
    OZ-T

    OZ-T I hate my neighbour

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    Peter North
    British Columbia
    Vehicle:
    Mag Grey 09 Trd Sport DCLB 4x4
    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi
    It rains tons here and I don't find this vehicle any worse than any other , just need to drive to road and visibility conditions
     
  4. Mar 24, 2013 at 6:06 PM
    #4
    Khaos

    Khaos Big Member

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    Bryant
    Jacksonville, Florida
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    3” spacer lift, 285/75/17 KO2, Spidertrax 1.25” spacers
    I've heard tinting your fogs yellow increases visibility in the rain.

    I plan to upgrade the bulbs in my headlamps and fogs as well as adding additional lighting at some point.
     
  5. Mar 24, 2013 at 6:26 PM
    #5
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

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    North of Cali, South of Canada
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    08 4wd
    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    Older lights (pre95 or so) were 35 watts, now they are 45 watts on low. Modern lights are plenty bright. Rain-x almost makes wipers useless, but I use it anyway.

    As far as the lines go, they are supposed to have retro-reflective glass beads for visibility, but rain changes the way they refract. 2013 and its still hardtop see lines in the rain and night.
     
  6. Mar 24, 2013 at 6:37 PM
    #6
    jw1983

    jw1983 Well-Known Member

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    Jason
    Alberta
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    Maybe your windshield is dirty. You think yours is bad, try lights on an 81 Malibu. They really aren't that bad. It's not the lights that it comes down to, it comes down to the driver.
     
  7. Mar 24, 2013 at 7:19 PM
    #7
    12DblCab

    12DblCab [OP] I don't know what to write here

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    I've been driving a police cruiser 4+ years in the rain and snow without an accident or any difficulty seeing, so I don't think it's the driver. :rolleyes:

    I will put some Rain-X on there. I think it may just be that the lines on the road aren't that bright or reflective. Some of them are pretty faded now that I think about it. I was just wondering if anyone else noticed a problem or if it was my imagination.
     
  8. Mar 24, 2013 at 7:24 PM
    #8
    rockgecko03

    rockgecko03 Well-Known Member

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    Ben
    Rockwall, TX
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    I have the same problem and I think my lights are aimed correctly as well. Did the whole thing with masking tape on the wall and backing up 25 feet etc.

    But, when I drive my wifes car (ford focus) I can see the road just fine. Beats me.
     
  9. Mar 24, 2013 at 7:28 PM
    #9
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

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    North of Cali, South of Canada
    Vehicle:
    08 4wd
    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    I notice that every spring, the paint doesn't hold the beads for long, thermoplastic does better. Friday in the rain, my boss finally let me get the paint striper going... that's one of the things I do. White high pressure pump leaks, maybe I can finally start painting tomorrow.

    Also, clean the inside window too, it can get a film in there.
     
  10. Mar 24, 2013 at 7:33 PM
    #10
    TnRedNeck721

    TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

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    Zach
    TN
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    07 TRD off road 4WD
    No mud flaps, plasti dipped emblems, and rear bumper, Weather tech digital fit, Bed mat from tractor supply. Pioneer 4400BH head unit. B.A.M.F bed rail tie downs. AVS vent visors.
    don’t have a problem other then the back window when it is wet at night and i’m in my dark ass drive way. also get the rain x washer fluid, works wonders. also once you hit like 45 or so the water just runs up and off the windshield. i hardly ever have the whippers on the 2nd setting, usually just use the first if i even have them on.

    edit: i some times have a hard time seeing the lines. but i think it’s just the line are faded and not as reflective as they use to be or should be.(TN is stupid and they don’t really care about their roads.):rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2013
  11. Mar 24, 2013 at 7:34 PM
    #11
    TnRedNeck721

    TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

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    TN
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    No mud flaps, plasti dipped emblems, and rear bumper, Weather tech digital fit, Bed mat from tractor supply. Pioneer 4400BH head unit. B.A.M.F bed rail tie downs. AVS vent visors.
    don’t have a problem other then the back window when it is wet at night and i’m in my dark ass drive way. also get the rain x washer fluid, works wonders. also once you hit like 45 or so the water just runs up and off the windshield. i hardly ever have the whippers on the 2nd setting, usually just use the first if i even have them on.
     
  12. Mar 24, 2013 at 7:47 PM
    #12
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

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    North of Cali, South of Canada
    Vehicle:
    08 4wd
    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    If they are like us, its understaffed, city hall priorities, disappearing funding. 3000 hours of labor to do, but 2080 hrs to do them in.
     
  13. Mar 24, 2013 at 8:24 PM
    #13
    newfieDan

    newfieDan Well-Known Member

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    Steve
    St John's
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    I can't say I'm having problems seeing out of my window, in fact I thought it was better than I'm used to. Only advise I can offer is RainX like a couple of other people mentioned. I've used it on many vehicles in the past and it helps a lot with older windshields that have pot marks from road salt ect. Worth a shot anyway, you barely need wipers with that stuff on there, and it makes bugs easier to scrape off as well.
     
  14. Mar 24, 2013 at 8:30 PM
    #14
    TnRedNeck721

    TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

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    TN
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    07 TRD off road 4WD
    No mud flaps, plasti dipped emblems, and rear bumper, Weather tech digital fit, Bed mat from tractor supply. Pioneer 4400BH head unit. B.A.M.F bed rail tie downs. AVS vent visors.
    ya. i have read stuff about money disappearing and shit from all kinds of founding. also it’s not just one county, or city that bad it all over the hole state. they will pave half a lane for 300 to 500 feet when they should have done both lanes.
     
  15. Mar 24, 2013 at 8:32 PM
    #15
    majorhavok

    majorhavok Rabid Conservative

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    Mike in Cali..
    Peoples Republic of Caulifournia
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    Ultragauge, ImMrYo mirror, Tailgate lock, Snugtop Rebel Shell.
    I have heard good things on the PIAA (possibly other brands) silicone windshield wiper upgrade for the Tacoma. My buddy at work has it and recommended it to me. They also seem to be very well rated online, or so my 30 seconds looking indicated. :)

    Good luck!

    394-94040.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2013
  16. Mar 24, 2013 at 8:42 PM
    #16
    S.B.

    S.B. Well-Known Member

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    Sean
    San Diego
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    Try cleaning the inside of the window, I have found that asian cars leave a film on the inside of the window. It comes from the plastics being in the sun and heat.
     
  17. Mar 24, 2013 at 8:44 PM
    #17
    Tacoyota

    Tacoyota senile member

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    North of Cali, South of Canada
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    4.56 gears, rear trutrac,DT header, 235/85r16 Duratracs, 2nd filter pulled, inter.wipers, Cruise control, Factory alum. whls/winter tires(2nd set), Afe pro Dry-S , Dumbo eared flaps cut down.
    The amount our paving section is limited to pave is scary. Over a certain dollar amount it has to go to a private company...and cost a bit more. Bad enough they went to pave only the travel lane and leave the better, sort of unused sections to fail in 5 more years.

    Speaking of window, mine has 3 rock chips I need fixed, argh.
     
  18. Mar 24, 2013 at 8:53 PM
    #18
    jage

    jage Well-Known Member

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    I'm going to second the silicone wipers, modern regular wipers seem to go to pot after a few months here regardless of use. once they go bad they smear the window instead of cleaning it. Back when I was 16, one set of cheap wipers lasted the life of the car-now I feel lucky if they're good for four months.

    The reason I don't like rain-x is once I put it on the windshield was never the same without it, and I think you have to reapply periodically or wind up worse than you started. Then again I actually do routine maintenance now, so maybe I'll give it another shot.
     
  19. Mar 25, 2013 at 1:59 AM
    #19
    12DblCab

    12DblCab [OP] I don't know what to write here

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    Yeah I'm thinking it is specific to my truck or this model because I haven't had much difficulty before with other cars. My wipers clear the water fine, and I clean the inside pretty regularly (including windshield). I think I'm going to add Rain-X. I was just wondering if anyone else noticed.

    Oh hai, TN here too.

    I still love the truck!
     
  20. Mar 25, 2013 at 4:36 AM
    #20
    MadMan

    MadMan Well-Known Member

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    De-badged and blacked out
    Rain-X sucks when it comes to seeing during rain and at night.
    The film that it adds to the windshield, reflects light from highway and street lights, making it worse....at least in MHO.
     

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