1st Gen Tacoma - How to enable low wiper fluid light + cold weather spec

Hello,

Been working through a lot of threads here surrounding the cold weather package available for 1st gen Tacoma. I have a 99' SR5 V6 4x4 5 speed, and the truck did not come with the cold weather package.

I recently replaced the broken front mounted washer fluid reservoir with a new one, but made the mistake of getting the cold weather spec that has the cutout for washer fluid sensor. My truck was not equipped with that sensor. Instead of swapping it, I ended up buying washer fluid sensor and hooking it up to the truck, and surprise - It worked. The truck is wired for it and is a simple plug and play. For the first time in 26 years, that little windshield light illuminated on the dash.

On this path, I ended up switching over to all the cold weather package parts, figured I'd drop some of the info here. If I missed anything, let me know and I'll update.

Fluid Reservoir with hole in bottom for fluid level sensor

$143 85315-04060 Windshield Washer Reservoir

85315-04060
Fluid level sensor - 85397-35141
1.8kw starter - 28100-62030
Wiper motor - 85110-04020

First time in 26 years that this light has been lit



Out with the old reservoir that did not have the fluid sensor port.


Fluid level sensor that comes with the pump power pre-wired. This snaps into existing harness, replacing the cable that went from the pump to the harness.


The difference is just the two additional pins which plugs right in.







Stronger wiper motor - Bought used on eBay for $29 and cleaned up a bit.


Stronger 1.8kw starter - Bought used off of eBay for $46 and cleaned it up. Ordered the refresh parts.




These things were nasty when I got them, but man they cleaned up good.

 

Is the light there in the later models? I've recently checked my '03 white dials cluster flashing a light into each bulb opening and don't recall seeing the low fluid symbol; I believe there're only low fuel and CEL in that section.

 

I would assume so since the parts are for models 95-04. There aren’t different gauge clusters for it.

Originally I did the same thing as you - I shined a bright light every angle to see if I could see it and I couldn’t. It wasn’t until I plugged the sensor in that I was able to see it.

 

My '03 SR5 has it. It came on about a month ago for the first time in the 4 years I've owned the truck and I was surprised to see it (didn't think I had something that fancy).

 

We're really living in the 21 century aren't we

 

If you have it, it's the first one in the row under the fuel level gauge. Bottom left of the "E"

I pulled my bulb out because my sensor broke and the light would stay on no matter the level. I wish the Tacoma didn't use their own sensor for it though. 4Runner's level senders are significantly cheaper.

 

I suppose if you have a fluid level sensor that is broken and always stuck on, and you don't want to repair or replace it, you could do the opposite of what I did and swap out the cable with the fluid sensor to the one I originally had, that just goes from the harness to the pump. I think it's 85317-04021

 

I read the title and questioned why you would go through the effort, but that is really no effort, so I might have to do this when I get around to replacing my leaky one. Thanks for sharing

 

Happy to help - Yeah it really is that easy. Buy the jug with the hole, buy the sensor, plug it in where the old plug was. tada