WTH-The Washer Fluid Bottle?

One component in my truck that I never paid attention to just finally caught my eye yesterday. This thing has stress-cracked and rotted up the neck all on its own in 20 years with no extreme heat situation or any collateral abuse of any kind.
My gal's 34 year old Celica GTS's washer bottle still looks brand-new.
Is this a thing with anyone else out there?

 

They last longer when kept full of fluid

 

Very common.

There are several options. Some buy replacement off Amazon. Example (check for compatability)w/cold weather package:

$63 Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir Tank - Compatible with 1998-2004 Toyota Tacoma (Models with Cold Weather Package) with Sensor Hole

https://www.amazon.com/Windshield-W...+2004+washer+fluid+tank&qid=1628517426&sr=8-4

Others get a small rectangular tank from salvage yard and mount on the passenger side engine compartment.

 

It's full though. You think it may be a reaction to the stuff that's in there? I always have it topped off by Toyota at every oil change and the times I glanced down at the level I never caught the condition of that neck until yesterday.

 

yes, mine was completely dry rotted and leaked everywhere. I used some plastic epoxy as a temporary fix and then finally replaced it with the Scarab Offroad solution.

https://optoffroad.com/collections/...servoir-relocation-kit?variant=32521839771695

 

Wow your pick is sold out-must be a very good one.

 

I repurposed a $12 coolant overflow tank and put it in a different location back by the firewall because I wanted the room for more goodies up front, namely a 2nd auto trans fluid filter. Also got rid of the low fluid sensor and shortened the tubing. Easy fix done a bit differently. You can see where I put the tiny pump. The clear caps are on the low fluid sensor wires to keep the idiot light from turning on, since that sensor is now in my closet.

 

Well done!

 

its a much smaller bottle so it doesn’t hang below the fender well, which a lot of people like. It’s annoying when you have bigger tires on and have to worry about rubbing against a washer bottle.

And to be fair, it seems like most things are sold out, or backordered, or discontinued due to lasting COVID impacts. I’ve been waiting on an alternator for over two months now, CBI and PRINSU are raising their prices next week due to the increase in raw material costs (not to mention their first gen rear bumpers show as no longer available now), the shed I just had installed was 2x the costs it was a year and a half ago, PRx home gyms raised their prices a few months ago. Just bad all around.

 

Seems to be pretty common, I got mine last year from carparts.com. I didn’t know any better and did not get the cold weather option so I had to hole saw a hole in the bottom to accommodate the float. The casting is the same but the cold weather option comes with the hole predrilled.

https://www.carparts.com/details/To...wIHdaQV3tTiWC477jUhoChsYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Mine has been broken for 6-8 years. It hasn’t made it up the list enough to fix.

 

Mine was dry rotted years ago, but I like what that guy did. Nice do it yourself weekend project

 

Be thankful they are not pressurized... I have a Mazda that HAD a plastic overflow bottle on the cooling system. They too develop stress/age cracks and go... I went metal on the Mazda.
Age is a bitch to more than just humans.

 

If you have the space there is a smaller OEM reservoir that fits on the inner fender.

 

My outside the box fix was made easier by not having an ABS module in the way. And I busted it out in a few hours, it didn’t take a whole weekend. Beer helps you work faster on non-essential repairs. Who said that….?

 

The bottle on my '96 lasted 24 years. I changed it with another OEM just like the one I remove, along with new pump, lines and fittings. Not a problem at all. Took maybe 30-40 minutes.

 

I got an OEM one off eBay for ~$80. Pretty easy to swap out, just need to pull back the fender liner and it’s all pretty accessible.

 

The one in my 1995 cracked. I couldn't find a cheap suitable replacement, so I ordered one for the newer first gens (2001-2004) with the fluid level sensor for 60-80 bucks. Come to find out that the lid from an adam's polishes soap bottle will fit in that extra hole perfectly. Siliconed the crap out of it and it worked perfectly.

 

if you don't have space a nalgene bottle fits between the core support and airbox.

There's also an aftermarket bottle to go in that spot for $60~