Rear wiper/washer operation 2009

[j42.snyder]

Sometimes when I turn the rear wiper control counter-clockwise from the "off" position to the "wash" position, the washer will spray and the wiper will complete two wipes automatically. Other times it refuses to wipe unless I rotate the switch to the intermittent "wipe" position.The manual mentions nothing of the automatic wipe - but it seems odd that occasionally I have this "feature", and other times I apparently don't.I'd be interested to hear from anyone else out there with 2009's to see what's "normal".I also noticed in the manual that they indicate a dipstick for the washer fluid - but neither mine or my brother's '09's came with one. Has anyone else seen one included? Just curious. Maybe that detail was added by the same person that also chose to use several illustrations throughout the manual that are clearly Matrix's...John

[Houston]

Quote, originally posted by j42.snyder »I also noticed in the manual that they indicate a dipstick for the washer fluid - but neither mine or my brother's '09's came with one. Has anyone else seen one included? Just curious. Maybe that detail was added by the same person that also chose to use several illustrations throughout the manual that are clearly Matrix's...JohnA washer fluid dipstick came with mine. Tell your dealer you want one.

[star_deceiver]

I didn't get a washer dip stick, although the washer tank has a low fluid warning so I don't quite see the point.... besides, washer fluid is only $2 at walmart. And (with the dummy light) you shouln't have the problem of running out.

[tribalman]

after you flip open the reservoir is there what looks like a filter and attached to it is a long chain looking thing of plastic? that's the dip stick. it took me a while to figure it out. as for the wipe, i assume it is supposed to. it doesn't make sense for it not to. it sprays fluid and it would then need to be wiped across the window to clean it. mine does. i have an 04 base for reference.

[djkeev]

Do you rotate the knob the same amount each time? Could be that there are two contacts in there, the first sprays, the 2nd wipes. If you only rotate a fraction shy of all the way you could only get the one function??Just an educated guess here.

[gimmegimme]

Mine didn't come with a dipstick either.As for the rear wiper, are you holding it in that position for the same amount of time? You need to hold it longer in order for it to do the double-wipe. I tried this morning and it didn't start wiping until the fluid had almost reached the wiper arm.

[j42.snyder]

I turn the switch the same amount each time - and one day I held it for about 3 seconds - with no wipe. A day or two later, it did the "two wipe" thing almost immediately when I turned the switch. Next day - no wipe again.I just received the factory service manual yesterday - and it only mentions the wipe feature for the front wipers. For the rear there seems to be no correlation between wash/wipe - so something still seems a bit odd.Fortunately the car's only 3 months old now - so I've got a while longer to see if I can figure out a pattern to its behavior. I'm not too worried - I just found it a bit odd. If that's the worst issue I've got to deal with, then I'll be quite happy! I was pretty lucky with my previous car too ('02 Sunfire). It only had two trips to the dealer during the warranty - both fairly minor issues.I realize that the dipstick isn't of utmost importance - it's more the principal of the fact that if it's supposed to come with one - then I should get one! If you're on the road on a sloppy winter day, waiting for the light to come on to let you know you're almost out isn't a really safe idea. Filling it up every couple of days to make sure it's full is a PITA - but since it's mostly hidden from view, it's really the only other option. My Sunfire was the same way - but the reservoir was actually BLACK - and no dipstick was offered. Supposedly it had a light too - but it would start misbehaving long before it got that low - so I had to just keep topping it up. I thought the dipstick was at least a nice idea. I question how effective it would be with such a thin fluid - but without one I can't tell!Interesting to hear that at least one other one came with one - so it wasn't some strange misprint in the manual. Those manuals typically go into print several months prior to production starting - so the odd error may be expected. I've got to search my new service manuals now to see if it's mentioned there...John

[star_deceiver]

In the Sunfire, by the time summer was over, I'd still have about a quarter of washer fluid remaining when I went to put in winter stuff... I rarely used it, but in winter (if I was lucky) I would generally got through 1 and a half jugs (which took a lot of spraying to get out when I wanted to put the summer stuff in).