GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Is there a warning light for low washer fluid. I don't see one on my dash when i turn the car on and it has not went off yet and I suspect my fluid is getting quite low by now. I don't want to fill it until I know if the light is there or not

I haven't seen one either. I don't think there is one. Maybe someone else has run really low or out and would be able to let us know.

The low washer fluid light is only on Canadian Vibes as far as I know, not US Vibes. (according to wiring diagrams indicated in the thread below)http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... 6311#16311

Also, check out page 2-73 of the Vibe Owner's Manual. Online version link below. It states this for Canada Only.http://www.mygmlink.com/pdf/go2content/ ... 03vibe.pdf

I think that is pretty important to have that light. It is like not having a gas gauge. Especially in winter when you use them alot more, some of us do not always feel like opening the hood in the dead of winter to check the level for the washer fluid. This is a definite cheap out. Every car I have ever owned has had a low washer fluid light. how come just canada gets this and not US. pretty strange

Thanks Nick. Once again, you've come through!

From what I have heard, it is only on the Canadian Vibes, so I think Nick is right. The resovoir for the washer fluid must be quite large. I used a LOT of fluid over the winter and was thinking I must be running almost empty compared to the other cars I've owned. I went to the parts store and bought 2 gallons of washer fluid and went to fill it up. It only took about 1/4 gallon until it was completely full! So now I've got all this washer fluid and I don't really need it.I also noticed that there is a dipstick for the washer fluid resovior attached to the cap. First time I've ever seen one of those. I guess it's good thinking on the part of GM/Toyota since you cant really see anything but the neck of the fluid tank.

quote:The resovoir for the washer fluid must be quite large.At the beginning of winter, I dumped a whole gallon jug of washer fluid in the resevoir.. it was almost a neverending bottomless pit. Although that may be a standard for alot of resevoirs because my sister's Cavalier took a whole gallon as well as my old vehicle in the past.... that was when they were completely empty however.

quote:Check with your GM dealer, you could probably have the sensor installed and a light installed in the dashSure, and probably all for the low, low price of $1,128.99!

quote:My Canadian Vibe doesn't have a dipstick it only has a "strainer" removable top. I figure it's to prevent any dirt, foreign object from entering the washer reservoir, but NO dipstick.So basically the US have no lights but are not left without any "figuring out" tool. But I agree that putting a sensor in every car would be alot easier!!!!I think you nailed it Salsa. It's a give and take type of thing apparently. At least they were "thinking" of each side when they considered this aspect of the vehicle.I personally wouldn't go to the point of installing an aftermarket sensor, but would gladly suggest this feature for the '04+ models as standard. I would love to have one factory installed as a convenience feature.

I typically use almost 2 US gallons of fluid every winter. That was why it was so surprising. I don't really have anywhere to put the extra fluid, I live on the 20th floor of a highrise apartment building, so I don't have a shed or garage. I share this apartment with 3 other college students, so space is a bit tight. I don't want to leave it in my car (which is where it is now, in the cargo net) because it is always getting in the way of loading and unloading my hockey equipment. You Canadians should certainly be able to appreciate that!

quote:But like Salsa! said, it's a bit stupid to have a different design for each country!Same applies to the "icons" used for low gaz, parking brake...etcI completely agree and find it odd that this hasn't already been synchronized between the countries to be universal to save time and money. With all these cutting corners to save money lately you would think this would be something that could easily save a few coins.quote:The only reason I see for Canada to use images is because of the 2 official languages?! But still images seem easier to read, understand that having to read text, no?That's a good reason... I am jealous of some of the Canadian gauge indicators and wish they were on our US Vibes (hehe)

who needs washer fluid?? that is what spit is for...

I personally like the written out words better. No assuming what anything means. I think that we use the words more often in the US instead of the icons for 2 reasons. 1. Like you mentioned, we have only one official language and 2. Traditionally, that is what has been used on US cars for decades. I know that many people (like my mom and my sister) have no clue what some of the icons mean. Some of them are strange looking and don't mean anything at first glance. It took me a while to figure out what the TEMP icon stood for. To me, it always looked like a comb sticking out of the ocean. What the hell does a comb sticking out of the ocean have to do with my car??? After a while, I figured out that it is supposed to be a thermometer coming up out of some fluid. Just having a warning light or a gauge that reads TEMP clears everything right up and leaves no confusion. The other one is the droplet that represents oil. I thought that one meant water. That would seem to make sense. But no, it means "oil". Why can't they just write out the word oil on the dash? It's only 3 letters. You should see the dash gauges on some of our newer Mack trucks at work. There are probably about 20 gauges not including the speedometer and tachometer. There is everything from the pyrometer, manifold pressure, brake air pressure (service and reserve tanks), engine oil temp, engine oil pressure, axle oil temp, etc. Many of them only have a little icon on the gauge face to tell you what the gauge is for. Some of them are so strange it takes a while to figure out what they are for. The words would be real easy to figure out.

It does seem strange that the US models don't get the light. I think I've put 3 jugs (4 litres or 1 gallon each) of washer fluid in since I bought the car. You could put in a full gallon jug the second the light came on. I am thankful for the capacity, and I will enjoy my indicator light, knowing there are those in the world going without.

quote:In Canada, we use alot of icon/images on road by example, and I have noticed while driving in the US that I have to pay alot more attention to the road signs to read what's on them instead of just seeing an image and associating a thought in my mind!That's true. Within the past 5 or so years, my area has been installing "stop ahead" signs with the picture of a stop sign and an arrow rather than the words "STOP AHEAD". It does seem easier to glance at the sign and recognize the symbol (once you know what it means ) rather than reading the comment. Same goes with Slippery When Wet replaced with the "car looking like it is skidding around".

We've had the "stop ahead" signs around here for many years. Ours are a small picture of a stop sign with the words "stop ahead" underneith it. A friend of mine in high school wrecked his car because of one of these signs because he saw the picture of the stop sign and went to stop at the intersection. This caused some confusion with a car that was stopped on the side street because the "stop ahead" picture sign was placed at an intersection before the true stop sign intersection. The car on the side street had a stop sign and stopped, then went out into the intersection because my friend began to stop. My friend then realized that the sign was not a real stop sign and kept going. The car making the turn from the side street panic stopped and blocked the intersection and my friend smashed into the side of the turning car. He was 17 years old and the person driving the other car lied through their teeth about the whole accident and my friend ended up being found 100% at fault. When you are 17 and have an at fault accident on record and damage to 2 cars, it kills your insurance rates. He got royally screwed. If that stupid sign had just said "stop ahead" with no picture on it, the accident would have never happened. I know that when I have been to Canada, it takes me longer to figure out what all the little pictures mean for everything on the highway. If the words were there, even if only in French, I would be able to figure out what they were saying faster than with the weird little icons.

quote:But like Salsa! said, it's a bit stupid to have a different design for each country!I think it's probably due to different regulations between the countries. Both the US and Canada have different standards that were developed independantly. I don't know all the differences between US and Canadian marketed cars, but for example I do remember reading that the bumper systems requirements are supposed to be different.

quote:who needs washer fluid?? that is what spit is for...I seem to remember an episode of Mr. Bean when he used washer fluid for brushing his teeth when he was driving...

sorry if i am not mature enough for you. not everything has to be serious. oh well...

quote:But like Salsa! said, it's a bit stupid to have a different design for each country!It is very common to have different design and engineering for each country. In fact, all contries have their own rules and regulations. I work in an assembly plant that exports vehicles all over the world, and part of my job is to check the exports to make sure they have the proper options and equipment that is required by the importing nation before they are wrapped for export. For example, all european exports require side marker lights. England bound vehicles must always have a rear fog light . There is a switch to turn on just the left hand tail light when the front fog lights are on. Many countries even mandate what the horn should sound like (pitch and volume). Many others demand their own headlight and tail light configurations. Right down to the washer fluid. Some countries want blue fluid, some want pink. Domestic vehicles have washer sprayers that spray 3 streams of fluid, whereas exports demand only 2 streams. Some countries demand anti theft labels on every major component, some don't. It even gets really crazy to the point that a label on a vehicle will have exactly the same message written on it, but they'll want it printed in a different font or colour. With all the warning labels on vehicles these days, some jurisdictions prefer them to say 'CAUTION" instead of 'WARNING'. Different importing nations will even want the vehicles wrapped differently. And the instument panel icons are different for every country along with the obvious speedometer differences, right down to what the maximum speed on the dial should be. It really is endless. Thank goodness for computers to keep track of it all.

quote:Hey here we almost have no choice, you have to carry the washer fluid in the car just in case!Store it in your room, there is no problem with that!A 4 liter bottle of washer fluid lies down perfectly on top of the spare tire and the lid will close.

quote:Some signs are pretty clear, but you just wonder WHY???This isn't one from Canada. Probably from EuropeThat one is really funny! I guess that is the warning sign for "handicapped downhill slolom ski races zone".

quote:Oh so even french text will be more useful than an icon. What would these tell you:"Véhicule lent, garder la droite""Risque de brouillard sur 5 km""Chaussée inégale"1. Slow vehicles keep right2. Chance of fog for the next 5 km3. Uneven roadwaySo do I get my Quebec driver's liscence now???

I remembered most of it from the 3 years of French I had. I only had to look up a few words because they had multiple meanings and the meanings I knew didn't make much sense.

If you want to do a little test about all these symbols on the roads in Québec and Canada, go there: http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/reseau/signal ... jeu_en.htm And, it's in English!!!