Windshield -- What's this thing on the glass?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011.

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  1. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    So, rear windshield, driver's side, at the top, near the top of the wiper, a red dot.

    Never noticed it before:confused: Don't know how I missed it? :rolleyes:

    Anyway, what is it? What does it do? If you need a pix of it:

    Flickr: siuslaw11's Photostream
     
    #1 cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Golly, there is a red dot there. I never noticed it either.

    My first guess is an index mark for correctly locating the rear wiper on its spline shaft.
     
    #2 fuzzy1, Dec 22, 2011
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I don't know but I'm pretty sure some acne cream will clear that right up...
     
    #3 The Electric Me, Dec 22, 2011
  4. milkman44

    milkman44 Active Member

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    #4 milkman44, Dec 22, 2011
  5. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    Not a clue what that would be. Maybe we can put our heads together and try to come up with some plausible explanation.

    On a side note, the daybreak picture that loads next to your car acne pic is lovely.
     
    #5 wick1ert, Dec 22, 2011
  6. tv4fish

    tv4fish Member

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    #6 tv4fish, Dec 22, 2011
  7. kornkob

    kornkob New Member

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    That is the place you add the blinker fluid.

    Hybrids require a special adapter for the blinker fluid bottle and that's where it attaches to pump the fluid in.

    Any time you notice any slowness or weirdness with your blinkers just head over to the auto parts store and pick up some blinker fluid and the bottle adapter for hybrids.

    It's cheap so no worries.
     
    #7 kornkob, Dec 22, 2011
  8. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    I was thinking Rudolph might have lost something!!

    But, it's a couple of days early. You guys all have this also, right. I really don't want to prowl around parking lots staring at other people's hatches!!!

    And, thanks for noticing the sunrise photo. I was stomping around, scraping the fog/frost from the windows when I noticed the red dot. But I also figured that since I was out, might as well snap the sunrise. It's pretty much beautiful most of the time here. Unfortunately, like most people, often times I fail to appreciate it.
     
    #8 cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011
  9. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    You guys are all funny. I know the truth behind the red dot.

    During the design of the Prius, the development team came up with some "Easter Eggs" and hid them in and on the vehicle. In this case, they just wanted to see how long it would take before anyone asked, "hey what's this red dot?"
     
    #9 TonyPSchaefer, Dec 22, 2011
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  10. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    I would totally love to watch you prowl around and start staring at other Prius hatches lol. In fact, I'd probably snap a picture and post it on here for all to see, with (hopefully) a witty caption. Unfortunately, my bionic eyes don't quite see across the country :(.

    It is true, most people never stop to smell the roses, or see the scenery. My step-dad actually did some biking along the Oregon coast this past year. I have no idea where he was, but I saw pictures.

    I took the picture attached when I was on Kauai last month. No good sunrise pictures from Oahu, but I did get to meet up with a fellow PCer for dinner.
     

    Attached Files:

    #10 wick1ert, Dec 22, 2011
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  11. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    Sounds logical, and so far, it seems you are the only one with an "in bounds" answer!> :D

    Could be, could be...
     
    #11 cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011
  12. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    Making me jealous!! Thanks for the pix. Never been to the islands (well, Sanibel in Florida and Santa Catalina in California, both when I was a teen).

    After an Oregon fall, a trip to the tropics sounds :rockon:
     
    #12 cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011
  13. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    +1 Most probably correct. :rockon:

    There are two of the dots on the windshield as well.
    I know from experience that they are used when putting
    things back together after installing a front shock tower
    brace, which requires removing the wipers and the wiper
    motor.
     
    #13 Rokeby, Dec 22, 2011
  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    So it took us 31 months to find this one. How many more still remain unfound?
     
    #14 fuzzy1, Dec 22, 2011
  15. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    I can tell what it is. It's used to align the position of the rear wiper (tip pointing it)during instalation in the FTY. Please note there are two white dots under the front eindshield at the bottom. Those are also used to align both wipers during instalation.:)
     
    #15 ahmeow, Dec 22, 2011
  16. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    There are red dots on the front windshield??:confused:

    I've never seen those....This is making me a bit worried....Am I really that clueless. If it wasn't "dark black" and 26 degrees outside, I'd go look at the front right now.
     
    #16 cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011
  17. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    So, if these are really alignment marks, as you call tell from the pix -- mine is out of alignment.

    Is that why I swerve randomly down the highway? Do I need to hit a Les Schwab tire store and get them lined up properly?:D
     
    #17 cyberpriusII, Dec 22, 2011
  18. kohnen

    kohnen Grumpy, Cranky Senior Member

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    Your Prius is Hindu?
     
    #18 kohnen, Dec 22, 2011
  19. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    Those dots are for reference only. No need exactly on it. Since the arc of the wiper is big and up or down a few mm makes no difference.
    You rear wiper is good enough.:D
     
    #19 ahmeow, Dec 22, 2011
  20. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Maybe it was the roses

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    Thanks, Ahmeow. I feel better. I won't worry about the alignment.

    But, since dear husband had a pack of his buds over for the evening, I escaped outside (missed Big Bang Theory and Dr. Oz) and spent some three hours hiking and playing with the dog.

    Granted; in 27-degree darkness -- but managed to look at the front windshield and never did find any dots, red, white, blue or "Barney the dinosaur purple."

    I won't worry about it, though.
     
    #20 cyberpriusII, Dec 23, 2011
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