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YOUR RESEARCHRetrofitting rear wipers
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Use rainx
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Although I use RainX on all glass, it does not repel dirt or dust.
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Infact, they actually scratched my car once that way at a local Porsche dealership while cleaning my windows.
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Has anyone retrofitted rear wipers on their 996? If so, how hard/easy was it? I am HOPING that the wire harness is already there and all I would have to do is buy the trim pieces, the motor, and the switch for the center cluster...
Thoughts?
Well, first, before we can give you advice on this, we need to know the year and model (C2, C4, C2S, C4S, Targa, Turbo) of the Porsche on which you plan to do this. 1999 C2 coupes are very easy. Later years and various models can be far more difficult, particularly if that year and model mounted through the rear window glass. Also, it would be important to know if you have any Aero stuff over the engine and if it is a full add-on engine cover, stock, or partial add-on.
well... you need the wring harness, the button (and intermittent ****), the hole by the deck lid, and the wiper/motor.... to much work, but can be done.
my guess is it will cost plenty to do. Call a scrap yard like DC Auto (or other) and ask if the will sell the entire list of parts... I would go that route... still I bet it's $1k + by the time its all said and done (if you need paint work)
The look really cool and IMO belong on the C4S - should not be an option... just looks "right" on the car
Seems like the trickiest part would be the lack of a hole in the rear of the car. My '99 doesn't have a rear wiper--the defroster works great and I can't say I've ever missed having a wiper. It kind of messes with the look of the car, too, if you ask me...
I had to replace that panel on my first 996 (it had the wiper). The panel is welded in, so you are looking at a fair amount of work. Each wiring harness is specific to the car and it's options. You will not have extra wires for an option that you don't have.
ya that does suck, been wanting to ditch my rear wiper and was hoping once the motor and stuff was out I could just replace that panel, bummer, guess the hole will have to be plugged.
I am curious, what is the infatuation with the rear wiper? (becides the obvious, that they wipe away water) When I first got my car and posted pictures someone made it a point to say "love the rear wiper" I thought he was being sarcastic at first. On this thread ivangine says "they look really cool and belong on the C4S" I was just wondering what is so cool, about them? My car has one but I never really thought about it until all the attention.
its hard to explain, I just always liked the rear wiper on the Porsche - wish I had one even though I know I would never turn it on (well - rarely)
it just sort of says "**** off weather, I am driving the Porsche" and reminds me of the LaMans cars driving down the straight (dont ask why, it just does)
I hated the rear wiper on any car I've owned that had one! Rain-x is fine, along with the rear defroster. To me, it's a mess of wire, motor, hardware - just to wipe the rear window once in a while!
Me too, the rear wiper is great on my Slob wagon and on the Allroad but I hated it on my 944's. my 88 951 had none from the factory, made me happy and I drove that car year round without issue.
Wow! Lots of polarity here on this option. Funny how every time I go to the Porsche website and do a build, the first thing I add is the rear wiper. In fact, almost everything else gets deleted or changed, but the rear wiper seems untouchable to me.
Thinking back, I believe my "love" for this item started in the 1960's. In most European countries it was actually required back then, so I just got used to seeing it and expecting it to be there.
There have been many times I was thankful I had it - when backing out of a parking spot in the pouring rain, for example. Here in Florida, we get the
occasional
shower. Or, the first couple of rainy laps at a DE, watching my rear view mirror to make sure some dumba** with race slicks isn't trying to brake with me into the turns. Usually after a couple laps they are in the grass, so the problem goes away all by itself.
The rear wiper is a very Euro look, so your sense of what things should look like may be different if you are not used to seeing them.
Does anyone know how much the entire assembly weighs? Wiper arm, blade, motor, wiring, bracket, etc.?
I doubt it would be huge, but then again many go to a lot of trouble to remove weight with lightweight batteries, removing the sunroofs, lightweight wheels etc.
Just curious, if anyone knows.
hehe - yes you'd think so, but vain as I am, I'd rather *not* see out my back window than drive around all the time with a mechanical abortion haanging off the back of my car.
I lean heavily towards the less is more ethos.
Mine has it, & I HATE IT. While washing the car, it's fallen on it's own a couple times & scratched the side of the car. Infact, they actually scratched my car once that way at a local Porsche dealership while cleaning my windows.
