When I bought my 86 it had the rear wiper arm in the trunk. When I finally got around to putting it back on, I notice it doesn't seem to line up right with the little cradle on the hard top. The motor works, and it drops down onto the window, but when i turn the wiper off, it doesn't go up onto the cradle to park. What's weird is that it I press the switch on for about a second, it will continue up and park itself, and then I have to turn the switch off really quick.

I am wondering if I maybe got one from a 2nd gen, or if the wiper arms are different on say 84-86 and then 87-89 use a slightly different style? Also, since putting this wiper arm back on, my rear window is much more finicky from the switch. It rolls down, but won't roll back up. I assume this wiper has something to do with it.

I think I actually need the one with the short stubby slide (copied from an ebay ad.)

 

That is a 2nd gen one. I use a 2nd gen on my 87'. i just cut mine down, I looked at some first gens online and then went to town with a hand grinder and then fine turned the aluminum slide with a bench grinder. I did bend the end of the arm ever so slightly to make it seat in the middle but I do not think it was really necessary.
the window will only go up if the wiper is seated in it's stop point, it is just a but long with the 2nd gen one. You can make it work with some fabing or try to get a 1st gen one.

 

Correct, that's the wrong wiper arm. Here's what it should look like....


When wiper arm is not parked all the way, the park switch grounds a pin on the rear window control relay module. This keeps window from operating. To test this / eliminate doubt on wiper parking, disconnect the connector at the rear wiper motor assembly and try again.

I find the rear wiper more trouble than what it's worth (sedans and trucks do not have rear wipers but that does not seem to be a problem), and I want to clean up that area. That's why I removed mine and am selling the whole assembly. Unfortunately (according to Toyota Parts Deal), wiper arm PN 85190-89133 on my 1986 will not fit your 1988.

 

 

I know my profile name implies I have an 88. I did when I created my profile back in college. Now I have an 86. Would be at all interested in selling me just the wiper arm?

I agree they are a pain, but I'm trying to restore this 4runner to factory so I don't like when things don't work.

 

If the guy above doesnt want to get rid of his wiper arm i have one from a 1987 that ill get you.

 

It does seem odd, but I'm discovering all sorts of subtle differences. Like the cruise control switch for example. Ordered one on eBay and while it looked the same it had an extra tab on the back that prevented it from fitting in the cutout of my 86. I think it must have been from an 87+. I cut the tab off and it fits now but still...

 

there are differences. 1 year only injectors. minor options differences. i wonder what the difference in the wiper arm is?

 

Yup. Toyota should have fixed the starter relay and headlight circuits, instead.

 

they let these fester for years afterwards. same issue is present in camrys up to at least 1991, and celicas up to at least 1993. probably also present in early/mid-90s corollas.

 

 

Now the real guts of the question. Do they all do this and have they always done so or is it wear on the mechanical bits, like say that nylon bushing on the right side of the picture above? Any of our original owners want to chime in?

PS mine does this also, its part of my exit process to make sure it's fully retracted in case I want to open the back end.

 

mine used to do that. i found that the spring/arm and joint needs to be well-lubricated, and then it won't hang up when the arm is moving to its "park" location. i've been using fluid film liberally applied to the wiper arm linkage/joint. now the wiper parks when the switch is turned off, instead of having to briefly "hit the switch again" to park it.

 

 

take the arm right off of the back, and work the joint by hand, moving it back and forth full motion for 15 minutes or so. really get at it.

 

PM sent....

 

 

 

I will be trying this as well as soon as I get a rear wiper arm.
Until then,

I did pull the arm completely off and ran the wiper through the full cycle and it "parked" itself and I heard a relay click. The window still won't go up from the switch. Just down