SOR Universal Washer Fluid Bottle

[DanS HJ-45]

My Dad's 1979 FJ-40 windshield washer stopped working, and we couldn't find a replacement motor for the original windshield washer reservoir. So, Dad ordered SOR's universal windshield washer kit to replace the original. The kit however doesn't include any sort of documentation as to how it is intended to be installed, so I decided to mount it as closely to the original as possible. I assume that SOR intended it to mount to the inner fender, but I figured that I had the bracket, I had the time, and I wanted an excuse to fire up the welder...

However, I just can't stand doing lame things like drilling holes in Toyota's original parts, so, for anyone else who is looking to do the same thing--here's how I did it. I did this in order to be able to easily switch back to the original bottle if we ever find the correct motor, and nobody would ever be able to tell the difference.

Pic 1 is the original bracket.
Pic 2 is me making a plate to fit into the original bracket
Pic 3 is the second bracket I fabricated quickly to secure the coolant overflow bottle.

I had some scrap 22GA steel lying around to make all of this BTW.

More to follow...

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Pic 1 and 2 are of the two bits welded together. Just some small tacks here for this. It'll never be seen, and with any luck all of this will be removed soon enough as soon as we find a new wiper pump motor...

Pic 3 is of the now single assembly, with the coolant overflow bottle bolted in for fit. Originally the two bolts on the tabs of the coolant bottle attached to the washer bottle.

Still more...

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Pic 1 is of the whole thing with SOR's bracket attached to it to check the fit. The bolts for the SOR bracket line up with the large hole in the factory bracket, so there's no interference issues.

Pic 2 is of the SOR plug spliced into the factory wiring. I left enough room here (and kept the original plug with long pigtails) to put the original back on there someday. After lengthening my entire engine harness on my pickup (the faux-Hilux swap) and my experience as an aircraft mechanic, I really like soldering wires. I can do it faster, better and more compact than any splice connector I've seen. Plus, this way I have the opportunity to burn myself with a soldering iron--nice!

Pic 3 is of the original bracket and the one I made just out of the oven from powder coating. Don't know what the original color is here (suspect black), but battleship grey just looks so good, and it's a color Dad likes on a lot of his bracketry...

Just three more on the way...

 

[DanS HJ-45]

First pic is of the two brackets installed

Second and third pics are of the whole shebang back in there. It's nice to get a solid stream of water to come out now!

Hope this helps someone, somewhere. Not that it's rocket science, but it's something.

Dan

 

[tglaser]

Thanks for taking the time to post up your work! Certainly it will be helpful to many.

 

[tyama]

You make me feel bad... I got the same kit from SOR a few years ago and just glued some plastic together to make a jury rig frame. It works fine but looks mo' crappy than what you did. Great job and thanks for the post! ty

 

[trekker]

eggs cell ent.

Thanks for sharing. This forum never ceases to amaze me.

 

[SD_rdcruzer]

Very Noice. I have been putting off replacing my washer bottle for fear of ugliness.
This looks like the perfect fix.

 

[bsevans]

That was a very nice job. I think replacing both bottles with jaz bottles from Jegs was easier as all I had to do was make an interface plate from flat Al. and then drill the top and bottom of one bottle for the washer motor and cap.

 

[yellowstoner]

Good ideas. My stock washer bottle is falling apart & I need to decide how to replace it.

 

[DRay]

Good ideas. My stock washer bottle is falling apart & I need to decide how to replace it.

Yes me too. I may get one of these kits later, but right now, I'm just trying to get my rig back together. My bottle is cracked. Do you know where to just find a replacement original?

Thanks,
D Ray

 

[hatfieldcb]

Does anyone have an idea of how the hoses are routed for the replacement tank. there's a pipe on the bottom of the tank, a pipe on the top of the pump motor, and a conical shaped thing on the side of the motor. I'm not sure how it goes.

TIA

 

[reservefj40]

Thanks for the info and pics. I need to replace mine also and that gives me a great guide. Gives me an excuse to buy a welder. ).

I think my wife is starting to suspect that all these tools and FJ40 parts were not already in the garage when we bought the house. LOL