Rain X????
Wiper suggestion for "complex" windshield?
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Originally Posted By: artificialist
1. NWB brand. This is what it gets from the factory. It has an adapter that only fits hook-style wiper arms.
Those are the ones that are sorted by VIN, and which need to be ordered-in by the parts man.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
2. Generic wiper with Toyota written on it. Those are not what it gets at the factory. It has holes in the side so it can accept both hook arms and pin arms. Those aren't any better than most aftermarket replacements.
Those are the "aftermarket" replica" blades I mentioned earlier. All dealers have a rack filled with different lengths of them. They are substantially cheaper than the factory ones.
1. NWB brand. This is what it gets from the factory. It has an adapter that only fits hook-style wiper arms.
Those are the ones that are sorted by VIN, and which need to be ordered-in by the parts man.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
2. Generic wiper with Toyota written on it. Those are not what it gets at the factory. It has holes in the side so it can accept both hook arms and pin arms. Those aren't any better than most aftermarket replacements.
Those are the "aftermarket" replica" blades I mentioned earlier. All dealers have a rack filled with different lengths of them. They are substantially cheaper than the factory ones.
Tegger, maybe some don't realize that often, "branded" parts at the dealer are not the same as what comes from the factory. I think of Motorcraft parts and in a sense, the red boxed Motorcraft brand is aftermarket compared to factory parts....sometimes. For instance, Motorcraft rotors and pads from the dealer parts counter are probably not the same as the factory installed ones. Other times (ie, Ranger thermostat), the Motorcraft boxed part seemed exactly the same as the factory part.
I believe this is the point you are trying to make regarding the Toyota wiper blades. Also, my Jeep came with NWB wiper blades and they are built MUCH better than the Trico and Anco replacements. Very robust design and metal.
I believe this is the point you are trying to make regarding the Toyota wiper blades. Also, my Jeep came with NWB wiper blades and they are built MUCH better than the Trico and Anco replacements. Very robust design and metal.
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Tegger, maybe some don't realize that often, "branded" parts at the dealer are not the same as what comes from the factory.
When it comes to Toyota and Honda, the branded parts are almost always the same as what the factory installed. For Toyota, wiper blades are one of the few exceptions, if you're not careful.
And you're right, that was my point.
The way to ensure you get factory parts is to ask the parts man to look your car up on his computer using your VIN number, and to drill down through the parts diagrams until he finds the picture with that part on it. When he clicks on the image of that part, the part number will be given to him onscreen. He will also be able to tell how many are available in the nearest warehouse and in the country.
Tegger, maybe some don't realize that often, "branded" parts at the dealer are not the same as what comes from the factory.
When it comes to Toyota and Honda, the branded parts are almost always the same as what the factory installed. For Toyota, wiper blades are one of the few exceptions, if you're not careful.
And you're right, that was my point.
The way to ensure you get factory parts is to ask the parts man to look your car up on his computer using your VIN number, and to drill down through the parts diagrams until he finds the picture with that part on it. When he clicks on the image of that part, the part number will be given to him onscreen. He will also be able to tell how many are available in the nearest warehouse and in the country.
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Tegger, maybe some don't realize that often, "branded" parts at the dealer are not the same as what comes from the factory.
I've been trying to convince people of that for, literally, 20 years now. Since the dawn of on-line auto discussions. Most automakers have ENTIRELY separate operations for factory parts and replacement parts- some less so than others but its more widespread now than in the past. Part production is granted on a bid basis. One year Wix may make the filter with the automatker's logo, 5 years later the same automaker P/N may be made by Fram because Fram won the contract this go-around. Even some parts that carry a vendor's logo IN THE NEW CAR (for example- O2 sensors that say "Bosch" on the side) may be produced by an entirely different subsidiary and to a different design when they're sold as replacement parts- EVEN IN A BOSCH BOX!
If I have a point to all this, it would be try to look at the construction and quality of your replacement parts- not the name on the box or where you bought them. Sometimes the aftermarket makes far better parts than the automaker originally used (Example: Fel-Pro head gaskets in some problematic Honda applications a few years back). If you really are looking for exact OEM replacement- make sure it both looks the same down to small manufacturing details, AND carries the same set of numbers where possible. Sometimes its just about impossible to find exactly what the car maker used on their assembly line out in the retail world or even in the dealer parts network, and then its up to you to do some digging and find out what your best option is.
Tegger, maybe some don't realize that often, "branded" parts at the dealer are not the same as what comes from the factory.
I've been trying to convince people of that for, literally, 20 years now. Since the dawn of on-line auto discussions. Most automakers have ENTIRELY separate operations for factory parts and replacement parts- some less so than others but its more widespread now than in the past. Part production is granted on a bid basis. One year Wix may make the filter with the automatker's logo, 5 years later the same automaker P/N may be made by Fram because Fram won the contract this go-around. Even some parts that carry a vendor's logo IN THE NEW CAR (for example- O2 sensors that say "Bosch" on the side) may be produced by an entirely different subsidiary and to a different design when they're sold as replacement parts- EVEN IN A BOSCH BOX!
If I have a point to all this, it would be try to look at the construction and quality of your replacement parts- not the name on the box or where you bought them. Sometimes the aftermarket makes far better parts than the automaker originally used (Example: Fel-Pro head gaskets in some problematic Honda applications a few years back). If you really are looking for exact OEM replacement- make sure it both looks the same down to small manufacturing details, AND carries the same set of numbers where possible. Sometimes its just about impossible to find exactly what the car maker used on their assembly line out in the retail world or even in the dealer parts network, and then its up to you to do some digging and find out what your best option is.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Most automakers have ENTIRELY separate operations for factory parts and replacement parts
Not in my experience -- and I used to work in the industry.
Especially for Honda and Toyota (remember the OP has a Honda), most parts stay with the original supplier for the life of the part.
For Honda and Toyota, "line" production and "distribution" production come off the same line and the same tooling with the same materials and processes.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
If you really are looking for exact OEM replacement- make sure it both looks the same down to small manufacturing details, AND carries the same set of numbers where possible.
Parts are frequently subject to running changes that alter their appearance, so you can't go by that.
As far as numbers go...
If Honda or Toyota changes suppliers, the part number will change.
If the part is "rationalized" (combined with other parts), or changed in any way from original production, the part number will change.
If a part is improved (this is a frequent occurrence), the part number will change.
If the part number changes, the new number is said to "supersede" the older number.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Sometimes its just about impossible to find exactly what the car maker used on their assembly line out in the retail world
Not with Honda and Toyota. You just go by the part number and any "superseding" that may have occurred. Since the parts database is constantly updated, looking up the old number will result in the new number coming up.
Maybe the domestics do things differently, I don't know. For Ford or GM, what you say may well be correct. The engineers at the Tier-1 suppliers I used to deal with had a much lower opinion of the domestics than of the Japanese. This opinion was based on the differences in how the imports and domestics handled design and manufacture of parts, and especially on how the two handled defective designs.
Most automakers have ENTIRELY separate operations for factory parts and replacement parts
Not in my experience -- and I used to work in the industry.
Especially for Honda and Toyota (remember the OP has a Honda), most parts stay with the original supplier for the life of the part.
For Honda and Toyota, "line" production and "distribution" production come off the same line and the same tooling with the same materials and processes.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
If you really are looking for exact OEM replacement- make sure it both looks the same down to small manufacturing details, AND carries the same set of numbers where possible.
Parts are frequently subject to running changes that alter their appearance, so you can't go by that.
As far as numbers go...
If Honda or Toyota changes suppliers, the part number will change.
If the part is "rationalized" (combined with other parts), or changed in any way from original production, the part number will change.
If a part is improved (this is a frequent occurrence), the part number will change.
If the part number changes, the new number is said to "supersede" the older number.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Sometimes its just about impossible to find exactly what the car maker used on their assembly line out in the retail world
Not with Honda and Toyota. You just go by the part number and any "superseding" that may have occurred. Since the parts database is constantly updated, looking up the old number will result in the new number coming up.
Maybe the domestics do things differently, I don't know. For Ford or GM, what you say may well be correct. The engineers at the Tier-1 suppliers I used to deal with had a much lower opinion of the domestics than of the Japanese. This opinion was based on the differences in how the imports and domestics handled design and manufacture of parts, and especially on how the two handled defective designs.
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