Low Washer Fluid? Give me a break...

[rbattelle]

Please excuse the following rant.



For the last few weeks I've been getting a nice "DING" every time I start the truck up and the "LOW WASH" light is illuminated to warn me that my washer fluid is dangerously low.



Does this strike anyone else as ridiculous? They gave me a low washer fluid warning light, but no "low coolant" warning light. Or how about a "low oil" warning light? No, we get "low washer fluid". Who cares if the engine's out of oil or coolant, as long as we can keep the bugs and salt off the windshield! Has anyone ever broken down by the side of the road from low washer fluid? Anyone? If the light comes on while barreling down the highway, do I need to pull over and call roadside assistance? Dodge thought low washer fluid was such a critical safety issue that it warrants a prominent place on the dash below the odometer and a "DING". It's bigger than the "4x4" indicator, for crying out loud!



Is this part of the downfall of Western Civilization? Have we become so vain that we consider low washer fluid to be of such critical importance as to warrant an entire sensor and warning light devoted only to monitoring it?



I'm disgusted. This is "runaway convenience". I can only imagine what "warnings" we'll be treated to in the future:



"Dust on dashboard"

"Mudflaps full"

"Flatulent Passenger" (more useful than "low washer")

"Vehicle Logo Dirty"



-Ryan

 

[WHazelwood]

how about bugs in radiator,

air horn needs new air ,

time to change air in tires,

but believe it or not I hear that some folks don't check anything until something breaks.

Keep grinnin,

 

[Turbo1Ton]

"Flatulent Passenger" (more useful than "low washer")

:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf



Definitely more worthwhile than the lamp out indicator that gave me hell last week!



Jeff

 

[Giachino]

All the manufacturers are sheep... . they all do it! Doesnt make it right, but you can see how they're so busy copying each other that it stifles imagination to some degree... . FYI, my wifes sequoia just gave me the low washer fluid 10 minutes ago..... "no ding"... . so this is a timely post!



These were Priceless!



"Dust on dashboard"

"Mudflaps full"

"Flatulent Passenger" (more useful than "low washer")

"Vehicle Logo Dirty"

 

[MMeier]

but believe it or not I hear that some folks don't check anything until something breaks.

Keep grinnin,

And my neighbors think I'm nuts for doing my pre trip inspection before I hop up into the ol' Ram..... same ones that drive down the street 1/2 mile everyday and then when I ask to do an oil change on their POS's "oh we only have 900 miles on it since you did it last time""" !!!... . like 10 months ago !

 

[betterthanstock]

I believe Canadian law requires that, and maybe uncle sam copied them recently???

 

[MCrossley]

I personally just add more washer fluid when it comes on but thats me... I thnink that the point of it might be missed as low washer fluid in areas of the country could actually be a serious issue such as in heavy snow or muddy terrain, ever tried to see out of a winshield without fluid in the snow driving 65, I have it was not pretty so I guess I can see the point in it but I also see your point there are other things that are just as important and more so in many cases just my . 02

 

[Speedo]

If I don't have enough washer fluid when I go into town during breakup visibility goes away, if I had to make a choice I'd rather have the low washer fluid indicator than a 4x4 indicator.



Gus

 

[bighammer]

MCrossley is right. In winter, with all the salt on the roads, if you have no washer fluid you get a thick haze that makes it hard to see. Most of the time it's no big deal, but you DO NOT want to run out of fluid in winter. It sucks having to stop and throw snow at your ride just to see.

 

[mlewis73]

I don't know about washer fluid, but I'm still trying to track down why the thing doesn't tell me when my blinker fluid is low...

 

[Radshooter]

Make sure you are using the Halogen fluid!!

 

[Turbo1Ton]

For those of you in parts of the world where low washer fluid is critical, don't you check it along with your oil at every fillup? I'm in Oklahoma where it isn't all that critical and I check it any time I have the hood up. If it gets below half, I top it off.



Jeff

 

[klenger]

How about a real oil pressure gauge?

 

[PWitteveen]

I don't know about washer fluid, but I'm still trying to track down why the thing doesn't tell me when my blinker fluid is low...

I am waiting for the muffler bearing indicator, also.

 

[GFritsch]

How about a real oil pressure gauge?

Just going to say that. Maybe a pyro? Oil pressure and exhaust temp take a back seat to washer fluid and outside temp and the persistant ding of low fuel even though I have another 100 miles on the tank.



Oh well, guess todays truck buyers are looking more for feature ridden cars than practicallity.

 

[JasonBrown]

Make sure you are using the Halogen fluid!!

Does Amsoil make this? Is it an approved fluid?

 

[klenger]

Amsoil makes it, but it's NOT API certified. Something about Amsoil's specs surpassing the API specs, so it doesn't qualify.

 

[nickleinonen]

If I don't have enough washer fluid when I go into town during breakup visibility goes away, if I had to make a choice I'd rather have the low washer fluid indicator than a 4x4 indicator.



Gus

me too... it is a royal pain to run out of washer fluid on the road when driving in slushy weather. i know when the light comes on, i have one trip from home to/from work in reserve [using washers a lot] to fill up when i get to where i am going. .

 

[Big MAK]

My dirty sparkplug indicator came on recently.

 

[radar doctor]

Hey RB>>>>I sure am concerned like you are but we might be a little sensitive to Liquid in the TANK... . LETS JUST BE GLAD YOUR (ELECTRO MAGNETIC DEGAUSING AGENT) IS STILL PRESSURIZED OR YOUR LED'S WILL HAVE TO BE REFLASHED... DOC...