Here in the Boston area we've been hammered with 3 snow storms in about a week. During the third storm I realized I was out of windshield washer fluid in my 07 TLs.

No warning showed up on the dash. Did Acura really leave this feature out to save a couple bucks? Every car since 1990 has one, never mind a 35k+ luxury car

 

same here lol... i thought the holes were covered with ice.

 

Isn't that wierd... Canadian spec cars DO have a low washer fluid indicator.

 

HAHA ..I read the title and laughed because just the other day I said the same thing.

 

Mine is bone dry, no warning at all

 

Yea. We got the short end of the stick on that deal. Canada versions have the low level warning.

I wonder if it would be tought to mod this, and perhaps even put in a washer heater.. that gives me an idea

 

I have never owned a car or heard of a car having a low washer fluid indicator. Maybe some of you could list make and model of cars that you have owned that have this "feature."

 

lmao
Same here...fluid ran out BUT luckily I had a spare gal. in the trunk for just an occurence. Usually I top off all those fluids when I change my oil...

 

Call me crazy but i check the fluids on all of my cars at least monthly..


Its a good way to avoid a potentially costly repair.

 

Well just for kicks, my friend's 2001 Toyota Corolla has a meter for washer fluid levels LOL.

 

O.K. .............You're crazy

 

Yes, that's why our TLs cost so much more!

 

Nissan's that have the "cold weather package" usually have. I can mod my 99 Nissan Maxima to have one if I just buy the $30 sensor and drill a hole in the bottom of the fluid container. Not hard. Maybe this can be done to the TL? Someone should try it (buy a used container first! lol).

It probably has the plug there, you just need to procur the sensor somewhere (probably from a canadian crashed TL or the dealer).

 

My 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo had a warning on it for low fluid level.

It was fun, you could tell it was getting close to being empty before the light turned on, because it would slosh enough to trigger the light when the turbo started boosting

But yea, I noticed this on a TSX Loaner I had a few weeks ago. I was using the washer, then all the sudden, nothing. I was looking all over the dash for a light. I figured it just froze off somehow. I guess I didnt even think that it wouldnt have a light.. Let alone the TL being the same way.

Guess I should check my levels, ive been using alot lately!

 

DRL's, TPMS, anti-lock braking, etc., etc.
Maybe you just got USED to it on your cars since 1990.
I don't need another idiot light telling me I didn't do my maintenance. Got enough of them already

By the way, when was the last time you checked your tire pressures?

 

 

Someone should seriously see if they can do what I mentioned above. If it's has the plug in there just needs the sensor, this will not be hard at all. Here is the instructions for the Maxima to give you guys an idea of what needs to be done:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/259701/13

 

Kennedy- any luck w/ this mod?

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...luid+indicator

 

That link above is basically what I was saying. As long as the plug is there, I don't see why this wouldn't work. I don't think Acura made different wiring harnesses for the Canadia/US model. It's all the same, just the sensor was left out.

Some 4th Gen Maxima's don't come with the fog lights, but come pre-wired (plug available behind where the fog light goes).

This can't be that hard.

 

Everyday - I just look at the idiot tire pressure monitor in the middle of my dashboard
https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif
Smile

 

I think all GM cars since 1993 had this, as I've driven a bunch of rental cars from Oldsmobile Achievas to Chevy Corsicas/Berettas, to Pontiac Sunbirds, etc, and they all had this...

My current 98' Pontiac Grand Prix GTP has this feature, as does our 02' Jeep Liberty, and my 04' Infiniti G35 Coupe.

 

As time goes on, the evidence that Acura cut corners to reduce assembly costs continues to mount. Now just how much could having the low washer fluid indicator on the US model added to the car's manufacturing cost? My guess isn't more than $20, if that. Maybe some marketing research guru thought only the Canadians needed it due to the harsher Winters, or I wonder if it's required by law in Canada...hmmm.

I think the only reason Daytime Running lights were added for '07 was because they became mandatory by law in the US years after becoming manadatory in Canada. How long have they been standard on other cars here?

Just like having side marker turn signals either on the fender or the mirrors (AND IN AMBER COLOR NO LESS SO THEY STAND OUT AND ARE MORE VISIBLE) has been mandated by law in Europe for many years as EVERY European every make & model's had them for the last 20 years or so.

 

I think you should just check it when you change your oil. No big deal. I really don't like squirting the shit on my windshield and having it dry on the sides where the wipers don't reach anyway...fucks up my game...lol.

 

maybe you guys should just move to Canada and buy a TL here

Mine went off for the first time the other day, it was quite annoying. Anyone want to trade TL's???

 

Cars that I have owned with this feature:
1989 Volvo 740 Wagon
1990 Volvo 740 Sedan
1995 Lexus ES300
1997 Volvo 960 Sedan
2002 Chevy Suburban
2006 Hyundai Sonata

Don't remember if my 1997 GMC Sierra P/U had it or not.

 

Here in upsate NY, I go through more than a reservoir per month. I travel extensively and when it snows (every day between November and April), I need the windshield washer fluid to work. It's not safe to pull over on the side of the NY State Thruway with snowbanks and slippery road conditions to re-fill an empty reservoir. Having the sensor would alert me to pull over at the next exit or service area. With the amount of salt they put on the roads here, I cannot just tough it out if the reservoir is empty, I've just passed an exit and the next one isn't for 10-15 miles.

 

According to the local dealer, it involves different wiring harnesses and different computer programs. So in fact, the Canadian and US models are significantly different.

 

Search this topic under my name,
rbf541 and I talked extensively about retrofitting this... Not gonna happen without the canadian convenience module. No easy retrofit available. rbf went as far as testing the connection. Nothing.

 

Just found this out yesterday in Northern Illinois.

Hit the lever,no fluid. Usually check it frequently,but with no warning light, maybe now,more frequently.

Seems like this would have been a cheap addition.

 

1998 Toyota Camry

I too am surprised that they left out this feature. This is a very handy warning before heading out in snowy or slushy weather.

 

Hey it's the best bang for the buck people ... They have to save money somewhere.... !!

35 K nowadays is not a luxury car. For that you are looking at north of 45K IMHO.

 

when I change my oil I check mine

 

I owned an Accord before, and it didn't have this feature. Maybe it's a Honda thing.

 

Funny because the first time I needed the reminder, it was BROKEN! and took 3 days to get the part.

 

Nissan Altima, 93. When I bought my first TL in 2000, I couldn't believe that Acura didn't have that indicator and kept looking for it for quite some time...

 

Most 4th Generation Maxima's have this feature...you just have to buy the $20 sensor and cut a whole in the bottom of the reservoir tank and put a gromet/seal the sensor.

 

My 2002 TLS had it, they got rid of it starting in 04, but Canada still has it "blame canada"

 

mmmm yeah then you have to stick a light some where unless you can hook it to the computer info display to tell you.

 

No, blame Acura on this one. They got too concerned with cutting corners on the assembly line.

...
Acura

 

No. Most 4th Gen Maxima's came with the plugs for fog lights, etc. already there just without the actual option installed. The light and the harness for most Maxima's is there, just not being used by that particular sensor. That's why it's a $20 job.