To read the original full thread and post questions/comments on this topic, please go to How to Install Heated Wiper Blades
Please Use the Everblades, not the Northland
The Everblades set-up is about $150
Here is my install of heated wiper blades for my FJ.
Total Cost ~$360, Time 5hrs
I used the following Parts
- Northland Engineering Products
- NHWK0-14 14" Heated Wiper Set
- NHW-RA-16 16" Replacement Wiper Assembly
- NHW-AK Adapter Kit
Cost ~$306
The Switch
Cost ~$54
Extra Supplies
Tools
Now the Install
For additional reference, I attached the instructions from Northland
The supplies arrive, contents from Northland and Switch
Time to assemble the adapter to fit the FJ, notice which parts are laid out.
I’ve assembled all 3, the washer has a rubber inner ring that stops it from coming loose, keep the rubber end on the outside when screwing it on, also notice the orientation of the blade and adapter assembly.
Some extra supplies on right, connectors, wire, and larger Ring Terminals vs kit supplied on left, notice they are much bigger, will make grounding easier.
Ok I’m outside, warm 34F day, use a towel to kneel on, will save your paint, be careful not to put a lot of weigh on hood near center, could dent. I used the panel remover around the edges to pop out the 3 black grates.
I also needed to pop loose the black covers around the wiper arms, a bit harder to get out than the grate, just take your time. I took the wire ran it into the hole under the wiper arm though the bottom of the black cover, then ran the wire on top on the black framing under the yellow portion of the hood along the wiper arm area.
I ran it out of the black grate hole next to the wiper arm.
I straightened the wire, ran and slid it on top of the black framing all the way down to the last wiper arm on the drivers side. I repeated this process for the middle and drivers side blades. I took all of the twists out of the wires, removed the stock blades by pressing down the tab and pushing the blade down the arm and then connected the new blades to the wiper arms.
I used 2 zip ties per a blade and secured the wire running on top of the wiper arm and down the arm. I left 3 inches of slack at the base on the wiper arm, under the black cover.
Once I fished all 3 wires out from under the drivers side, I needed a way to run the wire under the hood and then into the cabin. The problem is there was not a safe place to run the wires without worry of damaging them. I decided I must make a path. Where I drilled the hole is very little room, I didn’t want to puncture the black box area, only put a hole through the over hanging area, a simple straight through drill, I also had to make sure the wires were far enough from the hinge right next to it, was tough to find the optimal location. I started drilling with a very small bit and progressively got larger to control the hole location to exactly where I wanted it. The hole was finally drilled with a 5/16 bit.
Feed the 3 wires through the hole.
There’s an empty firewall plug under the hood, I looked inside the cab to see where it comes out, a very empty space, safe to send a knife through to cut the fabric without cutting anything else.
You can’t drill through this stuff, found the easiest way to cut was just stick a 4” blade through the hole once you pull out the rubber plug, the fabric will push away but then it will cut, I did 2 cuts in a + pattern.
I drilled the plug with smaller bits until I could get the 5/16 through it, take your time, hard to hold while drilling, now I could run the wires and have a tight seal into the cabin.
Feed the wires through and into the cabin, pulled everything snug, zip-tie here or there, the wires are now in the cabin and safe from damage under the hood. Now into the FJ we go.
Remove the kick panel along the door, pulls up.
Remove the dead pedal, slide your fingers behind the top, grab and pull towards you.
Turn the plastic screw that was under the dead pedal, towards the left, pop off panel on left.
The ground point is under the mess of wires.
Ground point (the bolt)
The 3 wiper wires that are now in the cabin, have a protective sheath around them, you need to take a knife and slide the blade between the ground (black) and pos (red) wires and then cut off the sheath, leaving 2 wires ready to get stripped.
Strip the wires and connect all 3 pos (red) to one blue crimp connector and then repeat for the ground (black).
Measure out wire for the ground connection from the ground on the FJ to the ground crimp connector on the wipers and another wire for the ground from the switch. I cut the ring connectors and bent them into a “U” shape so I can slide them around the grounding bolt.
Linear Mode
