Topping up the windscreen washer on a previous-generation Toyota Corolla

Topping up the windscreen washer bottle is a simple task. But care should be taken not to confuse this with the engine coolant container. Follow our step-by-step guide and you will be A-for-away.

Stuart Johnston

19 May 2020 · 11:22Car Ownership

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The previous-generation Toyota Corolla was launched in 2014 and has only just been replaced by the all-new Corolla, in mid-March 2020. One of the easier DIY jobs you can perform on your used Corolla is to keep the windscreen washer bottle topped up.

You may like to use special screen washer fluids that can be bought from a dealership or spares shop, but, truth-be-told, plain tap water works very well too and the cost is all but negligible.

Engine bay layout the same for Corolla and Quest

The engine-bay layout is the same on this 11^th-generation 2014-2019 Corolla and the new Corolla Quest, which is essentially a lower-specification earlier-generation Corolla. The latest Corolla sedan, however, is the 12^th-generation car, launched in early March 2020, and is quite different in appearance from previous Corollas and the Quest model.

AutoTrader currently lists over 770 New and Used Toyota Corolla models for sale.

Here’s our washer top-up guide for the 2014-2019 Corolla.

1. The washer fluid bottle itself can’t be seen by merely peering into the engine bay. But its spout, identified by a black cap, is located on the front left side of the engine bay, when viewed from in front of the car.

2. The washer bottle should not be confused with the engine-coolant container, which is a large cube-shaped container, and has a cap identifying it, and a warning that it contains hot fluid.

3. The cap of the screen-washer container is black, which is quite unusual, as most cars have a blue cap. The spout of the washer fluid container is made of white plastic.

4. Just to double check, note that the washer-fluid cap has a screen wash logo embossed on it, and it also bears the legend: “washer fluid only”.

5. To add water (or your chosen brand of special screen wash fluid), simply flip the cap open with your thumb.

6. The easiest method to top it up is to use an old 500 ml drinking water bottle. But any smallish handy container will do.

7. Don’t top it up right to the top. Best to keep a bit of air at the top of the spout.

8. When you have topped it up, close the cap firmly by hand. Test it by turning on the wipers and pressing the screen-washer to make sure it works properly.