Windscreen Rain sensor problems

[MoOriginal]

I have had the rain sensor set to auto
and everything has been working fine.

Had the little volume type dial set to 2 bars right in the middle of the range.

But recently Ive noticed that while on auto - after a while the wipers will make one wipe in the complete dry every now and then.

I have tried cleaning the sensor above the rear view mirror on windscreen.
Ive washed it and scrubbed it with paper towels.

Ive turned car of
reset the auto to off
reset it to all settings in between
set the sensitivity dial to max and min

still nothing
dry day every now and then the wipers still come on for one wipe every now and then

does anyone else have this problem ??????

[THX1138]

I had a dry day today and it maybe happened once. And there's also days it doesn't.

So yes, I do notice it sometimes, but I really haven't thought it to be a problem or anything. And I don't think it is. Unless is happens like once an hour on dry days.

[elfa7]

Yes, I've had this happen a couple of times. I've taken it off auto now.

[CopyCatz]

It's because the sensor doesnt actually look for water. It takes a snapshot of a certain area of the windscreen and then waits if there is any change (because of this you will sometimes also have the opposite where a wet window doesnt turn on the wipers because the pattern doesnt change enough). I've had it on dry days also, then it's flies, or dust or other junk that drops onto the sensor area.

[MoOriginal]

ok so some of this makes sense

but I cleaned the whole area on the windscreen around the sensor with wet paper towels and then dryed it.

It seems like I might have a fault then with the sensor

cause in todays 1hr long journey the wipers were going off all the time
I kept resetting them and after a few minutes they would go off again..

I tried cleaning them again
turning car of and making sure the wipers were off
then turning them to auto

all to no avail

[THX1138]

When they set off, do they keep going (in the pace set by the interval ring) or is it just 1 wipe ?

Because if they keep going, it's a fault for sure. Never ever had that happen.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by THX1138

When they set off, do they keep going (in the pace set by the interval ring) or is it just 1 wipe ?

Because if they keep going, it's a fault for sure. Never ever had that happen.

with the auto wipers, the ring doesn't control the frequency of the wipe like it would 'normally' do when switching non-auto wipers to intermitant.

The ring controls the sensitivity of the sensor.


Mine does the odd single wipe on a dry day think - I've always put it down to what CopyCatz said - dust or bugs etc.

The trouble is that the wiper then gets rid of any evidence

[meesterlijk]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

with the auto wipers, the ring doesn't control the frequency of the wipe like it would 'normally' do when switching non-auto wipers to intermitant.

The ring controls the sensitivity of the sensor.


Mine does the odd single wipe on a dry day think - I've always put it down to what CopyCatz said - dust or bugs etc.

The trouble is that the wiper then gets rid of any evidence

i think its the wind.it always happens to me were there is to much wind.

[Kremmen]

Not happened to me.

Maybe if mine did it would remind me to turn them off on dry days, I always forget.

[Meino]

It happens to me too, but not that frequent I think. I also put it down to dust/bugs etc.

[MoOriginal]

hmm well of course being in London today is not a good day to test as its wet!

I have set the ring to middle position.
I have windowlene'd the area around the sensor after brushing the water away that was there from last nights rain.

I manualed the wipers a few times to clean the screen of water this morning.
Then left it on auto
The wipers came on once by themselves and then for the rest of the hour journey didnt come on at all.
There was no rain on my drive into work.

I might also consider disconnecting the battery to see if that helps.

Wont it be typical that - they wont come on during the rain - but will come on during the dry !

[MoOriginal]

Originally Posted by THX1138

When they set off, do they keep going (in the pace set by the interval ring) or is it just 1 wipe ?

Because if they keep going, it's a fault for sure. Never ever had that happen.

Each time they wipe once for example.

Then after a while the wipe once again.

and then again and again etc.

With the ring - the time period just gets shorter between wipes.

[richierich]

Have you had your wipers replaced recently, I had mine done and got the same problem, turns out they had fitted none rain sensor blades to my car, the drivers side is 3 1/2" shorter.

[MoOriginal]

Nope
Car is from new 6 weeks old !

[Charles_Harding]

I think that the 'brain' on the auto-wiper is brilliant.

When, I think that the wipers should work, Bingo!, a wipe takes place.

......and when a big truck goes past with its bow wave!

Wow!

Warp speed!

The only prob is that the book says they should only work at 7+ mph, and mine operate even when stationary.

The one at the back givess me no trouble at all tho'!

"I've noticed that Americans will eat any rubbish as long as it has a coating of ketchup,mustard, chilli sauce and any other thing that will destroy the flavour!"

Charles H.

[MoOriginal]

thanks for your helpful reply telling me it all works fine for you