[jaydee]

Hey I was owndering how the rain sensitive wipers work.. What sensors do they use to determine quantity of water/intensity of rain? Do they work with the sound of water hitting the windshiled or is there a "wetness sensor" somewhere that tells the wiper controls to go faster or slower?

Just curious,

jaydee

 

[frank29]

The sensor is right at the point your mirror attaches to the windshield. It uses infrared light beams, optical lenses, and a bunch of Wizard of Oz stuff to detect moisture on the windshield. A filthy windshield will impact the operation.

 

[vvv90]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/wiper4.htm

 

[jaydee]

wow cool!

Wow!

jay

 

[cmego]

Now, if only the sensitivity level could be adjusted with the wiper control, they might have something there. Why, oh, why didn't they just put "auto" as one of the stops on the wiper speed dial so you could select a speed (other than continuous) when the auto doesn't work well.

 

[frank29]

Now, if only the sensitivity level could be adjusted with the wiper control, they might have something there. Why, oh, why didn't they just put "auto" as one of the stops on the wiper speed dial so you could select a speed (other than continuous) when the auto doesn't work well.

The sensitivity can be controlled; the first six positons are all for the rain sensing wipers. The first is the least sensitive and the last is the most sensitive; after this, you leave the rain sensing mode.

 

[Redman]

Sorry to say - the rain sensitivity system stinks.

 

[frank29]

Sorry to say - the rain sensitivity system stinks.

Maybe I'm just easy to please, I'm tickled pink with mine.

 

[Redman]

Maybe I'm just easy to please, I'm tickled pink with mine.

HOw do you get it to be sensitive at the right level?

 

[rdmac]

Mine really has a mind of its own. I find it annoying and not very well designed.

Bob

 

[frank29]

HOw do you get it to be sensitive at the right level?

I almost always just turn it to the very first click and leave it. But, I have to admit, somedays it doesn't seem to perform consitently (as compared to previous days), at these times I turn it one or two more clicks. I have never used the higher levels or the constant motion mode (except for the times I rotate the knob in the wrong direction trying to turn it off).

The reason I turn it off is several times I have gone through a car wash and forgotten to turn it off, soooo, I just leave it off except when raining.

Its really wierd to watch the wipers change from extremely intermittent operation to high speed as the volume of rain changes.

 

[jcz1]

I found no noticable difference between the 6 levels on mine.

 

[StarJack]

You drive your 300's in the RAIN?! :eek2:

:kidding:

The sensor works right about 80% of the time for me. I usually leave it on the 2nd setting and will flick it up or down a notch when it lags behind. Could hope for more, but it just doesn't bother me much, 'cause I usually drive my F-250 in the rain! :laughing:

 

[arnoldw]

I found no noticable difference between the 6 levels on mine.

same here, I believe those 6 levels are used for regular delay positions when the rain sense feature is de-activated. Works good for me

 

[AF300C]

Sometimes my wipers go on when I hit the lever to signal.

 

[C-Man]

Sometimes my wipers go on when I hit the lever to signal.

Mine too. I switch it off when it's not raining to prevent that. I then move the switch one setting when it starts raining and usually I'm good to go. On occasion I will click it one or two additional times if it's not responding, and then set it back to the first setting once it starts swiping.

 

[lennoxavesosa]

i usually leave my wipers on the 2nd click (dot with circle around it) even when its not raining, just incase my windshield gets wet....and i never knew that the next levels were still functional with the rain sensing function.
overall, i find the auto wipers to be very convienent. the only flaw i find is when i turn on my car, and there is already water on the windshield, i need to click it back to the first position, then back again to the 2nd position for them to wipe the rain off. no big deal, but its just one of those little things ive noticed.
i often find moisture on the OUTSIDE of my windshield (its often 100% humidity where i live) that makes it hard for me to see when i drive. even with the defrost blasting, i still find myself manually using the wipers frequently when its not raining. anyone have any suggestions how to 'fix' this? perhaps setting it to the highest setting, or opening a window will clear it up?

 

[LWOOD]

This was one feature I was really excited about when I bought the car. Now i pretty much override it. I have had the TSB performed to fix all the intermittent problems mentioned above and still they kinda suck. I love that the headlights turn on with the wipers. This should be a standard feature in every car sinec I can't count the number of idiots in driving rain with no lights on that are virtually invisible.