New Screen Fitted... No Rain Sensor Anymore

[SheepLady]

I went on holiday.... but I'd like to tell you what happened in the end. There was actually more to-ing and fro-ing with Autoglass between my last post and their final visit... but...

Autoglass fitted a Mercedes screen.
Autoglass paid for a new sensor.

Everything works!!!

 

[bigbobs cl]

Nice one Bo-peep! At least they did the right thing and didn`t fob you off. Glad it`s sorted.

 

[BTB 500]

Glad to hear it's been sorted.

The rain sensing does seem to have been improved over the years. My '97 SL does a single sweep if the car is started with the wipers in the auto position (not good for the screen when its dry), but my 2007 Vito doesn't

 

[SheepLady]

Yes, mine is back to doing the single sweep (which is something I have always thought to be strange... (but then again, unlike the old days when washers were first 'invented', now the wipers always start before the screen is squirted, dont they) but that is what I am told it's meant to do... and at least it's not doing 5 when ignition is switched on. It took a lot of time and effort on my part to get this sorted... some might have given up.... Oh, also... the screen was found to have intially been VERY badly fitted... hence the screen noise

 

[BTB 500]

Screen replacement can be a nightmare, I had an intermittent water leak in my previous car which was eventually traced to a poorly fitted replacement windscreen (a warranty repair done by main dealer).

 

[219]

My W140 still has no intermittent wipe , being an S registration , 1999 on the V5 but I presume 1998 build , I'd expect it to have rain sensing etc .

Behind the mirror is the big pod with a loudspeaker , which I thing I read somewhere is for a carkit , not for the audio system ; I saw on Youtube that on some cars you can pop the cover off and disconnect the rain sensor to get intermittent operation . On my car , position 1 just causes the wiper to run constantly , same as position 2 , and I get fast speed on position 3 . The wipers park correctly every time and my screen wash is fine . However , my headlamp was/wipe does not operate , regardless that headlamps or side lamps are on , which on every other Mercedes I've had they do , regardless of wiper switch position . I read on an american forum that wipers had to be on at least position 2 to get HWW , didn't sound right to me , but I tried it anyway . All fuses are intact , my chart says fuse 9 is for HWW , and other items which are working .

I couldn't get the cover off the speaker pod to check in behind , although I can drop the dome light easily enough . While I can crack the cover off the speaker pod , it doesn't want to come away completely and I don't want to break anything .

The side window glass ( the double glazed panes ) is all round 'Siglaplus' brand , with the MB star logo , so I presume all original - the front windscreen and rear screen are both 'Sigla' brand , but no Mercedes star logo . There's no tell tale signs of the front screen ever having been replaced , and I suppose a two owner car with low mileage ( 73K ) could just possibly still be the original screen , but who knows .

Because I have two faults - the lack of intermittent wipe , and the non functioning HWW , which I'm guessing are more than likely related , I'm wondering about the wiper relay - I believe might be the N10 or N10/2 relay . I haven't looked at this yet , but I'll get all the numbers off the unit and see if I can pick one up to try . I think they're common to quite a few models , so a look round the breakers might be fruitful .

I've just about finished the brake rebuild - back brakes done : new pipes , flexible hoses , used callipers , new discs , pads & shoes . Front pads came the other week , and have new discs , hoses etc , but weather has been so awful I've done nothing , so hope to get that done this weekend , full system bleed , then MOT . Oh , I have a new pair of horns to fit , will do at same time as front brakes .

I know lack of HWW is just a minor fault on MOT and not a fail , so I won't fret about it . The car has halogen lighting , so not mandatory .

I have one more week till on holiday , so if not this weekend , I'll get car finished over holidays and on road for New Year .

 

[219]

Screen replacement can be a nightmare, I had an intermittent water leak in my previous car which was eventually traced to a poorly fitted replacement windscreen (a warranty repair done by main dealer).

My SL has a slight leak at the top of each A pillar , with the hard top fitted ( oddly doesn't leak there with soft top , but soft top now lets dampness soak through even if not any actual drips , need to replace it ) . I'm guessing that rubbers will need changing , but car is now SORN for the winter , and once parked up the drive I'm just going to put a cover over it and air it on nice days . It can wait till spring to be looked at .

 

[richard]

I have just read the workshop info for the W220 S class replacing windscreen. Mercedes document is ar67.10-p-1000m

- I have assumed this is a W220 (although I guess it could be a W140)

It says "Code adaptation of the rain and light sensor amplification factor and select type of windshield" "Engine hood and drivers door must be closed"

When doing this with genuine windscreens you read the code from the part number and put it into Star Diagnosis on the rain / light sensor ECU. This coding is all about the glass type, thickness and tint.

Someone with Star Diagnosis needs to try the various settings to see if any work well with your aftermarket window. If not then you need a Mercedes window and the rain sensor properly adapted.

- Sorry if this is a repeat of above people, but I though having the actual document number and wording may help.

Richard

 

[richard]

PS, if this is a W140, then I wonder if any of the wiring has become damaged so when its all put back together it doesn't quite work,

 

[whitenemesis]

Is this specific to the W220 or would the similar apply to any model?
I ask as I'd guess 99% of replacement screens are likely to be pattern parts. The likes of Autoglass require special authorisation from insurers to use genuine MB screens.

 

[richard]

This is typical all new cars with Rain Sensors and with Cameras that read the road (looking for vehicles for headlights and lines for lane assist etc etc). The last place I had my windscreen done had a computer system to re-code than and the camera that looks at the road (for speed limit assist etc etc) . It wasn't Autoglass, possibly National Windscreens.

Id take a guess that the "generic" systems they have knows about their windscreen properties and what to set

Richard

 

[219]

Mine is a W140 , after looking at a YouTube video , I popped out the rear view mirror then removed the speaker pod , which revealed the rain sensor .

I don’t know that the screen has been changed , if not original, it’s certainly OEM . The branding is exactly the same as the rear screen , which I’ve no reason to suppose has been changed , even if the front and rear screens differ slightly from the double glazed side window panes . The rest of the car is very original and unmolested .

On unplugging the cable , I now have intermittent wipe . I’ve ordered another rain sensor from a breaker to try it , but am not fussed about rain sensing as none of my other cars ever had it and I can turn the wipers on by myself quite easily .

Fitted the hardwire kit for my dashcam while in there , so all good ; if I can find a small speaker to go in the pod then I’ll use it when fitting my carkit , rather than putting the usual one in the footwell ( I still have a couple of Nokia and Bury ones , so hopefully a drive unit out of one of these will fit .

Suspect now the HWW fault is just a motor .

Got brakes done over weekend so now it stops as well as it goes . Then just new horns to fit for MOT .

Only four working days till hols so will get finished over break and on road for New Year .