Rain sensor

[miragecy]

Guys,
How do I know that I have rain activated wipers on my C180K? The sensor is there, (you can see it right in front of the RVM, as you're looking at the windscreen), I took the car to the MB dealer and he said yes, my car is equipped with one, I just have to put the setting to I. But everytime I put it on intermittent, the wipers move all the time with dry windscreen. He did it and they didn't move, and I was convinced it was ok, but after I left, I realised the door was open at that time, that's why they seemed ok...
Do I need to activate this function with software?

Thanks,
Andy

 

[fuzzer]

give us a picture of it , are you sure your not getting it mixed up with the light sensor?

The other thing could be that its not connected up , this would cause what your describing. To check , the plastic cover over it kind of just massages off gently from side to side and while pulling away from the screen gently. There is a lip on the top that just goes into the headlining .

in there should be 2 sensors , one for the light and one for the rain. the cables from thse connect to the lighting dome between the drivers and passenger seats. If its a later car , it will have a sensor that looks like lots of LED's all clear on a white background and that is a combined light and rain sensor.

Ive got pictures of all this at home. Im away at the moment , but if you need them i could look them out.

 

[miragecy]

Sorry about the quality of the photo... Took it with my mobile phone and the lighting conditions weren't perfect... Plus, I had to reduce the quality due to upload size problems

Andy

 

[blassberg]

1) my sensor looks differnet - like more of those on the right for the headlight
2) the door is relevant. I think if you start the car with the door open it doesn't do an auto sweep in case it gets you wet. May be a clue in there.

 

[fuzzer]

Sorry about the quality of the photo... Took it with my mobile phone and the lighting conditions weren't perfect... Plus, I had to reduce the quality due to upload size problems

Andy

Doesnt look like youve got one then , sensor thats there is the light sensor.

Only way to be 100% sure is a picture from the rear removing the plastic cover on the windscreen like i described.

The rain sensor is more of a royal blue/ vilot colour than the black. It looks like the plastic blank there to be honest with you

 

[miragecy]

Yeah, that's what I think as well...I don't think I have that sensor...not much of a necessity (especially here, in Cyprus ) but like any other product I buy, I have to know everything about it...that's my character...
Thanks a lot guys, that's why I love this forum...plenty of informative and helpful people!

Andy

 

[Alfie]

Guys,
How do I know that I have rain activated wipers on my C180K? The sensor is there, (you can see it right in front of the RVM, as you're looking at the windscreen), I took the car to the MB dealer and he said yes, my car is equipped with one, I just have to put the setting to I. But everytime I put it on intermittent, the wipers move all the time with dry windscreen. He did it and they didn't move, and I was convinced it was ok, but after I left, I realised the door was open at that time, that's why they seemed ok...
Do I need to activate this function with software?

Thanks,
Andy

As far as I know all W203's had the rain sensor as standard. I suspect from what you say that your sensor is either faulty or dirty. Give the whole area a good clean, turn the switch to I and cover the sensor with your hand. See what happens

Even if you only had intermittent wipe, the wipers should move constantly on 'I'.

 

[Rory]

Hmm - I have a facelift W203 (Oct 04 registered) and that 'appears' to have 2 sensors, but it doesn't have auto wipers.

 

[R2D2]

Hmm - I have a facelift W203 (Oct 04 registered) and that 'appears' to have 2 sensors, but it doesn't have auto wipers.

Nor mine, and the sensor doesnt fit the facelift housing so it cant be added easily to facelift cars.

 

[guydewdney]

punch your VIN into that russian vin decoder and see what it says?

 

[R2D2]

not a rain sensor

 

[richard]

I just have to put the setting to I. But everytime I put it on intermittent, the wipers move all the time with dry windscreen. He did it and they didn't move, and I was convinced it was ok, but after I left, I realised the door was open at that time, that's why they seemed ok...
Do I need to activate this function with software?
Thanks,
Andy

If its "working" when you first move it to intermittent it does one wipe, and if you leave it there, and turn on the car, it will do one wipe (often on a dry windscreen, to annoy you and wear out the wiper blad)

If the sensor is disconnected, then when you put it in intermittent, it behaves just like it is doesnt have a rain sensor, i.e it goes every few seconds, and not all the time

When the door is open, the intermittent wipe is stopped so the person getting out doesnt get wet !!

So, it sounds like something is wrong with the sensor, but it isnt disconnected. Get the dealer to try it by spraying water on the sensor with the door closed

Since its under warranty - be firm !!

Cheers

Richard

 

[fuzzer]

W203 doesnt have a rain sensor as standard , and never has.

The picture posted is the light sensor , its always been circa £100 as a cost option

 

[miragecy]

W203 doesnt have a rain sensor as standard , and never has.

The picture posted is the light sensor , its always been circa £100 as a cost option

Yes, I don't think I have the rain sensor.

Andy

 

[Rory]

It's surprising that my sensor arrangement appears different to Andy's (miragecy).

His seems to have the sensors offset to one side? (The thing at the top of the picture is - yet another - stone chip).

 

[fuzzer]

It's surprising that my sensor arrangement appears different to Andy's (miragecy).

His seems to have the sensors offset to one side?

Thats because your car is a facelift one. On the pre facelift , they just blanked the second sensor off because it was a 2 box solution. Now that they have integrated the light and rain sensor into one box , they centralise the sensor. Its the same style rain sensor on a W211 E class as it is the facelift c class.

 

[Alfie]

W203 doesnt have a rain sensor as standard , and never has.

The picture posted is the light sensor , its always been circa £100 as a cost option

I've bought two W203's, one from new the other from my father in-law who bought it new. Both had the rain sensor on as standard, i can assure you.

 

[GrahamC230K]

I've never bought any w203's and can assure you of nothing (where's that joke about replying on forums with an introduction about your qualification's first?).

Anyway, I thought w203's (earlier ones at least, can't comment at all on the latest breed) came with the rain sensor itself, in terms of the hardware, but it wasn't necesserilly coded to work, hence was an option.

 

[andy_cyp]

Yes, I don't think I have the rain sensor.

Andy

You have pm.

 

[nigel cross]

When I bought mine from the Stealership I was told it had one. But i could not get it to work, took it in to the stealers to have it fixed, they informed me that it wasn't installed. Tried to argue the toss and it got me nowhere.