rain sensors

[crash406]

did not know i had them ? until i looked at golloms sticky on vin numbers says i should have them any ideas how to get working again ??

 

[GregE240]

Well, if you have one its right in the middle of your windscreen at the top.

Dark blue colour, VERY dark, almost black. Thats your rain sensor. If plugged in, it should produce a totally variable wipe on the intermittent setting. Easiest way to test is to switch car on with a damp screen, switch wipers to intermittent then get someone to throw a bucket of water over the screen. The wipe should change to continuous until the screen is clear, when it should stop.

HTH
Greg

PS - the VIN checker has been wrong, you know. It reckons my SL has Bose, and I can assure you it does not.

 

[BonzoDog]

It is one option that, if it were an option I would refuse next time. They come on for the slightest spot and never match the rate with the quantity of water. I would much prefer an intermittent switch.

 

[richard]

Easiest way to test is to switch car on with a damp screen, switch wipers to intermittent then get someone to throw a bucket of water over the screen. The wipe should change to continuous until the screen is clear, when it should stop.

Remember the doors (may just be driver's door) need to be shut for this test. They try not to wipe when they can splash you ...

Richard

 

[BTB 500]

It is one option that, if it were an option I would refuse next time. They come on for the slightest spot and never match the rate with the quantity of water. I would much prefer an intermittent switch.

Hmm ... works well on my R129, hope I don't regret ordering it on my Vito!

 

[Gollom]

Hmm ... works well on my R129, hope I don't regret ordering it on my Vito!

Big problem for me is that if you leave them on intermittent and then get in the car after it has been stood it does not take much water in the sensor area for them to do a quick "sweep" And if there is any grit on the screen you potentially get some nice scratches! Of course you just need to swtich them off when you park, but do we always do that?

 

[BTB 500]

Big problem for me is that if you leave them on intermittent and then get in the car after it has been stood it does not take much water in the sensor area for them to do a quick "sweep" And if there is any grit on the screen you potentially get some nice scratches! Of course you just need to swtich them off when you park, but do we always do that?

Of course a car with ordinary (non-sensor) wipers will do the same if you leave them on!

 

[MBManInKen]

It is one option that, if it were an option I would refuse next time. They come on for the slightest spot and never match the rate with the quantity of water. I would much prefer an intermittent switch.

That's strange, I had sensors on my previous S500 (V140) and on the current one (V220) and they work exceptionally well. Perhaps worth getting them checked out?

One of my cars from the distant past had a thumbwheel for the interval, so you could set it from anything between 1 second to about 15 seconds and that was a fiddle. Prefer the sensors any time.

 

[MBManInKen]

Of course you just need to swtich them off when you park, but do we always do that?

No we don't, so this is a good point. Of course the same happens with an ordinary system, but some way to either warn you to turn it off when turning off the ignition or mechanically reset the swith would be nice.

 

[BTB 500]

One of my cars from the distant past had a thumbwheel for the interval, so you could set it from anything between 1 second to about 15 seconds and that was a fiddle. Prefer the sensors any time.

My VW has the variable intermittent wipe, and whilst it does the job you have to adjust it all the time. The rain-sensitive wipers on my R129 are much more convenient.

 

[MBManInKen]

My VW has the variable intermittent wipe, and whilst it does the job you have to adjust it all the time. The rain-sensitive wipers on my R129 are much more convenient.

Exactly my experience.

 

[BonzoDog]

That's strange, I had sensors on my previous S500 (V140) and on the current one (V220) and they work exceptionally well. Perhaps worth getting them checked out?

One of my cars from the distant past had a thumbwheel for the interval, so you could set it from anything between 1 second to about 15 seconds and that was a fiddle. Prefer the sensors any time.

It's personal choice. Mrs Bonzo likes them and leaves it on all the time. If she ever leaves her car out in the ice and snow it does the motor wrenching, wiper tearing trick in teh morning. My preference is for the thumbwheels.
Mrs Bonzo also likes heated seats, I don't.
Mrs Bonzo leaves the A/C on all the time, I don't.

 

[MBManInKen]

It's personal choice.

That's probably a fair point .

My preference is for the thumbwheels.

But don't you find you have to adjust them all the time. I remember the days and it drove me mad!

Mrs Bonzo leaves the A/C on all the time, I don't.

Aren't modern aircons best left on most of the time? Turning it off for longer periods of times can cause all kinds of problems with the system. Lack of lubrication, moisture built-up and all that.

 

[BonzoDog]

.

But don't you find you have to adjust them all the time. I remember the days and it drove me mad!

It has never occured to me before but I could have a psychotic need to control my environment.

Aren't modern aircons best left on most of the time? Turning it off for longer periods of times can cause all kinds of problems with the system. Lack of lubrication, moisture built-up and all that.

Never considered that. In fact it seems to make little difference to the performance or economy. I could concede that one to Mrs Bonzo

 

[crash406]

just checked

pulled the cap off at the back of the mirror and hey presto the connector is off so now have my rain sensors back wahey and saved my self £60 at the stealers ha ha.. forum is working saved a bloody fortune over the last month or so :bannana: and had a laugh to boot.

 

[Gollom]

pulled the cap off at the back of the mirror and hey presto the connector is off so now have my rain sensors back wahey and saved my self £60 at the stealers ha ha.. forum is working saved a bloody fortune over the last month or so :bannana: and had a laugh to boot.

Hmmmm. Did nobody tell you that advice comes free on here but there is a charge for laughs?

 

[BlackC55]

The sensitivity of the rain sensor on some MB's are adjustable on the star. Just thought you would like to know.