Rain Sensing Wipers

[uuf361]

I have worked out that my car has rain sensing wipers (thought it did due to the auto lights and the sensor behind the mirror).

However, they seem to have a mind of their own and I wonder if I'm the only one to have experienced this ?

I know they were an early version being 2003 so not expecting them to be as good as some later cars I've owned, but I can't seem to get them to work properly so after a bit of advice from those experienced with them.

I put the stalk up to the position and move the toggle switch up either one or two clicks and this seems to get them working (which I assume is increasing the sensitivity) but they either seem to come on not frequently enough or almost all the time - am I doing something wrong ?

 

[Half Colin]

Those on my Coupe work fine but I've had that problem on our Ford Kuga - working intermittently and not in relation to the amount of rain on the screen. It was the actual sensor coming loose from the back of the windscreen. Sticking it back with superglue sorted it. If you take the plastic cover off behind the mirror you should see the sensor.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Those on my Coupe work fine but I've had that problem on our Ford Kuga - working intermittently and not in relation to the amount of rain on the screen. It was the actual sensor coming loose from the back of the windscreen. Sticking it back with superglue sorted it. If you take the plastic cover off behind the mirror you should see the sensor.

Good shout Mine is a bit intermittent too and I can see that it looked like something was peeling off on the windscreen. I shall take a look. Incidentally, I have an S-Max as my daily drive, and the rain sensing wipers are awful too.

 

[markeg]

just leave mine on permanent as its always raining here............

 

[Stuart Truman]

just leave mine on permanent as its always raining here............

Shhhhh! The coupe owners will be along with smart arsed comments if you say stuff like that!

 

[Half Colin]

Those on my Coupe work fine but I've had that problem on our Ford Kuga - working intermittently and not in relation to the amount of rain on the screen. It was the actual sensor coming loose from the back of the windscreen. Sticking it back with superglue sorted it. If you take the plastic cover off behind the mirror you should see the sensor.

Good shout Mine is a bit intermittent too and I can see that it looked like something was peeling off on the windscreen. I shall take a look. Incidentally, I have an S-Max as my daily drive, and the rain sensing wipers are awful too.

Yeah - long story but I took it into the Ford garage to sort as it was under warranty (Ford Direct) and first they said it would be a new windscreen @ £800 as the sensor bracket had come loose then they said they could stick it back but it wasn't covered by warranty as it was classed as trim and it would cost me £80. Thanks very much but I'll do it myself!

 

[Stuart Truman]

Hmm. Mine is also Ford Direct!

 

[Rich-hill]

If I leave mine in the auto position they will work, but if I turn the car off then on, they won't work again unless I change the sensitivity switch or re toggle it to auto, then they are fine again...

 

[Stromtech]

If I leave mine in the auto position they will work, but if I turn the car off then on, they won't work again unless I change the sensitivity switch or re toggle it to auto, then they are fine again...

That is exactly how mine work...I would prefer they remain active when I restart but I don't think it's an option

 

[srhutch]

If I leave mine in the auto position they will work, but if I turn the car off then on, they won't work again unless I change the sensitivity switch or re toggle it to auto, then they are fine again...

That is exactly how mine work...I would prefer they remain active when I restart but I don't think it's an option

It's a safety feature, if they came on automatically in the winter it could damage the blades/mech if they had frozen to the screen.

 

[srhutch]

These is a known issue on these where a bubble appears which screws them up. It's a DIY job, but don't think I would risk super glue.

Somebody did a how to on here, think it may have been A11y

 

[Cassie-UK]

If I leave mine in the auto position they will work, but if I turn the car off then on, they won't work again unless I change the sensitivity switch or re toggle it to auto, then they are fine again...

That is exactly how mine work...I would prefer they remain active when I restart but I don't think it's an option

It's a safety feature, if they came on automatically in the winter it could damage the blades/mech if they had frozen to the screen.

Or if going through a car wash :wink:

 

[uuf361]

In the light rain last night they didn't want to play fair again - think I either have an issue or the sensor is just a bit rubbish - but sure I can live with it......

 

[Bing]

Or if going through a car wash :wink:

Naughty girl

 

[LeeME3]

Could also be the moderately common probelm with oil and grease getting on the motor and pinion gears and breaking the contacts. There's a 'how to' in here somewhere on how to strip and clean it - this will also sometimes cause them to park in the wrong place.

ETA: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=15283&hilit=wipers

 

[uuf361]

Way beyond my technical capabilities........

 

[Cassie-UK]

:

Or if going through a car wash :wink:

Naughty girl

nah, I wouldn't do that with my sweet baby. I just read it somewhere!

 

[uuf361]

So, I took a photo of my sensor and it doesn't look........hopefully you can see it below..

the 'tinting' doesn't look even along the bottom and there appears to be something in the main screen bit at the top (the 3 blobs), which I guess is the source of my challenges...

Any suggestions on a fix ?

 

[Half Colin]

That's how my Kuga looked. The sensor has come away from the windscreen at the top. The sensor has a gel like surface that makes an airtight seal with the glass and looks like the lower portion in your photo. The upper part looks like there is air between the glass and the sensor.

Edit: just looked at mine and it should look like the bottom part of your photo all over.

 

[uuf361]

Thanks for checking and the info......

Can anyone point me to a 'How to.....' guide to getting it apart and resealing ?