I own a 2002 LS430. How is the rain sensor supposed to work?

 

The wiper stalk moves from up to down in several positions that change its mode of operation. I think first position down from off mode (full up position) on the wiper stalk is auto mode.

In auto mode the wipers will run based on the amount of rain landing on the glass that is in front of the rain sensor. The rain sensor is at the top center of windshield right in front of the rear view mirror. The sensor will adjust speed and duration of wipers based on the amount of rain that it senses falling on the glass immediately in front of the sensor. On my car the system works amazingly well - I never have to touch or adjust the wipers. Some folks thta have had windshields replaced have had problems with the rain sensor working right afterwards - particularly if non-OEM glass was used or the sensor was not reinstalled correctly onto the new glass.

 

put the wiper stalk in auto mode, and this will enable the rain sensor operation, you will notice a slider around the stalk aswell,

According to the manual it states :

There are 3 settings

"AUTO" Position : automatic operation
The Wiper speed is determined by the amount of raindrops and sunlight detected by the windshield sensor and the vehicle speed.
"LO" Position : Low Speed Operation
"HI" Hi Speed Operation
Twist the automatic control adjuster in the "-" direction to lower the sensitivity, and the "+" direction to adjust the sensitivity.

 

it senses rain, and it works.

 

Learn something new every day about this car.

This is the first time I have become aware of a sensitivity control for the rain sensing automatic control. This coming from the guy that keeps telling everyone to read their manual!

Thanks

 

Thanks, everyone. I didn't realize the 'intermittent' setting was partly controlled by the rain sensor and only partly controlled by a timer (sensitivity "-" "+").