My wife was in her 2001 LS430 when she claims the "rear view mirror started smoking". Since she was alone she got pretty scared. As it turns out (I think) the rain sensor failed. I pulled it off the windshield and disconnected the cable -- so far no more smoke. I checked and those suckers are expensive. So, I think I'll just go back to the old manual method -- I'm pretty sure I can tell when it's raining

Anyone ever had this happen them?
-gene

 

Maybe ebay you can find one cheap,Never heard of that happening before.

 

I have a spare. Post the part number on it and I can send it to you.

 

Wow that's a first. Never heard of anything like this happening before either. Personally, the auto wipers is one of my favorite everyday features of these cars (in addition to the auto dimming side-view mirrors, which I think should be standard on every car ). Living in the rainy PNW, I get a lot of use out of my auto wipers and it's very handy to not have to be constantly adjusting the wiper control stalk - especially when driving at higher speeds and having to deal with spray from vehicles ahead of you, and then passing them and not having that spray anymore.

 

Can't say I've heard of a sensor failing in this manor. The only time it's ever been a nuisance for me is going into the car wash, and the wipers turn on and wipe the soap off before it's had a chance to loosen any bug/road splatter.. I've finally trained myself to move the wiper stalk up before going into the car wash, so it doesn't automatically come on any longer.

 

Not sure if temperature is part of the problem, but I found this TSB in the manual;ELECTRICAL
EL006-02

June 4, 2002

Title

RAIN SENSOR "FAILSAFE MODE" OPERATION

Models

'01 -'02 LS 430

Introduction

When the temperature of the rain sensor drops below 5°F (-15°C) or rises above 176°F (80°C), or the sensor experiences an internal failure, the wiper operation will default to "Failsafe Mode" if the wiper switch is in the "Auto" position. The sensor logic has been modified to prevent wiper operation during high ambient (heat) conditions when the wiper switch is in the "Auto" position.

Applicable Vehicles^2001 - 2002 model year LS 430 vehicles produced before the VIN shown below.


Production Change Information

Auto Wiper Operation Under "Failsafe Mode"

Parts Information

 

The only problem I've heard of with the rain season is from windshield installers that don't know what they are doing when reinstalling the rain sensor. That seems to happen all the time. Have you had the windshield replaced recently. If so, then I'd make the installer fix the problem.

 

A capacitor probably just let the magic smoke out