A couple of weeks ago, when I was clearing the snow off my car with the engine running and the wipers off, I noticed something neat. The snow had melted just on the glass in front of the rain sensor!




I think I had turned on the front de-icer but not the windshield defroster. But there are no heating elements in the rain sensor glass. Then I realized that the rain sensor uses infrared rays to detect raindrops (see below). Perhaps, these rays were sufficient to heat that tiny spot of glass to the point of melting the snow. What do you think??

 

I knew they used iR to detect water but I never thought it’d produce enough heat to melt some snow!

 

True, but I can’t think of an alternative explanation for the snow melting in that spot!

 

Sounds like a good theory to me!

 

Thanks!
I think the snow layer was just the right amount to melt and clear that spot. And I usually clear the snow on the windshield first, so haven't had an opportunity to notice this previously.