How can you tell if you have this option?

Yesterday, I found something out that amazed me. When I put my wiper on intermittent....it automatically went to normal run when the rain was pouring out and went back to intermittent when it stopped raining.

Is this normal?

Anyway, I am happy....

 

The wipers are speed sensitive too, so when yor car reach a certain speed it will be in normal run mode. You can test it out by using a garden hose. Put the wiper in the intermittent mode while park with your car on, the wiper should not move. Spary some water near the area of the rear view mirror and the wiper should activite.

 

Cool, I will try it. Is that the area where the sensor is? I thought it was in the bottom of the windshield, hence replacement of the glass is critical...

 

The rain sensor is about the size of a deck of cards (about half as thick) above and behind the rear-view mirror. It works by shining IR light up through the glass and reading the "backscatter" from raindrops present on the exterior. The + - control on the wiper stalk gives you four different sensitivity settings.

A quick check on its operation - with the wiper stalk in the first position below the "off" setting, spray a little water on the windshield over the sensor - or just give the rear-view mirror a yank. The wipers should cycle.

 

You don't even have to put water on the windshield. Just bump the sensor with your hand and the wipers will activate. Happens all the time when my wife has to adjust the rearview mirror after I've driven the car.

 

Something new learned again.

 

Is there a way to leave the auto-sensor wipers on, but NOT be activated by adjusting the rear view mirror? My concern is that on a dry windshield, wipers can scratch the glass. Thanks.

 

Just adjust the mirror a little slower. If I grab it and pitch it into position the wipers go off. If I move it gently the wipers stay put.

 

Thanks very much, I'll check it out.

 

I personally am not very fond of this option. While it works fine in the rain, being from Canada, I find it it not very helpful in the snow and I sent to have to move the wiper control arm from off to on just to get it to cycle properly. I would have rather had a traditional manual control for this option.