Wiper Operation Question
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 36
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From: CA
Wiper Operation Question
I'm hoping someone can help me figure out how to use the wipers in this car. I've looked at another thread about rain sensing wirpes and didn't really find the answer, the instruction manual wasn't much help either. I almost feel stupid for asking, but here goes.
Is there such a thing as intermittent wipers or is the only option rain sensing mode?
I was looking at page 195 of the manual and it says intermittent windshield operation is the setting that looks like a wiper on a windshield with three dashes above the image. Thing is, I don't have that, instead I have "auto" which suggests rain sensing wipers right? So then, if I only have rain sensing wipers and no intermittent option, the rotating **** on the stalk becomes the sensitivity setting for the rain senor according to the manual. However, when it rains, and I have it set to auto, the wipers operate the exact same regardless of the sensitivity setting. For example, at 30 mph at the same rain level, sensitivity low or high results in the same speed and interval of wiper movement.
Am i doning something wrong? Is something wrong with my car/sensor? Is there a way to set my own interval if I only have the "auto" function without pushing the stalk up each time for one time operation?
Thanks!
Is there such a thing as intermittent wipers or is the only option rain sensing mode?
I was looking at page 195 of the manual and it says intermittent windshield operation is the setting that looks like a wiper on a windshield with three dashes above the image. Thing is, I don't have that, instead I have "auto" which suggests rain sensing wipers right? So then, if I only have rain sensing wipers and no intermittent option, the rotating **** on the stalk becomes the sensitivity setting for the rain senor according to the manual. However, when it rains, and I have it set to auto, the wipers operate the exact same regardless of the sensitivity setting. For example, at 30 mph at the same rain level, sensitivity low or high results in the same speed and interval of wiper movement.
Am i doning something wrong? Is something wrong with my car/sensor? Is there a way to set my own interval if I only have the "auto" function without pushing the stalk up each time for one time operation?
Thanks!
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,582
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From: San Francisco, CA
you are right in that cars with the rain sensing wipers lose the intermittent function. the rain sensing is the intermittent. the rotating **** is the sensitivity, but it should make a difference.
If you try to drive at a steady speed and have it on the highest sensitivity setting, the wipers should be wiping at a faster rate than on the lowest setting, maybe even on marginally. the reality is that even with the lowest wiper setting, it is still going to wipe rather quickly if it is raining hard because it wont let visibility suffer. this is the only way to change sensitivity.
If you try to drive at a steady speed and have it on the highest sensitivity setting, the wipers should be wiping at a faster rate than on the lowest setting, maybe even on marginally. the reality is that even with the lowest wiper setting, it is still going to wipe rather quickly if it is raining hard because it wont let visibility suffer. this is the only way to change sensitivity.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 390
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From: OR
You might want to have someone with a hose spray water on the windshield (using different rates of water pressure) and then change the sensitivity setting to see if it changes the wiper movement rate/pattern (while not driving of course!).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: MA
vtec26, I see you are one of the few lucky owners with the rain sensing wiper option. If I had a choice, I would not have bought that option, I had much more control on the old fashion intermittent wiper than I do with these rain sensing wiper. The sensitivity adjustment does not have much range in it, speed makes a bigger difference than the sensitivity setting. The problem with that is when I am at a red light, the wiper is either stop or have too much dead time, I need to do a manual wipe some times to see when I am going. Other times, the rain sensing wiper just do not operate the way I would like it to and there is no override in the system. Some technologies are simply not ready for the prime time or not really an improvement over the old, this is one of them.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,838
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From: GA
you are right in that cars with the rain sensing wipers lose the intermittent function. the rain sensing is the intermittent. the rotating **** is the sensitivity, but it should make a difference.
If you try to drive at a steady speed and have it on the highest sensitivity setting, the wipers should be wiping at a faster rate than on the lowest setting, maybe even on marginally. the reality is that even with the lowest wiper setting, it is still going to wipe rather quickly if it is raining hard because it wont let visibility suffer. this is the only way to change sensitivity.
If you try to drive at a steady speed and have it on the highest sensitivity setting, the wipers should be wiping at a faster rate than on the lowest setting, maybe even on marginally. the reality is that even with the lowest wiper setting, it is still going to wipe rather quickly if it is raining hard because it wont let visibility suffer. this is the only way to change sensitivity.
They work well and I'm glad I have them.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: MA
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 354
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From: Florida
Of course, this is what the setting looks like on the 350. I'm not sure if the 450h is different.
Personally, the rains-sensing wipers are one of my favorite things on the RX. Had it on my '07 RX, and it was a must have for me on the 2010. I just set it and forget it.
The only time I have to help the wipers along is if I get a very light drizzle of rain that for some reason makes the wipers a little slow to react. But other than that, they work like a charm. Whenever I drive a rental car on a trip or whatever, I end up missing my rain-sensing wipers.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: PA
They must have changed things by the time they got around to making my 450h (october 2010 purchase date). The top is a spring return 1 time wipe, next is off. Next is rain sensing, and the last two are low and high speed. I do not have intermittent on my vehicle.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: MA
Thats correct, the O position is off. No intermittent wiper on our RX450h either.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2009
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From: GA
Pole Position
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 26
From: GA
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,582
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From: San Francisco, CA
yes, the RX comes standard with that, but when you replace it with the rain sensing, they disappear. If you look at the window sticker of your car, it will still say "9 speaker stereo system" even though you upgraded to the 12 or ML.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: NJ
Same could be said for the dynamic laser cruise control and auto high beams. They only work in the enhanced mode.
The rain sensing wipers work great. In fact I think they're more sensitive than before. Lots of settings too. The only exception is a light mist. A quick swipe usually gets it going for me.
The rain sensing wipers work great. In fact I think they're more sensitive than before. Lots of settings too. The only exception is a light mist. A quick swipe usually gets it going for me.