Rain Sensing Wipers
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Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 120
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From: San Francisco
2005 E-500
Rain Sensing Wipers
I have had a couple of incidents where my rain sensing wipers were activated when it was not raining. Today, I actually had to turn the wipers to the "off" position to halt the wipers.
Have any of you had this experience. My forum search did not locate any similiar stories. Today I received by J D Powers questionaire for Initial Quality Study. This issue may have to added.
The wipers are quite (unlike some others), but I don't want them to operate in the sun.
Have any of you had this experience. My forum search did not locate any similiar stories. Today I received by J D Powers questionaire for Initial Quality Study. This issue may have to added.
The wipers are quite (unlike some others), but I don't want them to operate in the sun.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 314
Likes: 10
From: In the shadow of D.C. (No.Va.)
'05 E320CDI, 1987 300E, Vanagon Syncro, Turbo Arrow III
Originally Posted by larryssf
I have had a couple of incidents where my rain sensing wipers were activated when it was not raining. Today, I actually had to turn the wipers to the "off" position to halt the wipers.
Have any of you had this experience. My forum search did not locate any similiar stories. Today I received by J D Powers questionaire for Initial Quality Study. This issue may have to added.
The wipers are quite (unlike some others), but I don't want them to operate in the sun.
Have any of you had this experience. My forum search did not locate any similiar stories. Today I received by J D Powers questionaire for Initial Quality Study. This issue may have to added.
The wipers are quite (unlike some others), but I don't want them to operate in the sun.
That having been said, I have found them to quite adequately modulate the wipers. On days when it has rained and stopped, the wipers have all but shut off completely.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
17 E220D, 11 E350 CDI(sold), 06 CLS320 CDI (sold), 05 Cadillac DeVille (gone), 04 E320 CDI (sold)
I've had a couple of times where this has happened, when the windshield is dirty, especially dusty. I guess the sensors just know there's something there, not necessarily water. Depending on my mood, I either turn them off or squirt the washer.
I think it would be a bit rough to downgrade the quality survey for something like this. Unless, of course, it is just a faulty sensor or something, in which case go for it!
I think it would be a bit rough to downgrade the quality survey for something like this. Unless, of course, it is just a faulty sensor or something, in which case go for it!
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
E55 AMG Black/Black
The "auto" feature if for when there is actually rain and you want the rain sensor to control the frequency of wiping.
Its not designed to be left on all the time.
The rain sensors dont actually detect rain, but rather reflections from the rain droplets. Apparently, in hot weather, certain reflections can trigger the wipers to wipe.. if left in the AUTO mode.
Well, atleast this is what i've been told by the technician.
Its not designed to be left on all the time.
The rain sensors dont actually detect rain, but rather reflections from the rain droplets. Apparently, in hot weather, certain reflections can trigger the wipers to wipe.. if left in the AUTO mode.
Well, atleast this is what i've been told by the technician.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, UK
211 E320 CDI
The sensor consists of a transmitter and receiver (infra-red, I think). The transmitter sends a beam of light out through the glass that is reflected back of the front "skin" of the glass into the receiver (remember light in prisms in scool physics?). On the MB, it looks like there is a bank of transmitters and receivers for more accurate assessment of the rain "situation". When the glass is clear of rain drops, all of the light beam is reflected back; when it rains, the droplets of water on the front skin of the glass effectively destroy the nice flat reflecting surface by making it "bubbly". In this situation, very little of the light makes it back to the recievers as most of it is scattered by the curved inner surface of the rain drop and so a signal is sent to the wipers to give a sweep. If more droplets fall, etc. etc.
I think the most likely cause of incorrect swipes would be stray light entering at the correct angle to be picked up by the receivers; for screen contamination to trigger the wipers, it would really have to be something that "bonded" to the windscreen in the same way as water does (such as tree sap, as I have found)
I think the most likely cause of incorrect swipes would be stray light entering at the correct angle to be picked up by the receivers; for screen contamination to trigger the wipers, it would really have to be something that "bonded" to the windscreen in the same way as water does (such as tree sap, as I have found)
Last edited by prprandall51; Apr 5, 2005 at 01:29 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Use this feature only when it is raining/drizeling. If you leave it on all the time (like the auto headlights on feature) & you go to a car wash, they will turn on and, what will come out the other end of the car wash will be expensive to repair!
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