Intermittent wipers not working
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
2017 Mercedes S550 4Matic, 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 4Matic
Intermittent wipers not working
My intermittent wipers do not seem to operate very well. When it is misty raining then the rain stops, the intermittent speed remains about every 5 to 6 second intervals. Does your's cut off completely after there is no rain? My Ford F Pickup truck has a better 6 stage interval washer system. Is mine just not operating right?
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 101
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From: Santa Cruz, CA
'03 E320
I had trouble getting used to the rain sensor intermittent wipers. When it stops raining, they will still actuate when windshield is splashed with road water from other cars. But with dry road and no rain they stop completely. In fact, I sometimes forget to turn them off, and when the rain resumes, they start back up.
Question, you mention that you have Command Navigation - is this installed or on order?
Question, you mention that you have Command Navigation - is this installed or on order?
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
Strange....
I noticed something strange the other day. I have not tried the wipers since I've taken ownership and so when I was washing my car, I decided to start it, activate the rain sensor (wiper position 1) and spray water on the windscreen with the hose to simulate rain.
To my surprise, the wipers didn't move!! I thought I had a stuffed rain sensor. However, when I got my sister to sit in the driver's seat, they worked fine! Varying in speed according to the water from the hose.
Anyone noticed this? Perhaps via the weight sensors in the seat, the same ones that determine how the airbags should inflate?
Hmm.....
To my surprise, the wipers didn't move!! I thought I had a stuffed rain sensor. However, when I got my sister to sit in the driver's seat, they worked fine! Varying in speed according to the water from the hose.
Anyone noticed this? Perhaps via the weight sensors in the seat, the same ones that determine how the airbags should inflate?
Hmm.....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,110
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
MB
Re: Strange....
Originally posted by ICY
I noticed something strange the other day. I have not tried the wipers since I've taken ownership and so when I was washing my car, I decided to start it, activate the rain sensor (wiper position 1) and spray water on the windscreen with the hose to simulate rain.
To my surprise, the wipers didn't move!! I thought I had a stuffed rain sensor. However, when I got my sister to sit in the driver's seat, they worked fine! Varying in speed according to the water from the hose.
Anyone noticed this? Perhaps via the weight sensors in the seat, the same ones that determine how the airbags should inflate?
Hmm.....
I noticed something strange the other day. I have not tried the wipers since I've taken ownership and so when I was washing my car, I decided to start it, activate the rain sensor (wiper position 1) and spray water on the windscreen with the hose to simulate rain.
To my surprise, the wipers didn't move!! I thought I had a stuffed rain sensor. However, when I got my sister to sit in the driver's seat, they worked fine! Varying in speed according to the water from the hose.
Anyone noticed this? Perhaps via the weight sensors in the seat, the same ones that determine how the airbags should inflate?
Hmm.....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 1
From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
I don't know if MB has improved rain-sensing wipers since the '02 C240, but I disabled mine by pulling a plug inside the plastic housing on the windshield. Now I get 1 wipe every 5 seconds when set to the first wiper setting. Before, I would sometimes get too much or too little wiping action.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
2017 Mercedes S550 4Matic, 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 4Matic
responding to Briar
No I am one of many still waiting on Command but I am looking forward to playing with it whenever it comes.
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 285
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From: Ohio
2003 E320
So far the only bad thing happens in intermittemt mode when there is dirt on the windshield. Rain sensor cannot tell water from dirt and runs wipers non-stop. I had to turn wipers off.
The manual mentioned something about priming brakes periodically when wipers are on.
The manual mentioned something about priming brakes periodically when wipers are on.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 136
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From: Bal Harbour, FL
E500W '03, Porsche Cayman S '06
Rain Sensor under top center of the windshield
You'll find what I believe is the rain sensor behind the front top center of the windshield/windscreen where the rearview mirror housing covers the glass from the inside.
I could be wrong though.
I could be wrong though.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 1
From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
Re: Rain Sensor under top center of the windshield
Originally posted by jabo
You'll find what I believe is the rain sensor behind the front top center of the windshield/windscreen where the rearview mirror housing covers the glass from the inside.
I could be wrong though.
You'll find what I believe is the rain sensor behind the front top center of the windshield/windscreen where the rearview mirror housing covers the glass from the inside.
I could be wrong though.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
My car hasn't seen rain either....I wish it would. I want to test the wipers/rain sensor, handling in the wet, tyre noise etc.
This drought in Australia isn't letting it happen though. Of course, I'd rather it rain to soak the land than to test my rain sensor...
This drought in Australia isn't letting it happen though. Of course, I'd rather it rain to soak the land than to test my rain sensor...
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 454
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From: NC
'03 Mercedes E320
MB actually enhanced the rain sensors (behind rear view mirror) on the E Class this year by increasing the number of sensors to 4. You can see the jeweled "eyes" there. Older models had a smaller sensing area--1 or 2, I believe, in recalling my '01 C. ('Learned at a MB OnTrack event from the E Class product presenter from MB HQ.)
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 314
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From: Oakville, Ont., Canada
2009 ML320 CDi Bluetec
Worse than in the C320
Originally posted by jim256
MB actually enhanced the rain sensors (behind rear view mirror) on the E Class this year by increasing the number of sensors to 4. You can see the jeweled "eyes" there. Older models had a smaller sensing area--1 or 2, I believe, in recalling my '01 C. ('Learned at a MB OnTrack event from the E Class product presenter from MB HQ.)
MB actually enhanced the rain sensors (behind rear view mirror) on the E Class this year by increasing the number of sensors to 4. You can see the jeweled "eyes" there. Older models had a smaller sensing area--1 or 2, I believe, in recalling my '01 C. ('Learned at a MB OnTrack event from the E Class product presenter from MB HQ.)
Michael
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Ocean Isle Beach, NC
2017 Mercedes S550 4Matic, 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 4Matic
Do your intermittents cut off when the rain stops?
My intermittents never cut off even when the rain stops. The slowest they go is at an interval of 5.5 to 6.5 seconds. What is the slowest your wipers go, and do they cut off completely when the rain stops? It sounds like most peoples' do.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 304
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From: San Clemente, CA
2003 E-500
We had a lot of rain last week here in southern CA and my wipers worked well on the intermittent mode when the rain was coming down steady-either light or heavy. However, if the windshield was wet and you would stop at a light, they would sometimes stop entirely and be slow to respond properly after you started up. I found that, if you pushed in on the stalk to get at least one swipe of the wipers, they would then function OK.
I believe this might be caused by the rain sheeting on the windshield when you stop and not appearing as individual drops to the sensor behind the rear view mirror.
Overall, however, I was satisfied with the intermittent wiper function.
I believe this might be caused by the rain sheeting on the windshield when you stop and not appearing as individual drops to the sensor behind the rear view mirror.
Overall, however, I was satisfied with the intermittent wiper function.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 314
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From: Oakville, Ont., Canada
2009 ML320 CDi Bluetec
Originally posted by Double Eagle
...if the windshield was wet and you would stop at a light, they would sometimes stop entirely and be slow to respond properly after you started up. I found that, if you pushed in on the stalk to get at least one swipe of the wipers, they would then function OK.
...if the windshield was wet and you would stop at a light, they would sometimes stop entirely and be slow to respond properly after you started up. I found that, if you pushed in on the stalk to get at least one swipe of the wipers, they would then function OK.
Mike
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 304
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From: San Clemente, CA
2003 E-500
I realize they are supposed to slow down when you are stopped but they would sometimes stop entirely and then not start up when I moved after the stop, even with considerable rain hitting the windshield. After I gave the stalk a push in for one swing of the wiper, they then operated properly--speeding up or slowing down depending on rain amount.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 314
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From: Oakville, Ont., Canada
2009 ML320 CDi Bluetec
Yes, I understand now. Indeed they do that for me sometimes too. The autodetect on my 2001 C320 worked much better.
But it must be a software error, so hopefully we will see a fix soon.
Michael
But it must be a software error, so hopefully we will see a fix soon.
Michael
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: London
W213 E220 2017
Rain Sensor Issues
I have a w211, all was working fine then I noticed my rain sensor was not cleaning the scrren properly, there was a delay in cleaning the rain on the screen, I had purchased new wipers from mercedes which really clean well, so i decided to do some trouble shooting,
I knew when driving through the tunnell the light came on all ok. I noticed the satnav is on auto setting for the brightness, when driving one day it became dim.
I removed the sensor and tried the wipers it works fine with 5 sec delay after each wipe on position 1.
So now removed the sensor cleaned the wind screen from out side, cleaned the lens from inside and gave the sensor a blow to remove any dust. I have put it back in and checking these days, but i think the rain sensor should kick in a 1 or 2 seconds early than normal, I can see there is enough rain on the windscreen before the sensor kicks in.
Please advise.
Thanks
Harry
I knew when driving through the tunnell the light came on all ok. I noticed the satnav is on auto setting for the brightness, when driving one day it became dim.
I removed the sensor and tried the wipers it works fine with 5 sec delay after each wipe on position 1.
So now removed the sensor cleaned the wind screen from out side, cleaned the lens from inside and gave the sensor a blow to remove any dust. I have put it back in and checking these days, but i think the rain sensor should kick in a 1 or 2 seconds early than normal, I can see there is enough rain on the windscreen before the sensor kicks in.
Please advise.
Thanks
Harry
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,632
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Correct, center windshield accessed by unclipping cover @ rearview mirror. If attempting to remove, be careful not to damage lens mounted inside windshield. PM email address if you want instructions.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: London
W213 E220 2017
w211 sensor
Hi
Thanks for the pics,
Please read my statment above,
I have removed and fixed it
I need to reset it so its it cleans the screen
At the moment it cleans when there is too much rain on the screen
Thanks
Netwalla
Thanks for the pics,
Please read my statment above,
I have removed and fixed it
I need to reset it so its it cleans the screen
At the moment it cleans when there is too much rain on the screen
Thanks
Netwalla
