haVesoV777

ok so you all know that the windshield wiper switch has 3 settings: slow, medium, fast...whenever i put it on the slow setting, it wipes it once then doesnt work anymore..but the medium and fast setting work fine. any ideas guys?

xexpo

1st position is the rain sensor activation and the frequency of wipe depends on how much water is on the windshield.

haVesoV777

regardless how much water there is on the windshield, it doesnt go off..nothings coming to mind for what it could be from..better yet, would you happen to know where the sensor is? ill go try dumping some water directly on it to see if it turns on

QuadBenz

The sensor is at the very top middle of the windshield in front of the rearview mirror.

xexpo

Have you tested this in actual rain with car running and shifter is either on N or D?
I think the rain sensor will not activate if the door is open or the shifter is on P.

hegar817

I have the same issue, wipers will cycle about 4-5 times or sometimes even just once and stop. Even if it is water or rain is puouring they will not work. Slow and fast seetings work fine.

haVesoV777

ive tried everything..even while driving with heavy rain, it still doesnt wipe more than once..

any mechanics on this forum??

CarboyS

Same here. Sorry to bring back up an old thread, but I now have similar problems, sometimes with the wipers stopping in the middle of the windshield.

hegar817

Im still trying to find an answer to this myself.

CarboyS

Have you had any dealer or independent shop diagnosis it?

CarboyS

Have you had any dealer or independent shop diagnosis it?

mosdefSBhebha

i have the same issue when i have the swith @ position i, although it is not a consistant problem. sometimes the wipers work perfectly on that position sometimes they don't. the other positions are fine no issues. i think it is the sensor......


S500 05

CarboyS

That's the only thing I can think of..the sensor. I'm just too afraid of spending money to fix that and find that isn't it. The problem is a lot more consistent with my car and when turning them off, it takes a couple switches from on and off to have the wipers rest at the lowest possible position.

This is frustrating...it's really hard to demostrate considering we don't have rain to our power.

So far it's mode 1 (automatic) being really sensitive. It wipes nearly every 2 seconds in light rain, eventually stopping in the middle or end of windshield.

mosdefSBhebha

yeah i have the same issue trying to switch off the wipers. i aslo realized that sometimes when i start the car the wipers will run twice when the switch is off.

Nardulli

My 2003 S 600 has this same problem. The first notch is supposed to be 'intermittent" mode, based on data from the rain / light sensor. (Located in the base or under the base of the rear view mirror). I think it has to be either 1) the rain sensor or 2) the switch itself. I ordered a new sensor from Pelican Parts... will let you know if that solves it.

CarboyS

I'm looking forward to it; how much does the sensor cost anyway?

Nardulli

From Pelican: 221-870-00-92-M22 $119.25 1 $119.25 Light and Rain Sensor for Automatic Headlamps and Windshield Wipers Brand: Genuine Mercedes Note: Located on inside rearview mirror., 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 Sedan

ejack

Hello:

I'm sorry to hear about your recurring elusive problem. I'm not sure of the correct solution. However, prior to investing in a new sensor you might choose
to speak with an MB service manager about recalibration or re-initialization of your current sensor. I've had mine recalibrated. Unfortunately I don't drive the vehicle often enough to attest to the effectiveness of the repair.

Good Luck

CarboyS

Any updates, Nardulli?

Nardulli

Hey all. I finally replaced that rain / light sensor. Problem is resolved. Very simple procedure. No tools required except for a small screwdriver to pull back the small plastic tabs that hold the thing in. Simply grasp the mirror with two hands, and apply even downward pressure. Mirror unfastens and you can lower it enough to easily get at the sensor. Literally - 10 minute job, 5 of which were consumed by me worrying about yanking on that mirror.

S600Keith

Welcome to the world of Do-it-yourself! Congrats on the fix and thanks for sharing with the next guy.

K

Zorgos

Hello, I run in to some kind of strange problem with my 430CLK 2000
wiper always been working, rain sensor worked, not perfect but it did. so on rainy day on first position its kind of detected the water on windshield and wiped it out. but few days ago problem started. I was driving on nice dry day and just decided to wash my windshield from the dust. press that handle, water sprayed on the windshield but wiper did not turn on. so i did twisted the switch between 3 positions back and force and then one of a sadden its started working. So yesterday it was raining and was impossible to drive with out wiper. So i do turn to first position noting, second same, third same. start going back and force, alleluia it works. wiped few times and then stopped on the bottom of passengers side. then wipe wipe and right position. because i had to park and turn off car few times i had to go through this hell every time i was about to drive. so when i just try to tern wiper on first time and switch to the 1st position i see how wiper sort of jump a bit but does not go any ware. so if i do flick in between 0 and 1st its jumps few times and then start working. But today when its start raining while i was driving i try same trick, i've seen it jump as yesterday but it did not start working. Can any one tell me what may be the problem ?

ibeforreal

Zorgos, you might need to reset your wipers. There is a thread on here somewhere about sitting in the car an have someone pour bucket of water on the windshield. I don't remember exactly how the procedure works. You might want to check in the "start here" at the top of the forum.

Fermin Grajales

I am having same issue 2002 S430.
Wipers stop in different places on windshield.
Sometimes, when I start the car, the wipers do 1 swipe. Anyone that can help me please?

Adam Walker

I just bought an S430 2004 and today it rained on my second day of joy.
Wipers behaved exactly as described in various messages in this thread.
Randomly stopping on the screen anywhere and requiring several on-off-on-off switching to get it restarted.

I will test if it's the sensor. I saw on youtube a video that disconnects the sensor. To my logic, if you disconnect the sensor and the wipers revert to intermittent and dont repeat the random stopping then it probably confirms that the sensor or a component related to it is the cause.

Here is the video:
Adam