Rain-sensing wipers

[mldavis2]

I guess this is a "high tech" feature -- didn't know where to put this.

I'm not familiar with how these automatic wipers sense moisture, but I assume it has something to do with reflection and/or refraction from a sensor on the dash.

I like to use silicone products like Rain-X on my windshield. Does anyone know if Rain-X interferes with the sensor's ability to read moisture? It would seem that if the water is not "sheeting" on the windshield and is beading up instead, that the sensor could be confused.

 

[Luminary]

Mine turned on in just drizzle type rain. I did not even see the rain on the windshield (it was dark still this morning) but the car did, and activated the wipers for me. Love it.

 

[Kazz]

I would like to hear more on how this works myself. Still stuck in some winter misery, they can activate when there is substance(?) on the windshield, but it's not wet enough to actually wipe clean and streaks. I'm sure this is about the chemicals all over the road this time of year. I've also had them activate on a dry windshield when there was a dense fog. I tend to keep them off at this point, to avoid the streaking.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I guess this is a "high tech" feature -- didn't know where to put this.

I'm not familiar with how these automatic wipers sense moisture, but I assume it has something to do with reflection and/or refraction from a sensor on the dash.

I like to use silicone products like Rain-X on my windshield. Does anyone know if Rain-X interferes with the sensor's ability to read moisture? It would seem that if the water is not "sheeting" on the windshield and is beading up instead, that the sensor could be confused.

Good question on "placement" of this topic, @mldavis2. I'm going to move it into the main "Stinger Talk" area as by "technology" - we really mean things like bluetooth, navigation, collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, etcetera. As for whether or not Rain-X interferes with the sensor's ability to read moisture --- that's also a great question... I would say it should NOT - because most rain sensing wiper systems I've experienced activated AS SOON AS rain hit the windshield. I'm not talking about a microscopic dot that you can bearly see - but when it's raining hard enough that you immediately see the rain hit the windshield... So the system would/SHOULD detect the rain drop even before it beads up...

 

[Chris]

...As for whether or not Rain-X interferes with the sensor's ability to read moisture --- that's also a great question... I would say it should NOT - because most rain sensing wiper systems I've experienced activated AS SOON AS rain hit the windshield....

I'm not sure about this, my kids Jeep has auto wipers and the manual specifically states:

Use of Rain-X or products containing wax or silicone
may reduce Rain Sensing performance.​

 

[Falaris]

Rain Sensing Wipers - Wiki

TLDR; The most common modern rain sensors are based on the principle of total internal reflection: an infrared light is beamed at a 45-degree angle into the windshield from the interior — if the glass is wet, less light makes it back to the sensor, and the wipers turn on.

 

[Berzerker]

I've used Rain-X and those type products on every car I've had Rain Sensing Wipers on and have had 0 issues.

 

[mldavis2]

Guess it won't hurt to try. Not a safety issue and the stuff wears off pretty quickly.

 

[Kazz]

When you go looking for windshield washer fluid, you will find some products that claim to act like Rain-X, with water sheeting off, but also explicitly say they won't affect rain-sensing wipers.

 

[mldavis2]

Thanks. Trial and error works as long as it doesn't damage anything. I'll look for such products.

 

[Kazz]

I'm using a product from Prestone. This crap weather has had me run my washer fluid reservoir dry once already!

 

[mldavis2]

I'm using a product from Prestone. This crap weather has had me run my washer fluid reservoir dry once already!

Don't do that. Bad on washer motor ....

 

[Kazz]

Don't do that. Bad on washer motor ....

OK, it wasn't dry, I was exaggerating. But I knew I'd burned through a lot. I emptied almost an entire jug into the washer fluid reservoir...