Rain Sensing Automatic Wipers Sensitivity (no intermittent mode)

Can't totally follow this, but the auto mode will run the wipers intermittently as required.

So I'm not quite sure what you're describing. "Too fast" is a confusing thing to say about "auto" - did you mean "too sensitive"?

Some of this sounds a bit like you have been spending some time in "low" while thinking you were in "auto", but have now corrected that error.

 

On a side note, the Auto feature on my MINI never worked to my satisfaction.
I'm glad my LE will not have it.

 

There is a short-term effect where it acknowledges an "increase" request with an immediate action.

That's documented for the sensitivity setting - when you increase it, it will do one wipe immediately.

So possibly there's something similar thing for an Off to Auto transition, but can't say I've noticed it.

Seems unlikely there'd be any longer term effect.

Edit: thinking a bit more, maybe I have seen Auto being a bit fast at first before settling down when engaging it from Off. Could be that was specifically due to the upwards transition? Definitely not a long-term effect though.

Maybe you'd only ever tried auto for a few seconds, and never let it settle.

Given that my car is in Auto almost continuously, I'm a bit fuzzy on the transitions...

 

I too wish that there is a slower more intermittent setting. I will try to remember to check whether Lo to Auto does the trick when it rains here next.

It is unclear to me whether the 5th gen's Auto "sensitivity" settings are true sensitivity settings based on how much rain is detected by the sensor, or just preset frequency settings. I kinda of suspect the latter because I haven't noticed the wipers change frequency at each setting; they seem to move at the same frequency at each setting regardless of the intensity of the rain.

 

That doesn't make any sense. Are you sure you've got the Auto function, not just a non-automatic intermittent wiper?

You can leave it set to Auto all the time. It will range from not wiping at all (most of the time), to occasional individual wipes, to slow intermittent wiping, to fast intermittent, to low speed continuous to high speed continuous, automatically, as you'd expect.

I've not noticed any particular fixed intermittent frequency at all, to be honest. It seems to just wipe whenever it thinks there's sufficient build-up, so generally irregular, up until it reaches the point it's running continuously.

Maybe by frequency you mean "speed"? Yes, the wipers always move at the same speed, until they go to the fast continuous wipe.

 

Have you tinted your windshield by any chance? I believe the intermittent function is governed by a camera in that section behind the rear view mirror.

 

Quite sure. The words on my wiper controls say "AUTO." And, when I set the wipers on "AUTO," they turn on automatically when it rains.

No after-market tint. I suppose I should take a look at the rain sensor just in case there's something visible beneath the windshield that might impair it.

 

There's a little box with a sensor. If you press the box on the inside of the car in the right spot, you can trigger the wipers because of either a sensor position or pinching the right cable to trigger the car thinking the sensor engaged in some way. It's not behind the rear view mirror directly but kind of off to the side.

I don't find its particularly sensitive, I guess, it does move faster than the lowest intermittent setting in my really old 2003. But that's just because the water probably collects enough at the sensor location that it triggers the wipers to kick on more often? I personally just leave it in auto mode all the time when driving. Unless there's a serious downpour I never find it necessary to click the wipers to any other position.

The knob for frequency that is used for intermittent wipers, just seems to change the sensitivity level of the sensor that makes it run the wipers more or less often in auto mode. If the rain is heavy enough, it doesn't matter where you set the dial, it will still wipe the rain away aggressively (though not quite as aggressively as putting it manually on the maximum wiper speed).

 

I wish the headlights were auto on/off.

 

I am still amazed all trims don't get Automatic headlights.

 

I know, right.
While I like that they included the auto high beam dimmer for LE, auto on/off would've been nice.

 

I believe the 5th gen goes sense the amount of rain on the sensor. At least mine does. I have driven through the start and end of a decent rain storm on my back roads commute home and the delay did change based on the amount of rain. However, I'm not 100% sure how the delay setting impacts operation. My guess is that the auto mode has a rough setting and the delay rotary stalk is the "fine tuning". Regardless, it is too sensitive for my taste and I barely use the wipers. I use RainX religiously and it works well - especially about 25-30mph at keeping the front windshield clear.

Interesting thought, but I don't think the rain sensor is looking at how dark it is outside, just how much 'refraction' from water it sees on it's lens. essentially the blurrier the image it see's it assumes its raining harder. My windshield is tinted with like 80% VLT (really close to transparent) as I just wanted to reject UV and heat more so than "improve looks"

You probably know this, but most mid to upper trims are. I find paying few thousand dollars up front and "getting what I wanted" vs. "settling for what I wanted to pay" a better investment for me. This was my first new car with no buyers remorse. I went with a fully loaded (every factory option including AWD on my Limited. I even got both my exterior and interior color. What I didn't get I could order and add easily as they were dealer accessories anyway.

 

I've gotten used to the manual lights. It's nice to have control as well. In a similar way, I like the manual rear view mirror as well-more effective than the auto anti-dazzle model, I feel. Seat and steering wheel heat would've been nice-until the 12v battery conks out, lol. I did install some pleather seat covers, which turned out nice.