Rain sensing wipers

Faults and Technical chat for the Volvo XC40
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blastpipe
Posts: 565
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2018 9:04 pm
Location: UK

Post by blastpipe »

The rain sensing wipers were fine on the car for a while but of late they have started going faster and faster even though it is hardly raining. I've now gone back to manually controlling them..how quaint. The car is due to go in for its 3 months check shortly so will get it looked at....but anyone else had anything similar?
T4 Auto AWD R Design March 2019

Wedgie
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Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:09 pm

Post by Wedgie »

Have you accidentally adjusted them, you can alter their sensitivity
blastpipe
Posts: 565
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2018 9:04 pm
Location: UK

Post by blastpipe »

HI Wedgie

I've tried adjusting them on the stalk and it seems to make little difference when they decide to go manic. They start off ok but after a short while they get faster and faster even if the rain has stopped
T4 Auto AWD R Design March 2019
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kirsty_s2k
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon May 14, 2018 9:01 pm
Location: North West, England

Post by kirsty_s2k »

Blastpipe wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:44 pm HI Wedgie

I've tried adjusting them on the stalk and it seems to make little difference when they decide to go manic. They start off ok but after a short while they get faster and faster even if the rain has stopped
Wonder if it's a recent software thing as I got mine back from the dealer on Monday, and yesterday I thought the same thing - seemed to get VERY fast then just stick there. Turn off then on- go back to sensible
Ex Owner. Sold Feb 2020
First Edition - Bursting Blue on 19" - D4 AWD Auto
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alanlaughton
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Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:50 pm

Post by alanlaughton »

They can go fast if there is light drizzle - my Boxster did the same - presumably it counts particles rather than their size! Big blobs of rain falling slowly doesn't make them wipe often but a bit of drizzle and they go into warp drive :)
bdalameda
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:35 pm

Post by bdalameda »

The rain sensor works by refraction of light through the glass. It also can be fooled by a dirty windshield where the sensor is located behind the rear view mirror.
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