Rain Light Sensor (RLS) - Intermittent wipers not working

[rule1110]

Originally Posted by 80stech

I always thought that if there was an error with the rain sensor that the wipers reverted to interval operation ??

That might be the case but the problem with my scenario is the rain sensor wasn't showing any errors. In ISTA and INPA it shows it as working fine with no errors. The issue seems to be how the rain sensor communicates a wipe to the wiper motor. Whenever the rain sensor was plugged in I would only get 1 wipe when the wipers were set to intermittent, then nothing after that. At least now I'm getting a wipe every 20 seconds while stopped and every 5 seconds while driving. It would be nice if I can get my stalk wheel working and have a few more manual settings. You don't realize how annoying not having intermittent wipers is until they don't work. Wiping all the time is too noisy and loud so you end up manually wiping every time by pushing the stalk down.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by 80stech

I always thought that if there was an error with the rain sensor that the wipers reverted to interval operation ??

They do if you unplug the sensor module.

[Clavurion]

https://www.pss-autosoft.net/diagram...B466160001.htm

[rule1110]

Can someone confirm with their wipers on the intermittent setting when you adjust the knurled wheel up do the wipers swipe once to acknowledge the wheel has been moved to a higher setting? I think I read someone that was supposed to happen when that thumb wheel went to a higher setting but doesn't happen when it moves to a lower setting. Trying to figure out if my thumb wheel is working. At present it makes no difference to the wipers.

[Clavurion]

Originally Posted by rule1110

Can someone confirm with their wipers on the intermittent setting when you adjust the knurled wheel up do the wipers swipe once to acknowledge the wheel has been moved to a higher setting? I think I read someone that was supposed to happen when that thumb wheel went to a higher setting but doesn't happen when it moves to a lower setting. Trying to figure out if my thumb wheel is working. At present it makes no difference to the wipers.

Confirmed.

[rule1110]

Originally Posted by Clavurion

Confirmed.

Thank you. Looks like I need a new wiper stalk, anyone replaced one of those? I saw a used one for $36au so not too bad. That would give me the 4 timed intermittent settings back instead of just the first setting. The first setting I have now is a wipe approximately every 20 seconds while stationary and a wipe approximately every 6 seconds while driving 60km/hr.

[Clavurion]

By the way I didn't see you mentioning what you actually coded with NCS. Was it WISCHERPOTI nicht_aktiv to aktiv on GM3 or something else?

[rule1110]

Originally Posted by Clavurion

By the way I didn't see you mentioning what you actually coded with NCS. Was it WISCHERPOTI nicht_aktiv to aktiv on GM3 or something else?

Yes that is what I coded. Originally it was set to Not Active and I changed it to Active so I could use the timed intervals.
I guess now I have confirmed my knurled wheel wasn't working the rain sensor was always on the lowest setting as that wheel isn't functioning. I did soak the sensor with a spray bottle and hose so even on its lowest setting should have triggered it. Even if I were to confirm the wiring between the rain sensor and the GM3 was the issue I don't know if I would have the confidence so successfully run a new wiring harness behind the headliner and down to the module. I think I'll have to settle for the 4 timed interval settings if I can get a replacement stalk installed. I'm glad the auto headlights feature is still able to work, I like that feature and it has always worked well.

[Clavurion]

Originally Posted by rule1110

Yes that is what I coded. Originally it was set to Not Active and I changed it to Active so I could use the timed intervals.
I guess now I have confirmed my knurled wheel wasn't working the rain sensor was always on the lowest setting as that wheel isn't functioning. I did soak the sensor with a spray bottle and hose so even on its lowest setting should have triggered it. Even if I were to confirm the wiring between the rain sensor and the GM3 was the issue I don't know if I would have the confidence so successfully run a new wiring harness behind the headliner and down to the module. I think I'll have to settle for the 4 timed interval settings if I can get a replacement stalk installed. I'm glad the auto headlights feature is still able to work, I like that feature and it has always worked well.

The knurled wheel is a simple potentiometer so easy to measure with a multimeter.

https://bmwteka.com/wds/en/e53/6b0efc99

[rule1110]

Originally Posted by Clavurion

The knurled wheel is a simple potentiometer so easy to measure with a multimeter.

https://bmwteka.com/wds/en/e53/6b0efc99

Thanks for the wiring diagram. I'm pretty new to testing electrical stuff, would the process be take the switch out and test the pins associated with the wheel? With a working thumb wheel the resistance should change as the wheel moves?