Intermittent Wipers (rain sensor) dont work

[cblx5]

Hi,

I have an 02 X5 (3.0i) and the intermittment wipers (rain sensor) do not work. If I switch them on they wipe once and then never again, unless I adjust the knob on the stalk, in which case they wipe only once again.

The wipers work perfectly in normal and fast mode, so I guess it must be my rain sensor not working. I see from searching the net that this is a relatively common problem.

Short of replacing the entire windscreen is there another known fix. I would settle for just a single 'slow' speed, as normal speed is actually too fast sometimes.

Any advice appreciated, it is a shame to drive such a car and not have intermittent wipers working.


Thanks

[msammy]

Originally Posted by cblx5

Hi,

I have an 02 X5 (3.0i) and the intermittment wipers (rain sensor) do not work. If I switch them on they wipe once and then never again, unless I adjust the knob on the stalk, in which case they wipe only once again.

The wipers work perfectly in normal and fast mode, so I guess it must be my rain sensor not working. I see from searching the net that this is a relatively common problem.

Short of replacing the entire windscreen is there another known fix. I would settle for just a single 'slow' speed, as normal speed is actually too fast sometimes.

Any advice appreciated, it is a shame to drive such a car and not have intermittent wipers working.


Thanks

OK, I had the opposite problem, but I have an inexpensive solution that may help. In my case, the intermittent wipers would go intermittent for one or two passes, then go constant no matter what the speed I was driving or how much moisture was on the glass. So, I installed a new set of wiper blades and dumped a gallon of the windshield wiper fluid with Rain-X into the washer tank. I swear, the wipers work just like a brand new car, clean the glass well, and most importantly, the intermittent wipers work absolutely perfectly. There must have been a buildup of film or gunk the wiper blades and Rain-X removed or modified so that the sensor could "see" the mosture more efficiently. Total cost was about $30, much less than new glass that I was contemplating as well! Give it a try and let us know how it works out!

[cblx5]

msammy - thanks but I had already tried cleaning the windscreen area above the sensor with a number of cleaners.

Has anyone managed to have just the rain sensor changed and had their intemittent action restored ?

Thanks

[bbbngai]

Dear cblx5,

Have you solved the problem yet. I've got the same problem and you may unplug the rain sensor and then you will get the slow intermittent speed back.

[cblx5]

bbbngai,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!

I have lived with the problem all this time.

I just unplugged my rain sensor and I get a sweep every 7 secs aprox. I can certainly live with this. Saves me triggering a single sweep with my little finger. I could not face smashing my windscreen!!!.

Also fantastic timing - it has been raining here is the UK for last week or so.


By the way, how did you discover this? Do you know whether the rain sensor is sending a digital signal of is it just a measure of resistance in which case a variable resistor could be used to fool the input.

Thanks again

cblx5

[TowX]

Originally Posted by cblx5

bbbngai,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!

I have lived with the problem all this time.

I just unplugged my rain sensor and I get a sweep every 7 secs aprox. I can certainly live with this. Saves me triggering a single sweep with my little finger. I could not face smashing my windscreen!!!.

Also fantastic timing - it has been raining here is the UK for last week or so.


By the way, how did you discover this? Do you know whether the rain sensor is sending a digital signal of is it just a measure of resistance in which case a variable resistor could be used to fool the input.

Thanks again

cblx5

How do you unplug the rain sensor? Mine works fine, but I hate the rain sensor feature. I prefer to set the sweep frequency myself. Seems like the rain sensor has a mind of its own. Even in light rain, it rarely runs in intermittent, but goes back and forth between slow and fast. Extremely annoying.
So if unplugging it allows it to operate like normal intermittent wipers, I'll be very happy. And FWIW- the rain sensor in my 528 works much better than the X5.

[cblx5]

TowX,

To unplug sensor here is what I did...

1) Carefully prise the sensor cover apart using a medium sized flat screwdriver. The cover is behind the rear view mirror. It is not held together by screws but by plastic lugs (cannot describe this better). It splits down the centre and comes away in 2 halves.

2) The rain sensor plug plugs in at the top of the sensor and it is a simple matter of pulling it out. There was no retaining clip on mine. It was a bit stiff.

3) Replace cover

Hope this helps

[TowX]

Originally Posted by cblx5

TowX,

To unplug sensor here is what I did...

1) Carefully prise the sensor cover apart using a medium sized flat screwdriver. The cover is behind the rear view mirror. It is not held together by screws but by plastic lugs (cannot describe this better). It splits down the centre and comes away in 2 halves.

2) The rain sensor plug plugs in at the top of the sensor and it is a simple matter of pulling it out. There was no retaining clip on mine. It was a bit stiff.

3) Replace cover

Hope this helps

Thanks, I'll try it this evening. (at 14 mpg for the X5 adn 19mpg for the 528 you can guess which one I commute in.)

BTW- after you unplugged, did your intermittent work normally, in other words, did it work at the different speeds based on how you set them? My dealer once told me that I'd only have one intermittent speed, not a variable speed.

Thanks again.

[franc x5]

Originally Posted by bbbngai

..........you may unplug the rain sensor and then you will get the slow intermittent speed back.

tnx for sharing your idea bbbngai!!! its been almost 2 years that my intermitent wiper wasnt workin, you've just solved my problem.

cblx5,

ive seen rain sensor on ebay for $59.

[cblx5]

bbbngai,

I just did a road test and did not any notice difference in the sweep rate with speed. (did not go above 40 mph) But I am so happy to have intermittent wiping.

Also, please explain what you mean by the auto light, I have not noticed any lighting changes. Maybe it is an option I do not have.


Franc_x5 - thanks for the tip, but from bbbngai's other posts it is not obvious that the rain sensor is faulty. It may be the adhesion to the windscreen, although I cannot see any air gaps in my screen.

Thanks all