Rain Sensors

[tim5780]

Hi all, this may just be me being completley stupid! i have had my avensis for a few days now, and have yet to relly need the windscreen wipers, but i was driving along the other day, when they appeared to move by themselves during a small shower - brilliant i thought - its got rain sensing wipers and i didnt even know!! any way on the way back from where i had been as i was driving another short rain shower arrived and i waited....and waited and the screen got wetter and wetter and the wipers stayed firmly parked! so i had to use all that energy and move my right hand and operated them manually! after getting home i had a look at the windscreen and behind the rear view mirror appears to be some sought of sensor, but then again maybe it isn't. the first time, did i knock the wipers accidently without realising and really there are no auto wipers?

[GregT3-S]

What model do you have?

[tim5780]

sorry!!!!!! its an feb 05 (54 plate) 2.0 petrol T-Spirit

[GregT3-S]

You should have them, have you got your wipers set to auto?

[Shoto]

If the wiper stalk is in the uppermost position you can then push it up for a flick-wipe. Moving the wiper stalk down one click should set the wipers in auto position - that's how it works in my 2006 T180.

[runboy]

Agree, wiper stalk down one for auto, and there is a collar on the stalk to adjust sensitivity of the auto function.

[bjw]

If you have a look on parkers used car guide you should be able to find out what spec your car has

Hope it helps

[tim5780]

thanks all, found the auto selection on the twist knob on the wiper stick today!!! - nice one, if only i had of looked, anyway......

[Mkuk0]

There is another thread on this subject and the upshot was that if you leave in auto mode, you need to flick them off and back on everytime the ignition is switched on to 'reset' the system. Just a thought!

[Desmond22]

The reset isn't always needed. My wipers on both T Spirits have worked OK without doing that.

One thing to watch though - remember switch off the auto when you park up if it's frosty or snowy. Otherwise the wipers will bounce across the windscreen unless you get all the frost off before you start up again. :(

[uumode]

One thing to watch though - remember switch off the auto when you park up if it's frosty or snowy. Otherwise the wipers will bounce across the windscreen unless you get all the frost off before you start up again. :(

I forgot I had them on auto when I was cleaning the car's windscreen

- I don't frequent London anymore, but if I had my Avensis then, I would have been jumped on by traffic light windscreen cleaning opportunists - who might have possibly caused some damage to them or the wipers!!

One time I had polished the windscreen with window wax when I got 'hit'- the result was a smeared windscreen, less clean then it originally was... grrrrr :censor:

[Chris Dance]

Always ensure the auto sensor is set to OFF when going into a car wash. On 2 occasions I got caught out. PANIC I should say so.

[Steve84]

Agree, wiper stalk down one for auto, and there is a collar on the stalk to adjust sensitivity of the auto function.

Does that dial do anything at all. I find it does nothing on mine. I have to sometimes move the stalk to off then to auto to get the wipers working has said before and in the manual this is normal.

[runboy]

Agree, wiper stalk down one for auto, and there is a collar on the stalk to adjust sensitivity of the auto function.

Does that dial do anything at all. I find it does nothing on mine. I have to sometimes move the stalk to off then to auto to get the wipers working has said before and in the manual this is normal.

Mmmmm...might be coincidence but when I move the collar either way it will set the wiper off. Maybe it does one sweep to clear the sensor then measure the rain against the new setting of the collar. I agree either setting doesn't seem to make much difference!

I also find the auto wipers are less sensitive at night. Presume less light on the sensor causes that.