The automatic wndscreen wiper on my 2007 2.0 litre Ocatia 4x4 diesel estate behaves a bit erratically - both ways.  That is, sometimes it operates when the screen almost completely dry; other times it fails to operate even when the screen is covered in raindrops.

Any idea what causes this, and if it can be easily cured?  And has anyone got a link, please, to an explanation of exactly how it  works and senses rain or the need for the wiper to operate?

Mine can be a erratic sometimes too. It tends to go faster and faster even when the rain is constant. I tend to flick the stalk to off and back on again and it sorts itself out.

I have also noticed that if the screen is mucky the wipers will come on when they shouldn't sometimes.

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You should ensure your wipers are in good condition and the screen is clean.

If they smear over the sensor I've noticed that can make them act erraticly. Also bright sunlight seems to throw them off a little.

Phil

Happens to me too, pretty much the same as trundlenut describes, and I've cleaned my screen and blades with good quality stuff a number of time without much luck.

 

I think I must have some serious oil based gunk on my screen so not sure renewing the blades will help too much.

I was thinking the other day about changing the blades, they are at least 18 months old. May see if that makes any difference.

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A good clean of the screen and some good glass cleaner and polish seems to keep mine working well.

I also take the blades off and give them a good clean.

Phil

That's what I do, and my blades are only 6 months old but still a bit erratic...

Thanks, folks, but my concern was with the rain sensor and its excessive triggering (or alternatively, sometimes not triggering at all) of the wiping function - not the effectiveness of the wiper blades when they are wiping.  They're fine.

 

Edited 5 May, 201412 yr by Stuarted

On the fl model you can change the sensing value.

In another words sensor correction depending on model.

Or deactivate the sensor

Thanks, folks, but my concern was with the rain sensor and its excessive triggering (or alternatively, sometimes not triggering at all) of the wiping function - not the effectiveness of the wiper blades when they are wiping. They're fine.

Are the wipers wiping the sensor correctly?

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mine are the same I play around with the switch on the right stalk seems best when set to the far left

Any idea what causes this, and if it can be easily cured?  And has anyone got a link, please, to an explanation of exactly how it  works and senses rain or the need for the wiper to operate?

 

Has it ever had a replacement windscreen?

 

If so then I guarantee the inside of the windscreen where the sensor is mounted will be filthy. They never clean that part of the windscreen before installation and if it is dirty it will cause the rain sensing to be erratic. I had to remove my sensor and clean the windscreen when I had it replaced last year. 

I've found that if I leave the the wiper in the auto position when I start the car they can be erratic.

 

Handbook says to turn them off when you turn the car off, and that seems to help most of the time.

I've found that if I leave the the wiper in the auto position when I start the car they can be erratic.

 

Handbook says to turn them off when you turn the car off, and that seems to help most of the time.

Yep, I found the same thing when I had mine.

 

That and wax on the windscreen. Always annoyed me when the dealer washed it and waxed the screen, as the sensor didn't work properly until Id cleaned it all off both the screen and wiper blades.

I've found that if I leave the the wiper in the auto position when I start the car they can be erratic.

 

Handbook says to turn them off when you turn the car off, and that seems to help most of the time.

.

Thanks!  That sounds the most likely explanation I've read so far.

Bit of a dumb design, having to switch automatic wipers off each time I stop!  Imagine having to do that with the automatic dipping mirror ...

 

Has it ever had a replacement windscreen?

 

If so then I guarantee the inside of the windscreen where the sensor is mounted will be filthy. They never clean that part of the windscreen before installation and if it is dirty it will cause the rain sensing to be erratic. I had to remove my sensor and clean the windscreen when I had it replaced last year. 

 

Mine is crap and erratic also, the ones on my Bora were excellent. BUT the car has had a new screen (before i bought it), so I think you may have something with that theory.

Mine is crap and erratic also, the ones on my Bora were excellent. BUT the car has had a new screen (before i bought it), so I think you may have something with that theory.

 

It has happened to me, and a friend of mine with a Mk5 Golf with the same rain sensor had exactly the same issue when he had his screen replaced.

We used to have a Bora at work, after that had a replacement screen the rain sensor was never the same.

I've found that if I leave the the wiper in the auto position when I start the car they can be erratic.

 

Handbook says to turn them off when you turn the car off, and that seems to help most of the time.

 

sounds like a solution, except then your auto-closing of windows and sunroof wont activate as it needs the 'auto' position selected to work.

sounds like a solution, except then your auto-closing of windows and sunroof wont activate as it needs the 'auto' position selected to work.

I'm pretty sure auto closing works regardless of the position of the wiper stalk.

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Just checked an old thread, and auto close when raining is a Maxi-dot or VCDS option.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/169806-window-auto-close-with-rain/

I'm pretty sure auto closing works regardless of the position of the wiper stalk.

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Correct, its always active regardless of wiper position as longs as Auto close is turned on (via maxidot/vcds)

 

My old Superb MK2 and Octavia MK2 both had auto wipers, they were 90% of the time in the off position, and I only used auto when it was actually raining. Bridges, tunnel lighting, sunlight all seem to also have an influence on the auto wipers. 

It has happened to me, and a friend of mine with a Mk5 Golf with the same rain sensor had exactly the same issue when he had his screen replaced.

 

how hard is it to reomve the sensor? i take it you just clean the screen really well and put sensor back? and that cures the issue?

Mine can be erratic too, but have noticed many cars of different makes seem the same. Having said that, I don't have any real complaints with mine that often.

how hard is it to reomve the sensor? i take it you just clean the screen really well and put sensor back? and that cures the issue?

 

It's not too hard. Here's a guide http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk2/body/body_work/interior_equipment/interior_rear-view_mirror/removing_and_installing_the_interior_mirror_with_rain_sensor/

 

Clean the interior of the screen under the sensor with alcohol or similar and reassemble.