AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH, bloody rain sensor....

Why is it that with the wiper lever in the intermittant position, and the sensitivity switch on the least sensitive setting, the wipers are constantly moving backwards and forwards when the tinest bit of spray from lorries on the motorway lands on the screen? My old vectra would have wiped the screen once and thats it. The octy just carries on for fun, smearing the screen, then even when i've passed the lorry, and the screen is dry, the things carry on wiping!!!

Oh, and also, I think 4 wipes when the washer jets are used is one too many in my opinion. And as for the fifth wipe after the 5/10 second gap is just f**king taking the p*ss. I'm sure I read on another thread on here that any Skoda garage could code out this fifth wipe function, is that correct?

OK, whilst I'm on my rant, the rubber boot seal across the top of the rear hatch on the boot has come off, about 6" worth. I've tried to push it back on but I think it was originally glued on, and my hands are too big to get into the gap to re-glue it. I need to get it booked in at the garage, but its the time (as usual) Just thought i'd mention it in case anyone else had this happen to them, or who may have not noticed it before. Bet you'll go and check now, lol

That aside though, still loving this car, done 3500 miles now in just under 6 weeks. Still can't get over how big the boot is. I actually can't reach stuff right at the back without physically leaning right inside the boot, one foot off the floor type job, know what I mean?

Right, thats it, rant over, happy now,

Paul

AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH' date=' bloody rain sensor....

Why is it that with the wiper lever in the intermittant position, and the sensitivity switch on the least sensitive setting, the wipers are constantly moving backwards and forwards when the tinest bit of spray from lorries on the motorway lands on the screen? My old vectra would have wiped the screen once and thats it. The octy just carries on for fun, smearing the screen, then even when i've passed the lorry, and the screen is dry, the things carry on wiping!!!

[/quote']

My wipers dont wipe continuously on the lowest setting with even the slightest bit of spray. In fact i have keep the sensitivity turned up a bit to ensure it wipes at all. Sounds like a dodgy sensor to me.

Oh' date=' and also, I think 4 wipes when the washer jets are used is one too many in my opinion. And as for the fifth wipe after the 5/10 second gap is just f**king taking the p*ss. I'm sure I read on another thread on here that any Skoda garage could code out this fifth wipe function, is that correct?

[/quote']

I agree that 3 wipes would do the job ok. My car doesnt do that final wipe after a few seconds though so it must be possible to code that out as you say.

OK' date=' whilst I'm on my rant, the rubber boot seal across the top of the rear hatch on the boot has come off, about 6" worth. I've tried to push it back on but I think it was originally glued on, and my hands are too big to get into the gap to re-glue it. I need to get it booked in at the garage, but its the time (as usual) Just thought i'd mention it in case anyone else had this happen to them, or who may have not noticed it before. Bet you'll go and check now, lol

[/quote']

I'll watch out for that. Cheers.

That aside though' date=' still loving this car, done 3500 miles now in just under 6 weeks. Still can't get over how big the boot is. I actually can't reach stuff right at the back without physically leaning right inside the boot, one foot off the floor type job, know what I mean?

[/quote']

Lol I have 4,500 miles on in 6 months!

I have the opposite problem , even on the most sensitive setting I cannot get it to go onto constant wiping even in a downpour!!!

Like you I still love the car after 11 months though.

Don't understand that - for constant wipe just move the lever up a notch?

I was accustomed to leaving the wipers on my previous car (Passat) on the intermittent (rain sensing) setting. I know that it is a lazy thing!! but they seemed to respond to the weather conditions much better and automatically went onto constant wiping when rain became heavier. The octy controls are identical so I assumed that they would work the same.

I was accustomed to leaving the wipers on my previous car (Passat) on the intermittent (rain sensing) setting. I know that it is a lazy thing!! but they seemed to respond to the weather conditions much better and automatically went onto constant wiping when rain became heavier. The octy controls are identical so I assumed that they would work the same.

They do

Rain Sensor....

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AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH, bloody rain sensor....

I agree with Paul, but for different reasons. My car seems to only have the one setting for intermittent wipe, as moving the little switch on the steering column arm does nothing in itself to change the frequency of wiping.

Some days, intermittent works lovely, and does rare wipes when its spitting, and continuous, even fast wiping in heavy rain.

Other days, it won't wipe in a downpour, or will wipe when there is no rain anywhere.

Through winter, the 4 wipes with the washer jets usually managed to leave a smear of salt. However, if I timed it right, so the fourth wipe left a clear screen, that extra wipe would always smear the salt that had since splashed the windscreen.

As they say, to err is human, to f*** it up good and proper you need a computer.

Wow, if that's all I can get annoyed with, it must be a really good car

It sounds like you need the rain sensor reset, mine is going to be done when it gets it's 20k service in a couple of months

rain sensor does seem a bit erratic and I also hate the 4 wipes +1 after using the scooshers BUT it can be confused - instead of one long pull on the washer stalk try 4 or 5 quick short squirts and Sometime you don't get the delayed wipe.

This is the only thing that spoils a fantastic car!

Fellwalker & Slider;

On reflection, I have to agree, It must be a good car if thats all I can find to complain about, lol

Mine seems to be even worse at night - several times I've been driving through a downpour when the wipers suddenly decide it's not raining any more. Drives me round the bend - especially since the ones on my Superb were really good.

They do

I agree, mine see to work just the way tey should, no "final wipe" problem either

Domhnall

I agree with Paul' date=' but for different reasons. My car seems to only have the one setting for intermittent wipe, as moving the little switch on the steering column arm does nothing in itself to change the frequency of wiping.

Some days, intermittent works lovely, and does rare wipes when its spitting, and continuous, even fast wiping in heavy rain.

Other days, it won't wipe in a downpour, or will wipe when there is no rain anywhere.

Through winter, the 4 wipes with the washer jets usually managed to leave a smear of salt. However, if I timed it right, so the fourth wipe left a clear screen, that extra wipe would always smear the salt that had since splashed the windscreen.

As they say, to err is human, to f*** it up good and proper you need a computer.

Wow, if that's all I can get annoyed with, it must be a really good car [/quote']

If you look in the manual (p.75 in mine) you'll see that if the automatic wipers with rain sensor are fitted, the little switch on top of the wiper arm does not change the frequency of the intermittent wipe (as it does in the manual version) but the sensitivity of the rain sensor. If you keep changing the setting, that could explain why you're getting erratic results.

We went out for a long run today and automatic mode seemed to work fine, if a bit inclined to to into frantic speed mode in not-too-heavy rain. Having said that, I played around with the little switch later and have probably loused it up....

Just got back from an erratically rainy trip to Heathrow, and found the wiper system not too bad. But during the heavier rain I definitely preferred the constant wipe position to the intermittent, because with the variation in wetness the wipers didn't always give a wipe when I wanted one. Best left to human judgement I think!!

The rain sensor on my old Primera was fantastic, spot on every time, there was a rotary **** on the end of the wiper stalk that was more or less infinitely adjustable,

I hope the new octy is as good.

The rain sensor on my old Primera was fantastic' date=' spot on every time, there was a rotary **** on the end of the wiper stalk that was more or less infinitely adjustable,

I hope the new octy is as good.[/quote']

Ours looks just as good so far - will keep the Briskodians posted.

I agree with all the above

This is the only thing I severly dislike about the car

I have complained to the dealer about the useles auto wipers.

He agrees and says they have had a lot of complaints

Personally I think its a serious safety issue and Im going to take it up with Skoda UK.

Mine wipe when they dont need to and vice versa and being speed sensitive stop completely when stationary. Sat in a jam on the motorway yesterday in heavy rain and couldnt see a thing. The wipers only seem to wake up at about 10mph which is hopeless in a slow moving que or at traffic lights.

According to three dealers this function cannot be turned off which I find amazing

Same with the extra wipe on the screen washers

Moan over, great car otherwise

I agree with all the above

This is the only thing I severly dislike about the car

I have complained to the dealer about the useles auto wipers.

He agrees and says they have had a lot of complaints

Personally I think its a serious safety issue and Im going to take it up with Skoda UK.

Mine wipe when they dont need to and vice versa and being speed sensitive stop completely when stationary. Sat in a jam on the motorway yesterday in heavy rain and couldnt see a thing. The wipers only seem to wake up at about 10mph which is hopeless in a slow moving que or at traffic lights.

According to three dealers this function cannot be turned off which I find amazing

Same with the extra wipe on the screen washers

Moan over' date=' great car otherwise[/quote']

I'm baffled by all this.

My auto wipers still wipe when the car is stationary and speed up/slow down according to how heaavy the rain hitting the window is.

The gripes I really have with the autowipers are:-

1) Sometimes when you get a little splatter of rain on the window they just wipe too many times when 1 or 2 wipes would suffice

2) In winter time even after de-icing the entire windscreen, the sensor seems to get confused and wipes continously. A quick dry of the window where the sensor is situated before setting off usually sorts it.

3) If the windscreen is wet before you turn on the ignition you have to manually turn on the auto wiper by adjusting the sensitivity or switching the stalk into another position like off or slow and then back to auto.

I'm baflled by all this.

.

Just goes to show how erratic and inconsistent the rain senors are

1) Sometimes when you get a little splatter of rain on the window they just wipe too many times when 1 or 2 wipes would suffice

I suppose what we are forgetting is that the things wipe according to how wet the sensor is' date=' not how wet the screen is!!

Here's a question for a tech. If you covered up [waterproof '] the sensor, will the small switch for the various intermittant positions still work like a "non sensor" car would?

I asked a mechanic at one dealer if he knew of a work around for this and he suggested blanking off the sensor which is inside the screen on the back of the rear view mirror. I tried this but it had no effect whatsoever.

According to this guy the sensor is also used on some foriegn spec cars for automatically turning on/off the headlights in tunnels. So it seems the sensor doesnt measure dampness, only how well it can see through the screen.

That should be easy enough to check out - put a bit of black tape over it and wipers should be permanently flat out on the intermittant setting?

The sensor does indeed look at how much light is coming through the glass of the windscreen, not at how much water is on the sensor.

AFAIK it uses infra red LED's and sensors to calculate the water on the screen.

The principle works well, the particular system Skoda have chosen to use obviously isnt.

They arent really a safety issue as the wipers still turn on and off without the auto function, it's more of an inconvenience but this aside, it should still bloody work properly.

If you blank the sensor, the wipers will go beserk as the sensor thinks the screen is covered in water

I tried blanking off the sensor for about two weeks but as I say it didnt make any difference.

I still think its a safety issue. The only way I can get my wipers to work sometimes with a totally obscure screen is to turn them off and then on again.

Totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned

Does seem very odd that we get different symptoms

Don't they work if you put the lever up to the next position or the top [fastest] position?