Rain Sensing Wipers

[svtenthusiast]

The Ford rain sensing wiper system requires you to activate the wipers by moving the wiper stalk up. You can switch it between Off, Intermittent, and Continuous. For my '14 Escape, you flip the wiper stalk up one position to enable the wipers then you set the sensitivity with the rotating part (similar to how you'd do it in a regular wiper system). If you flip it up two spots (one past enabling them) it will wipe continuously.

The new mustang is the same as the Escape with the "European" stalks on the steering column. The difference is on the Mustang you can turn off the rain sensing function in the dash menu and then it will enable normal intermittent function, unlike the Escape.

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[trogdor007]

The new mustang is the same as the Escape with the "European" stalks on the steering column. The difference is on the Mustang you can turn off the rain sensing function in the dash menu and then it will enable normal intermittent function, unlike the Escape.

Thanks for the heads up! I like the fact that you'll be able to turn off the rain sensing functionality.

 

[souprmage]

You didn't say anything about brushless, automation, etc., simply no car washes period. I was asking a legitimate question about swirl marks because I thought you were insinuating that ANY automated wash could/would result in them.

Clearly I misunderstood your meaning. Sorry about that.

As I also said, I like to go over my car frequently to check for dings and nicks, and other abuse, so I find washing my car is a good time to do this. So even if it were brushless, I'm not a huge fan.

I also heard a story from a college professor that took his car into a brushless car wash. It had a rotating high pressure arm on it. Well, the arm busted free, beating the hell out of his car. Sure, not likely to happen, but still.

Oh, and I had my Jetta washed at the dealer when I took it in for maintenance. I didn't notice it right away, but when I washed it the next time, I found huge scratches in my hood from their car wash going wild. addle:

 

[JoeDogInKC]

Clearly I misunderstood your meaning. Sorry about that.

As I also said, I like to go over my car frequently to check for dings and nicks, and other abuse, so I find washing my car is a good time to do this. So even if it were brushless, I'm not a huge fan.

I also heard a story from a college professor that took his car into a brushless car wash. It had a rotating high pressure arm on it. Well, the arm busted free, beating the hell out of his car. Sure, not likely to happen, but still.

Oh, and I had my Jetta washed at the dealer when I took it in for maintenance. I didn't notice it right away, but when I washed it the next time, I found huge scratches in my hood from their car wash going wild. addle:

Whew, okay.

I'd never put mine through one with brushes, but my dealership has a brushless wash with RFID tags, so I can go get a free regular wash whenever I want.

 

[89Trooper]

So you really have to turn on the rain-sensing wipers every time that you get into the car?

Seems silly. I would want them to come on automatically when, well, it rains.

 

[GNS]

So you really have to turn on the rain-sensing wipers every time that you get into the car?

Seems silly. I would want them to come on automatically when, well, it rains.

I have auto wipers on my car (the wipers themselves don't sense rain, it's the sensor at the top-middle of my windshield that activates). From the neutral position, I can click the stalk down one notch to select auto mode and leave it like that. Hence auto wipers are always on or always off, no matter if I start or stop the car.

Besides the point....auto wipers and auto headlights (I have this too) are useless gimmicks. If they come part of a package that includes other things that you really want, then that's OK. If you want them specifically, then you'll be disappointed. I like having control over my car, and auto wipers / headlights can activate when I don't want them to.

 

[89Trooper]

From the neutral position, I can click the stalk down one notch to select auto mode and leave it like that. Hence auto wipers are always on or always off, no matter if I start or stop the car.

That's what I was hoping it would be like.

I have auto-headlights now, and I have never changed the switch off of 'auto'.

All cars should have auto-headlights... it would prevent those people from leaving well-lit parking lots and then never turning their headlights on when they get on the highway. Or at dusk when they can still see, but their cars become invisible in the setting sun.

Headlights aren't always so you can see, but also so you can be seen.

Obviously, wipers are a different story... but if they are "rain-sensing", then they should be "rain-sensing"... not "rain-sensing-if-you-happen-to-have-it-turned-on".

 

[GNS]

Auto headlights turn on in my parking garage before I leave for work and after I come home, causing my swivelling Xenon headlights unnecessary wear and tear mechanically, and also by turning the bulb on for the whole 30 seconds it takes me to enter and exit the underground parking space. So yeah, auto headlights are always off until I need them at dusk.

As for auto wipers, there should always be an option to switch them off. I'm sure there are all sorts of legal issues around this, and I honestly don't care about those. I just know that auto wipers can activate even if it's not raining. The reason is because the wipers themselves are not rain sensing - they only activate when the sensor on your windshield detects occlusion (?) of light, which can happen with dust, pollen, sand grains, etc. This happened to me as I was driving through a construction zone, and that feeling you get when you see dry wipers swiping across an equally dry windshield, and dragging sand and other crap across the glass.....

 

[Esfoad]

Auto wipers are a good option to me. Have them on the SHO but the only issue is you have to remember to turn them off at a car wash. Had the blades ripped off once when I left them on. That won't happen again ;)

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