Glass product for "rain sensing" windshield
- Thread starter Laura
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agpatel
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- Apr 22, 2006
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Only reason they say that is so u can not put something on it like rain repellent and say aye my sensor does not work. As the repellent could cause the water to go off fast enough for the sensor to not trip the wiper but it is not a huge deal as you could turn them on if needed.
Just use some good glass cleaner and some aqapel if you want something to put on it! Nice car BTW if it is the one in your avatar.
Just use some good glass cleaner and some aqapel if you want something to put on it! Nice car BTW if it is the one in your avatar.
Wow, interesting question. I've never had that issue though...if I'm waxing one of my parents' vehicles, both of which have the rain sensing wipers, if the product I'm using is safe to use on glass, then I just use it. No issues so far, have used any combination of the following products:
Optimum Poli-Seal
Optimum Car Wax
Zaino Z-AIO
Zaino Z-CS
Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer
Klasse AIO
Optimum Poli-Seal
Optimum Car Wax
Zaino Z-AIO
Zaino Z-CS
Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer
Klasse AIO
Laura
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- Aug 2, 2009
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- Thread starter
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I took Killrwheels' advice and ordered some Invisible Glass last night (to get the 20%) in addition to doing a little more research. Here's what "How Stuff Works" had to say (I've attached the link) about these wipers/windshields:
TRW Inc. uses optical sensors to detect the moisture. The sensor is mounted in contact with the inside of the windshield, near the rearview mirror.
The sensor projects infrared light into the windshield at a 45-degree angle. If the glass is dry, most of this light is reflected back into the sensor by the front of the windshield. If water droplets are on the glass, they reflect the light in different directions -- the wetter the glass, the less light makes it back into the sensor.
The electronics and software in the sensor turn on the wipers when the amount of light reflected onto the sensor decreases to a preset level. The software sets the speed of the wipers based on how fast the moisture builds up between wipes. It can operate the wipers at any speed. The system adjusts the speed as often as necessary to match with the rate of moisture accumulation.
The TRW system, which is found on many General Motors cars, including all Cadillac models, can also be overridden or turned off so the car can be washed.
HowStuffWorks "How Windshield Wipers Work"
TRW Inc. uses optical sensors to detect the moisture. The sensor is mounted in contact with the inside of the windshield, near the rearview mirror.
The sensor projects infrared light into the windshield at a 45-degree angle. If the glass is dry, most of this light is reflected back into the sensor by the front of the windshield. If water droplets are on the glass, they reflect the light in different directions -- the wetter the glass, the less light makes it back into the sensor.
The electronics and software in the sensor turn on the wipers when the amount of light reflected onto the sensor decreases to a preset level. The software sets the speed of the wipers based on how fast the moisture builds up between wipes. It can operate the wipers at any speed. The system adjusts the speed as often as necessary to match with the rate of moisture accumulation.
The TRW system, which is found on many General Motors cars, including all Cadillac models, can also be overridden or turned off so the car can be washed.
HowStuffWorks "How Windshield Wipers Work"
With my BMW, if anything, I have found using Rain-X or similar products causes it to wipe more than is actually necessary. Water beads up more than usual on the glass which affects the sensor as rolls by. Because of this, I think the car senses more water droplets. Most of the time though, the wipers aren't even necessary with a treated windshield so it's rarely an annoyance, but I have no way of controlling the wipe interval so there are times it annoys-- mostly in light rain where the wipe interval can be much longer.
When I first bought the car and drove it 120mi home during numerous downpours/showers/drizzle on the highway with an untreated windshield, the rain sensor timing was always perfect. The much improved visibility using a treated a windshield greatly outweighs the minor annoyance, so I only bring up my experience because someone was asking! I would never drive a car in the rain without any type of treatment, if at all possible, and I travel with Rain-X in a small 1/2oz eye drop bottle and bust it out if necessary on a rental where rain looks possible. Having driven a few untreated cars in bad rain, it is simply dangerous, IMO, the way moisture just clings to the windshield.
When I first bought the car and drove it 120mi home during numerous downpours/showers/drizzle on the highway with an untreated windshield, the rain sensor timing was always perfect. The much improved visibility using a treated a windshield greatly outweighs the minor annoyance, so I only bring up my experience because someone was asking! I would never drive a car in the rain without any type of treatment, if at all possible, and I travel with Rain-X in a small 1/2oz eye drop bottle and bust it out if necessary on a rental where rain looks possible. Having driven a few untreated cars in bad rain, it is simply dangerous, IMO, the way moisture just clings to the windshield.