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Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:03 pm
by malc1950
My auto wipers stopped working on the X and i noticed there were air bubbles between the sensor and the windscreen so i removed the sensor and cleaned up the screen and the sensor,can anybody tell me how to test it before i try to stick it back on the screen, if anyone has done this can you let me know where i can get the sticky pads from ,
i have seen them for sale on Ebay but now i cant find them when i do a search,
Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:28 pm
by dirtymonkey29
Get a friend to spray the windscreen while you sit in the car holding the sensor in the correct place
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:59 pm
by malc1950
Sounds good will give it a try,
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:03 pm
by jaynana
[quote=""malc1950""]Sounds good will give it a try,[/quote]
give it a try no harm but i wouldn't count on it working.
the sensor works on the principle of bouncing off a ray of light sent off at a 45 degree angle, which then is received at the other end of the sensor, by way of refraction. when there's water on the surface it directs parts of that light elsewhere, reducing the amount of light received by the receiver end, that triggers the wiper (good old physics of how a ray of light passes through glass prisms, water if u remember from school)
when u hold the sensor next to the glass u can't prevent a thin layer of air between the sensor and the glass, and that can impact refraction.
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:51 am
by X5Sport
As above. Unfortunately the only usual fix for this is a new windscreen. The bond is created via an optically clear adhesive, not a pad, applied under vacuum at the time of manufacture I'm told.......something to do with keeping the bubbles out I suppose.
Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:00 am
by n1k85
As above, I looked over the invoices for my car that I tracked down from BMW, and it looks like in 2005 it went in for a rain sensor repair, and a complete new windscreen was fitted!
Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:00 pm
by dirtymonkey29
There was a link floating around how to DIY the job with silicone
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:09 pm
by malc1950
yes i remember seeing a DIY fix with silicone and also a fix with a pad
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:28 pm
by X5Sport
Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:56 pm
by dirtymonkey29
That's the exact one I was on about
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:51 pm
by malc1950
I have seen the DIY with silicon but i have also seen a DIY with a sticky pad and as i remember they said it was better to use for removing all the air bubbles,
I did see the pads for sale on ebay a while ago but now i cant find them,
Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:01 pm
by dirtymonkey29
If you can find the sticky pad post and share the link that would be good
Re: Auto Wiper Fix
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:03 pm
by X5Sport
Well, you could try this.....found via Google. Not sure if it's what you meant. There's also a reference to it in the E46 link above too.
http://www.gordonglassusa.com/item/RSK2 ... K2296.html