When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a small and puzzling question regarding the rain sensor on my car. Now, I've read the manual and understand how it works, so it's not that.
When I took delivery of the car, the delivery person wanted to show me the automatic wipers and put it in position. They simply started like normal, intermittent wipers even though we were indoors, and dry. He found it odd. I figured at the time he must simply be mistaken and I just do not have them as I have a very, very, basic premium model with no options whatsoever.
I had a crack develop in the windshield, called a few places for quotes and they all mentioned me having a rain sensor. I figured 5-6 different places can't all be wrong, so I probably have one. Checked a few pictures online and I have the correct mirror with the correct cutout and all that.
I had my windshield changed out, they used a gel pack for the rain sensor as can be seen on the bill.
Curious, I called Audi Canada with my VIN in hand. Asked them if the car is supposed to have one. Apparently not.
Still curious, thinking I may have been charged for something I didn't have, I took off my mirror. Lo and behold, there's a rain sensor under there, and it's plugged in to what seems like OEM wiring to me.
I put the wiper stalk in the correct position, put the sensitivity setting to the max, started the car up, and chucked water at it. Nothing happened at all. If I change sensitivity setting, it'll just go like regular old intermittent wipers.
I guess my question is, how often do these sensors actually go bad? Seeing as this car was a lease before I purchased it I'm very doubtful the previous owner actually bothered installing one, so I'm guessing it came like that from the factory. Can a dealership enable/disable it? I have no MMI so I can't just turn it off, so it's not a problem on my end.
Seeing how expensive this thing is for its size, I'm thinking of making use of the CPO to get it changed.
Curious, the ETKA clones I use (realoem.me and negimaparts.com) both stop at 2012 for Canada A4. So no B8.5 parts lists for CA spec vehicles.
From the brochure, it appears you got the keyless entry system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and rain and light sensor, and I assume rain sensing wipers if you have at least the Premium trim level (seems CA does base, Premium, Premium Plus while US calls it Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige?)? The Audi CA stuff is not particularly detailed.
Not sure what a gel pack is, is that the "foil" that the service manual says must be replaced if reinstalling the sensor?
If there's a problem with the sensor, the wipers will fall back to traditional interval wiping operating.
You have to recode the sensor after installing a new windshield (I assume to adapt the sensitivity).
Do an autoscan and see if you have a RLS submodule under address 09 (the J519):
Code:
Address 09: Cent. Elect. (J519) Labels:. 8K0-907-063.clb
Part No SW: 8K0 907 063 D HW: 8K0 907 063 D
Component: BCM1 1.0 H22 0253
Revision: 05022001 Serial number: 00000000198577
Coding: 26001091063CAF010000080300003D0D0F1C460800010161000000
Shop #: WSC 06335 000 00000
VCID: 306F45086311F5C497-8064
Subsystem 1 - Part No SW: 8K1 955 119 A HW: 8T1 955 119 Labels: 1KX-955-119.CLB
Component: WWS 020808 H06 0070
Serial number: SWFBIE 0005122
Coding: 00FD11
Subsystem 2 - Part No SW: 8K0 955 559 HW: 8K0 955 559 Labels: 8K0-955-559.CLB
Component: RLS H04 0003
Serial number: 10212494
Coding: 025028
Subsystem 3 - Part No SW: 8K0 941 531 G HW: 8K0 941 531 G
Component: E1 - LDS H07 0070
Serial number: 00000000000308080622
Subsystem 4 - Part No SW: 8K0 907 410 A HW: 8K0 907 410 A
Component: UGDO HL US H04 0060
If you do have the RLS coded, then things should function. You might need to review the coding for the RLS. The first section of the image is the long coding helper for address 09, the J519, to confirm the G397 is enabled. The other three are for the RLS subcomponent. I can't say what your values should be, or how you would test the sensor if it seems coded correctly. I assume there's likely some measuring block that contains the rain reading, but no idea what what it would be. WWS is the windshield wiper system, I believe, but not sure what's in there.
Yeah, if you're under warranty, let them sort it out. You've paid for it, though I think they charge a deductible.
If you have the base model, then you won't have any of that functionality. So why the device is there on your windshield is a who knows (that part number in your picture is the "sensor for rain and light recognition").
And seems it's called "gel foil for rain sensor". Thus the "gel pack" and the foil term from the service manual are talking about the same thing.
I do not think the rain sensor is active when the vehicle is not in drive. When I start my car with the windshield covered with water they do not activate until I start driving.
You need to drive the car in the rain to confirm operation.
I do not think the rain sensor is active when the vehicle is not in drive. When I start my car with the windshield covered with water they do not activate until I start driving.
You need to drive the car in the rain to confirm operation.
That could be it, the manual says 4 km/h, but I've seen youtube videos of the car activating them while parked which is why I tried it this way first.
If the lever is in auto position before starting it requires some speed before activating, but with engine ON and then putting the lever in auto position starts the wipers also at stand still. In that case I think it starts also without detecting rain. I was under the impression that rain sensor is only installed in combination with auto light.
07-29-2018, 06:01 AM
2013 A4 Quattro 6MT rain sensor question
