Rowlie

My 2004 A8 has a rain sensor which is unacknowledged in the owner's manual. It controls the wipers when the switch is at the intermittent position. The slider on the switch which is supposed to control the frequency of intermittent wipes doesn't seem to do anything. Anyone know anything about this? Does it do something?

greenie

Rain sensing? I dont think so.

Plano-4.2

So does the intermittent not work at all? Or only at one rate independent of the setting?

Mister Bally

I find it odd that the "loaded" 2001 VW New Beetles have a rain sensor but 2004 A8L's don't. Maybe European market models do. Perhaps ejrowland has an A8L for the European market.

Rowlie

It really is rain sensing. It works just like it did in my Mercedes. The frequency of the wipes varies with the intensity of the rain, not the speed of the car or position of the slider. I can leave the switch in that setting and it will not move the wipers at all when dry and will automatically shift them to high speed in a downpour. I've never had to move the switch to low or high. I do have to turn it off so the wipers don't go in a carwash.

There is a sensor in the windshield glass.

greenie

"Rain-sensing" not available in 04.

Rowlie

Apparently it was, because my car has it and the integration of the sensor into the windshield was clearly done at the factory--the frit follows it around the edge of the glass & the interior box matches my amaretto interior. But it also appears that it wasn't formally recognized--hence my question. I haven't found it in the sales information or the owner's manual. Maybe it was buried in an option package or bundled with the solar sunroof or something. Mine is not a euro spec car, but maybe someone screwed up at the factory if no one else here has this condition.

thrilla from manila

Mebbe yours is the last 04 out of the factory. Care to take pics for us?

greenie

If you do, save the car along with the stamp which displays the upside-down bi-plane!

Mister Bally

Greenie, you know there is a chance his car somehow has the feature. His description of the car wash activation describes the way that feature works. If he posts a picture of the car and the sensor, will that be enough or will you need to see a copy of the VIN plate and bill of sale?

When I worked for a Tier 1 automotive component supplier, we would slip a new feature on some controlled vehicles in order to monitor real world performance of these bells & whistles.

The 2004 brochure has the standard statement that says "However, specifications, standard equipment, options and colors are subject to change without notice".