Page 1 of 1
Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:04 am
by Muldoon
Hi
I wondered what the exact use of the thumbwheel on the wiper arm with the 'raindrop' symbols is for? I thought it just varied the amount of time for the intermittent delay as on many other cars, however I have noticed that the wipers seem to have a mind of their own and sometimes stop working when I slow down or stop at a junction then resume as you speed up again.
Anyone else noticed this? I guess the control is a more fancy version which somehow measures the amount of moisture on the screen and changes the speed like fully automatic wipers instead of adjustable intermittent delay - if you could leave it on this setting and just let the computer switch them on and off as needed.
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:10 am
by alexperkins
The dial adjusts how sensitive the rain sensor is (if fitted). Turned fully to the right is the most sensitive in auto mode (one notch up). Turned fully to the left is the least sensitive. Otherwise, it just controls the intermittent delay between wipes
And yes when stopping at a junction theyll slow/stop, then when you start moving theyll reactivate
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:14 am
by Muldoon
alexperkins wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:10 am
The dial adjusts how sensitive the rain sensor is. Turned fully to the right is the most sensitive in auto mode (one notch up). Turned fully to the left is the least sensitive.
And yes when stopping at a junction theyll slow/stop, then when you start moving theyll reactivate
Cheers - didn't realise they were auto wipers, thought just variable intermittent on the SE - will give it a try just leaving it on this setting.
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:18 am
by alexperkins
SE doesnt have a rain sensor by default, but yours may have it as an option.
Easiest way to tell is look where the mirror mounts on the outside of the windscreen and pop a photo up - we can confirm it
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:26 am
by SRGTD
Assume they operate the same on the current Polo as they do on the previous generation Polo.
On my car (previous generation Polo GTI) if you come to a stop and you’ve got your wipers switched on, they switch to the next setting down - e.g. if they’re on the slower of the two continuous speeds, they switch to intermittent, and if on intermittent, they stop. This is because you rarely need the wipers to operate as fast or as frequently when you’re stationary as you do when you’re moving. It also helps preserve the life of your wiper blades by not wiping as often (or at all) on the screen while you’re stopped, and the screen is unlikely to be getting as wet as it is when the car’s moving in rainy/wet conditions.
It should be explained in your owners manual under ‘Windscreen wipers -> Functions’. Not the most exciting read, but there’s some useful stuff in there
.
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:34 am
by Muldoon
SRGTD wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:26 am
Assume they operate the same on the current Polo as they do on the previous generation Polo.
On my car (previous generation Polo GTI) if you come to a stop and you’ve got your wipers switched on, they switch to the next setting down - e.g. if they’re on the slower of the two continuous speeds, they switch to intermittent, and if on intermittent, they stop. This is because you rarely need the wipers to operate as fast or as frequently when you’re stationary as you do when you’re moving. It also helps preserve the life of your wiper blades by not wiping as often (or at all) on the screen while you’re stopped, and the screen is unlikely to be getting as wet as it is when the car’s moving in rainy/wet conditions.
It should be explained in your owners manual under ‘Windscreen wipers -> Functions’. Not the most exciting read, but there’s some useful stuff in there
.
Cool - thanks! Will dig out the manual from under the passenger seat and read up, sounds quite a clever system if true.
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:31 pm
by Andy Beats
Muldoon wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:04 am
and sometimes stop working when I slow down or stop at a junction then resume as you speed up again.
I think this might be some daft EU regulation.
The way I go home, I have to go into a slip road to turn right across two lane of traffic.
So I'm more or less facing the oncoming traffic.
When I stop, the wipers stop (various cars).
Which means, if it's raining, I have to select a different setting to get the wipers going again so i can see when it's safe to cross.
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 2:48 am
by Dark_cze
Not sure about UK polos but my czech polo can disable automatic wipers in car settings and use that thumbwheel for delaying cycles as in older cars. .... also automatic wipers seems to be way to sensitive even in lowest settings
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 10:32 am
by vc-10
Why on earth would wiper speeds be an EU regulation?
Anyway, VW Group stuff has done this for a while, my mum had a 2014 Superb which did this. It doesn't actually stop, I'm pretty sure that on the longest interval it just extends the interval further.
Re: Variable wiper control
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 10:52 am
by RUM4MO
vc-10 wrote: Sat Jan 12, 2019 10:32 am
Why on earth would wiper speeds be an EU regulation?
snip ------- snip
Is that not what keeps the EU people in Brussels busy, sounds a bit like one of their scams. (though I'm not a leaver, I'd rather stay in and change the greedy way they do things!)
.