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Where is the rain sensor? (2004)

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's stylish, distinctive P2 platform cars sold as model years 2001-2007 (North American market year designations).

2001 - 2007 V70
2001 - 2004 V70 XC (Cross Country)
2004 - 2007 XC70 (Cross Country)
2001 - 2009 S60
2003 - 2007 S60 R
2004 - 2007 V70 R

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BlackBart
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Where is the rain sensor? (2004)

Post by BlackBart »

Can you tell me where exactly the rain sensor is? Is it on the exterior and senses moisture, or inside the glass looking out? I keep wondering if it's part of the red alarm light bump on the dash. Or the back of the mirror.

My '04 XC does pretty random windshield wiping. It might go forever not wiping until I can't see, then it will wipe on fast full blast for a while. I'm used to an adjustable intermittent. So I often run with the wipers off and just flip the lever for a single wipe (which is always two for some reason).

I did try to search some - found this mention of just unplugging it.....
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=83835&p=458321&hili ... or#p458321

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Post by RickHaleParker »

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Rattnalle
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Post by Rattnalle »

Inside the windshield in front of the mirror. It's apparently quite sensitive to improper mounting if the windshield has been replaced. Also if you add windshield treatment to the area it looks at it can become a bit wierd.

If you'd rather have a regular interval wiper like on the cars without just unplug it.

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Post by mrbrian200 »

There's a clear silicone pad that sits on the face of the sensor between it and the glass. The pad likes to stick to the original windscreen. As a result it tends to rip/tear when removed and if reinstalled on the new windscreen like that the system will not work well. Seems many installers don't replace it when it happens and you'll need to buy a new silicone pad. Its a pretty easy DIY. The less you contaminate the new silicone pad during installation the better (ie fingerprints, dust etc).. I recommend wearing nitrile gloves while handling/installing it. And clean the inside of the windscreen where the sensor attaches with alcohol & lint free microfiber/cloth.

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Post by oragex »

I had no idea this was an option. Good to know (even though I still like manual wipers as well as manual rear view mirrors :) )

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Post by abscate »

Once self driving cars hit all thesemanual options will be in vogue again. I think we will look back and reflect on auto mirrors warmly , though.

I never needed the rain sensor as my girlfriend has ESPN
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Post by mrbrian200 »

I might have a bit more to add to this. Last fall when I looked at this rain sensor lens/pad for myself I recall several sources to buy this exact match replacement pad for this sensor. I can't find anyone selling this now. You may have to resort to bonding the pad to the glass using silicone glass sealant or trying a generic new clear silicone rain sensor lens cut to fit this sensor. There's also a two part silicone adhesive kit sold on fleabay specifically meant to do this.
The original sensor with it's silicone pad once pulled from the factory glass may never work as well, or at all, mounted to the replacement windscreen without addressing this.
I found a few references from volvo owners on other sites trying these 'fixes', from what I can tell people have about a 50/50 success rate probably depending on how careful their application was and which aftermarket glass was installed. Some brands of aftermarket glass may simply not work with the rain sensor no matter what you try due to the glass having a different composition/optical refractive properties.

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Post by EngineeringBloke »

My driver's side mirror has a small picture on it with a few raindrops drawn. I always assumed the sensor was there, and did not know of the windshield sensor.

My windshield cracked several years ago and I got a replacement. They seem to have done a good job as the rain sensor is still working, and I can see that there is a cream colored pad between the windshield and the rear-view mirror unit.

I don't usually bother with this setting, and control the wipe speed with the intermittent wipe, slow and fast speeds.

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Post by Rattnalle »

If the rain sensor is working you shouldn't have an intermittent setting at all. Just once, sensor, slow on, fast on.

The drop symbols on the mirrors are for some sort of factory glass treatment I think.

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Post by EngineeringBloke »

Nope, I do have both rain sensor and intermittent.

On the 06 S60, there is a button on the stalk to enable rain sensor action (if stalk is in first position 0),
next position 1 is intermittent with variable delay,
then slow (2) and
fast (3).

Single wipe is stalk up from initial position (position -1?).

http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/200 ... b.htm#pg35

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