Rain sensor fixing on windscreen.

[sgould]

My rain sensor hasn't worked for a while.  It fell off and I stuck it back on.  It was OK for a while, then it came loose.

It seems that the plastic holder for the rain sensor comes as part of the windscreen.  That's what I reckon from looking at the EPC.

The question is, when you get a new windscreen, as I have had, is it supplied to (say) Autoglass with the bracket on.  Or do they take the old one off and stick it to the new one?

I ask, because the bracket fell off the replacement windscreen, along with the sensor, I want to stick it back, but I'm trying to work out whether it fell off because the windscreen supplier got it wrong or the windscreen fitter.  The fixings are double sided sticky thin strips of plastic. and they have broken rather than coming unstuck and it looks very odd.  It looks as if the holder has been levered off the screen at some point.  It hasn't come unstuck all over.  And the bits left on the screen are stuck fast, difficult to get off and in the way.

If a new screen comes with a bracket, maybe it's time for another new screen.....

[ScarbSaab]

From memory when mine was done, the screen had a clear section in the black masking for the sensor. They then use something like clear silicone sealant to glue the sensor to the screen - at least it is on mine, so I guess they reused the holder. I'm not too thrilled with how they did it (definite blobs of sealant rather than a neat ring) but it has stayed stuck.

[sgould]

I've stripped mine right down now.  And the bits stuck to the windscreen and the bits left on the bracket have gaps.  So it must have been taken off for some reason after the first fix. 

Double check it all then glue.  Just got to line up the small hole on the side.  I think that is the critical bit.

[sgould]

With a little help from SWMBO holding it in the place it was, it's clear that the fixing bracket has been used before, and fixed back in the wrong place. 

So I have cleared everything and it will have to be a two handed job to align it and glue it in place.  Where it was, the small sensor was not in line with the small hole.

I have filled the hole with white paper to make it easier to locate.  The plastic strips are broken but there is a lot more missing than is stuck to the windscreen.




But it wasn't in line with the hole on the side.

[bgentles]

The rain sensing wipers is one of my favourite features of the car. I had no expectations of it when I got the car, but it has been absolutely faultless in the last 3-4 years. Cue post here tomorrow asking how to repair same...

Regards,

Brian

[sgould]

I worried about the non-reversibility of using Araldite, so I went for some bath sealant.  It's currently held in place with an improvised prop.  The stuff takes 24 hours or more to cure and it's cold out there! 

A Trekking pole is adjustable and works well (so far).

[sgould]

Back in place and it seems to be working!  

At least the wipers move when I spray the windscreen with the aerosol bottle...

Leaving it propped in place for another 24 hours.  Car is driveable if necessary.  If the sealant is not string enough to hold it, now I know that I can get it in the right place, I can redo with Araldite.

[Norfolk Jim]

Will - I just noticed this one.

Don't use ordinary clear silicone - go to local aquatic centre and get some fish tank sealant used for making tanks (bonding glass to glass for clear corners) as that doesn't need much and gives a really good seal with no worries ever of damp loosening it. I used it to stick a friends telephone aerial on side screen recently and it hold through car washes 

[sgould]

Thanks, I need to have another look at it.  I think it has moved away from the screen.  It was working well, even possibly a bit over sensitive, when I checked with a spray bottle.  But in the rain on Tuesday it was not working well.