I've read the owners manual, but must be reading it backwards or something. Can someone tell me why every now and then when I start the car the wipers do a single sweep? I think it has something to do with the rain sensing wipers??

 

wipers are in the "on" position?

 

They're supposed to stay switched off when you start the car regardless of the switch position, and need to be turned off / on again to reactivate. That is, they do not stay switched on after you stop the car.

At least that's what I was told and what mine do.

 

Based on the manual, I believe that I have the stalk at 1 click up from off. The adjustment is in the middle.

 

aggie57 is correct. No matter the position when the car was turned off... the wipers should not come on when the car is restarted.

Matt

 

The wipers don't come ON per se ... there is "sometimes" just a single swipe and then they stay off until it rains. I'll go back to the manual and recheck it.

 

Maybe it's just excited to see you?

 

Exactly. I programmed mine, but you have to turn them on again.

 

Sounds like there's something amiss. That adjustment you're talking about should have no impact on whether they're switched on or not. It only controls how sensitive they are to rain. Least that's the theory - I can't really tell the difference!

 

Happens on my Audi's as well. Sometimes the rain sensors think there's rain on the windshield (perhaps due to residual water, moisture, something) and activate the wipers at the start for a brief period. I think in the PCM you have the option to either enable or disable automatic wipers regardless of position of the stalk. If this is on, it would easily explain the problem. Try turning it off and your issue should be solved.

 

Same here on my C4S as well as wife's Audis. Only a couple times when starting but also a few times when coming to a sudden stop at a stoplight. Strange, but not a huge issue.

 

That's an interesting question. Mine do that occasionally when in rain sensor mode, which I leave on all the time, when the screen was dry. I assumed it was caused by dirt or a thin film of something on the windshield. However, I don't think I have to turn them off and on again to get them to work automatically if it starts to rain and I know it doesn't happen everytime I start the car. Well, I think I know that, you guys have me wondering about it now. I'll test it out next time I wash the car but I actually thought not having to go through the off-on routine when it rained would be a great improvement over the VW system. If that's not the case I risk adding fine scratchs the window every time they wipe it when it's dry.

 

Yep, dig around in the Info/Options and there's a way to set them so you have to activate at startup. That's the way I have mine set, now that I checked it out.

 

You are right. Found that this morning. It's in the PCM Main Menu under the Individual memory category, (key must be in the ignition with everything turned on), second item listed as Automatic Wipers, then Rain Sensor then you'll see the setting Activ.on Ignition and manual. Coupes with Rear Wiper have stting also though I can't get to it on my Cab. I had set that up so long ago I forgotten I'd done it. If you set it for activate with ignition you never have to turn it on or off. Lazy mans' wiper system. I love it and the boy racers will love it because they can stay focused on driving at the edge instead fiddling with the wiper stalk if it starts to rain while they're at the track.

 

Thanks for the info, that is exactly what's happening and the setup I have. Must be some condensation or something occasionally in the morning. I'll update my settings.