Damn Rain-Sensing Wipers!

[Silver Ecstasy]

I honestly think i've had enough with the rain-sensing wipers. I rain-x the windshield like crazy anyhow, but this only exaggerates how BAD the rain-sensing wipers are. They were bad in my 1st Gen, and they're equally as bad in the 2nd Gen. The sensor is far too over-active, regardless of what level of sensitivity. So.. time to take some action.

I've tracked down a part number at onlinemazdaparts.com, for a 2010+ wiper stalk (for cars without rain sensors). The question is:

1) Will this be plug n play?
2) Will this actually work?

I've tried calling Friend @ Mazda (actual customer service number on their website) and i've tried bullshitting with the techs at the dealer about actually doing this under warranty since I fucking hate it. And everyone so far has said "nah.. it might not work, not if it has that rain sensor." But my logic is.. who gives a fuck about a sensor? It should ultimately be the stalk that sends the command to the BCM right?

I've googled the fuck out of this also, and ran into a lot of MX5 owners who upgraded their non-intermittent stalks for intermittent-capable stalks and it was all plug n play.

Thoughts? Discuss please.

[sellers]

Find the sensor and unplug it, see if stalk still works by itself? Do you guys not have any way to control the wipers?

[Silver Ecstasy]

Unfortunately, this presents two problems:

1) The sensor is integrated with the Auto Headlights sensor in the windshield. Nothing to unplug AFAIK.

2) On the wiper stalk itself, you have the following controls. OFF - Rain Sensing (with sensitivity adjustment) - SPEED 1 - SPEED 2.

You cannot control the headlights other than constant fast, constant faster, or off. Otherwise, intermittent is actually "I'll wipe whenever I want to wipe NIGGAH".

Therefore, I figure, if you replace the entire stalk, you pwn the niggah in charge of your wipers.

[sellers]

Welp, that sucks. Get a first gen.

[snailD]

Originally Posted by sellers Welp, that sucks. Get a first gen.

or a non tech package

[Silver Ecstasy]

Hmm, navi, led tails, bi-xenon adaptive front headlights? I'll take my tech package. But rain-sensing wipers can kiss my ass. SO, I think I may just buy this stalk and install it and hope for the best.

[Tokay444]

I leave them off and just flick it up once when I need a wipe.

[Raider]

1st gen us models have a wiper setting for auto wipers. Off down for auto, then further for frequency then speed. You don't hav it? Pop the plastic off around rear view mirror for the harness. Might be n the headliner too.

[Silver Ecstasy]

But what's that going to do? If the stalk itself commands OFF-Rain-Speed 1-Speed 2, unplugging the sensor won't do anything.

[Raider]

You just flat out do not want to have or see it ever? Sounds a bit OCD....

[Silver Ecstasy]

I don't know how much more clearly I explain this..

I would like to have normal control of the wipers. If possible, i'd like to install a normal wiper stalk and have normal, intermittent-capable wiper abilities. I do not like the rain-sensing wipers nor it's erratic, over-paranoid wiping strategy. I love my tech package MS3 with the exception of the wipers. I am asking if, by just replacing the stalk, i'll relinquish control of standard controls of the wipers, rather than rain-sensing, or is the stalk just "not going to work".

Unplugging the sensor is only going to either trip a CEL or make the wipers not work at all. That doesn't solve the problem.

[Raider]

Well, I found your 3 year old thread on 247 in my searches to find a fix. Since 1st gen sport had no auto sensing wipers, I would try that over GenPu.

[Tokay444]

I don't think we have a sport/tech package in Canada. Pretty sure the only option was navi.
At any rate, with the combination of rain-x, and the single swipe upward flick, I never turn my wipers on.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by Raider Well, I found your 3 year old thread on 247 in my searches to find a fix. Since 1st gen sport had no auto sensing wipers, I would try that over GenPu.

Yeah I hated it on my 1st Gen, and I hate it on my 2nd Gen. 2nd Gen non-tech package is normal wipers. I'll probably end up buying the stalk and praying for the best.

[Raider]

Yeah. You will be the tester.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Yes. Yes I will be. Along with those pedders cx7 springs lol.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Okay,

2010 MS3 non-tech package wiper stalk has been ordered. I will post pictures of install and confirm whether or not this works. I'm willing to take the $20 loss if it doesn't work ($10 restock fee, $7.50 shipping fee).

[SPEEDRAC3R]

Please, please, please, let us know if this works! I abhor the rain sensing wipers in my GenOne. I know exactly what you mean, they do not consistently turn on or off, and the erratic wiping actually annoys the hell out of me.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by SPEEDRAC3R Please, please, please, let us know if this works! I abhor the rain sensing wipers in my GenOne. I know exactly what you mean, they do not consistently turn on or off, and the erratic wiping actually annoys the hell out of me.

For sure! I should have sometime next week. Hoping for the best! Right now, i'm thinking there will still be some blockage by the bcm not communicating to the car properly.

[topher3134]

I am glad I live in texas where it now only seems to rain about as often as a nun gets laid!

[ZipprSuitdSungod]

The rain-sensing wipers drove me crazy for awhile after I bought my car. Now I just ignore what they do. If the wipers seem to be swiping too often, then I just leave them off and use the 'MIST' position when necessary. Now I'm not so pissed off.

[Tokay444]

No need to mist. Push up and hold for as many swipes as you'd like.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Man, i'm like counting down the days now until it gets here. The anticipation is killing me. I hope i'm not disappointed.

[deuce_WI]

Subbing and praying for op's success.

The only time I've found the auto wiper bullshit to actually work really well was during a wet track day. They were able to speed up and slow down flawlessly on track and worked well up to 120+ mph. Maybe that's where Mazda tested them?

Any other time they work for shit.

[Silver Ecstasy]

I will take very detailed pictures of everything once I get it, and uninstall the stock equipment.

*EDIT*

This was the thread that originally motivated me to try this, considering it's complete and utter simplicity..
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=416777

[Silver Ecstasy]

Update:

So I received the part on Saturday through USPS and proceeded to install today. And as expected, it did NOT work.

The wiper is a direct swap, harness and all. But when the stalk is moved into "Intermittent" selection, the wipers do not function as expected. Instead, I sprayed water on the rain sensor and it proceeded to swipe away. Fuck.

I guess I could always just pull the sensor plug, but I fear the PCM is ultimately what's causing the issue.

The car is set to sense rain from the rain sensor at that position on the stalk, regardless if the stalk shows intermittent or auto. Unplugging the rain sensor should fix this.. but I haven't tried yet lol.

SOMETHING YOU COULD TRY:

Found this on the Gen 2 Tech Manual, it's a re-initialization process for the rain sensing wipers which helps reset the sensor. Clean all the dirt and debris off the windshield. Starting with the wiper stalk in AUTO, turn the ignition to ON, and move the stalk OFF _ AUTO _ OFF _ AUTO _ OFF _ AUTO _ OFF _ AUTO _ OFF _ AUTO (5 times, ending with auto). The wipers will wipe once to confirm re-initialization.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Update, I unplugged the rain sensor and it did nothing to fix the problem. In the auto position, nothing happened, and it didn't revert to intermittent. Next things going to be unplugging the actual auto light/wiper module underneath the glove box.

[superskaterxes]

why dont u just put black tape over the sensor?

[Silver Ecstasy]

The sensor is optical, measuring clarity for wiping. Black tape would mean they go off all the time.

[Raider]

I suspect there is much anger and hatred toward the sensor, the desire for it to be 100% gone is overwhelming and beyond the scope of even professional psychology.

[anthony8488]

Found this for a cx-9 if its similar to the speed3 maybe can bypass the rain sensor?

[anthony8488]

Originally Posted by Silver Ecstasy The sensor is optical, measuring clarity for wiping. Black tape would mean they go off all the time.

If the sensor had no power, was covered, then powered on, you think it would read the darkness as clear or revert to needs wiping?

[Elusivellama]

Two days ago, my auto wipers were wiping at a constant rate (speed 1) with a light misting/spitting of rain. Pissed me off. Today they're working flawlessly as I would expect, wiping only enough to get mist off once or twice, staying off when not needed.

Im gonna do the reset procedure if it goes back to being useless again.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Originally Posted by anthony8488 If the sensor had no power, was covered, then powered on, you think it would read the darkness as clear or revert to needs wiping?

Well considering it being unplugged, the wipers did not work at all.

If you're VIP, you can get the Gen 2 Tech Manual and get the wiring diagrams. If you're more knowledgable at bypassing the sensor, then be my guest.

Raider - ultimate hatred towards an utterly ignorant technology that is completely and utterly useless and incompetent.

[HLR Element]

i hate the auto sensing wipers, it's like they're OCD and can't have a single drop of water at any moment and i hate the lines wipers form (i might have a slight ocd about that lol)

i use rain x and flip the stalk up when need for one wipe like others have said. slow driving that's enough and faster rainx solves all.

[neofandango]

Originally Posted by Silver Ecstasy Hmm, navi, led tails, bi-xenon adaptive front headlights? I'll take my tech package. But rain-sensing wipers can kiss my ass. SO, I think I may just buy this stalk and install it and hope for the best.

Not sure but on my 2011 I can choose to use it or not.

[mtran]

Originally Posted by neofandango Not sure but on my 2011 I can choose to use it or not.

How do you manage that? Is there a button to disable autowipers in the 2011?

[Tokay444]

Up is off.

[noobinacan]

anyone know how I can remove the cover from the sensor ? on a 07 ms3 ?
its one black piece.

thanks

[g00s3y]

Originally Posted by noobinacan anyone know how I can remove the cover from the sensor ? on a 07 ms3 ? its one black piece. thanks

take it off