I was stuck in a monsoon downpour in Phoenix in late August. I was driving to the service center when the roads turned into river torrents. The windshield wipers were wiping like there was no tomorrow, as fast as possible. However, an odd thing happened when I turned off the wipers in the middle of the torrential downpour... I actually could see better! I know this sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes you will actually have better visibility through the sheeting water on the your windshield than with your wipers batting back and forth like crazy.
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Rain-sensing wipers driving me nuts!
- Thread starter SamGarber
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- Model S User Interface wipers
Yeah, as far as I can tell they don't work at all. I just use the "low" and "high" manual settings. (The high setting isn't high enough, either.)
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N4HHE said:
Or the Northeast. Frankly, I think they didn't test the wipers anywhere except California.
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However, I will say I was pleasantly surprised that the auto lights work pretty much perfectly. Wasn't expecting that.
JakeP
S P4996 ==> P02547
Speaking of auto-sensing wipers and headlights, has anyone else noticed that when running with DRLs in daytime, the headlights actually flash when the auto-sensing wipers sweep? I noticed this while stopped at a traffic light today, and I saw my own headlights unexpectedly flash. They did it again the next time the sensor triggered the wipers. I am guessing it is a software bug related to the requirement of headlights being when wipers are on.
mknox
Well-Known Member
JakeP
S P4996 ==> P02547
Interesting. I just noticed it today after a year of ownership. I wonder if it was recently introduced by a software update? Be on the lookout for it when you are in a position to see your headlights (which are also set to Auto), and DRLs on in my case, and likely yours in Canada also.
gg_got_a_tesla
Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
Hey JakeP, saw this happen today as I pulled up behind another car at a stop! We've had our first bit of real rain in the Bay Area in weeks and I had the wipers on auto. Was startled a bit to see the lights flash as the wipers swept but, I then recalled this post. I hope this is happening only when at a stop and not when on the move too (couldn't tell for sure but will be on the lookout). Hope it gets fixed soon. Anyone report this to ownership yet? Am doing it now.
JakeP
S P4996 ==> P02547
Isn't it crazy? I would bet it is happening while in motion, but I have never tested it...May need to drive around the cul-de-sac in some drizzle, and recruit the kids to stand outside as spotters!
gg_got_a_tesla I am also in the Bay Area and used my wipers during rainfall for the first time today (got my S85 on 12-21-2103 and this is the first time it has rained since that date!). I definitely did not see my headlights flash during "wipes" when stopped. Unable to check for sure if the lights flashed while moving but don't think do. I tried both auto sensing positions on the control stalk. I have FW 5.8.4 and the Tech Package.
Am very glad to have this rainfall but am convinced that water rationing is going to be necessary this year in California.
As far as I know the headlights have always turned on when the wipers are used if the lights are set in 'auto'. I usually drive with my parking lights on when we have foggy drippy days in Humboldt and it is pretty light out so i don't really need headlights.
My experience today with the auto sensing wipers at around 1pm while it was raining, with the headlights on "auto", was that my headlights did not come on. The sky was cloudy but it was fairly light, headlights not needed.
JakeP
S P4996 ==> P02547
JakeP
S P4996 ==> P02547
And be advised we are noticing not that the headlights turn on, but that they flash for the brief time that the wiper blades sweep!
Yes my DRLs were on and I am on V5.8.4. And yes I did not observe any headlight flash at all when my wipers wiped. Maybe I missed the flashing, but I don't think so...
gg_got_a_tesla
Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
Tesla Burlingame couldn't reproduce the issue. I was moved up to v5.8.7 fwiw so, will look out for this when it rains again later this week.
gg_got_a_tesla
Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
JakeP
S P4996 ==> P02547
Mine was a definite flash only. Was just updated to 5.8.7 also...may need to test in garage with a spray bottle!
mknox
Well-Known Member
Here's something interesting re: flashing headlights. Yesterday evening, I was waiting in the car while my wife ran in to a store. It was dusk and my headlights were on and glaring back at me from the store's glass window, so I turned them off from the touchscreen while I remained in the car. Subsequent to this, they'd give a flash every minute or so and my wipers were NOT on at all. While I waited, I started to pay attention and also noticed the "Headlight On" indicator on the dash would also briefly appear whenever the headlights flashed.
As we departed, I left the headlight control in Off and drove away with DRLs only. Sure enough, the headlights would flash every so often as I drove. It was dusk, so I put it back in Auto and just let them come on and stay on.
I never noticed this before, but then probably wouldn't have if I hadn't seen it in a storefront window. Clearly it has nothing to do with the wipers. I wonder how often my car "winks" at others as I drive?
As we departed, I left the headlight control in Off and drove away with DRLs only. Sure enough, the headlights would flash every so often as I drove. It was dusk, so I put it back in Auto and just let them come on and stay on.
I never noticed this before, but then probably wouldn't have if I hadn't seen it in a storefront window. Clearly it has nothing to do with the wipers. I wonder how often my car "winks" at others as I drive?
gg_got_a_tesla
Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
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