Automatic Wipers...

[Treza360]

Have a search in the MkV section (I believe it's also been covered in the Passat and MkIV as well). But the type of window cleaner you use can also have an effect on the automatic wipers. Seems the residue left behind may trigger them as well. Also mentions in places the relay part number you can get to replace the automatic and just go back to a conventional intermittent problem.

The easiest way I find is to use automatic only when it is properly raining and then adjust sensitivity as necessary. If all of a sudden they go crazy on lowest sensitivity, flicking it up to maximum and then back down to minimum normally sorts it out for a while.

And yes they are a long way from perfect and have never really have been on any specific VW model.

Cheers,
Trent

[elephino]

It's possible there's a faulty sensor. I had that on my MkV. It was usually show itself by having the headlights on in bright sunshine as well when on auto (not so easy to tell if you have bi-xenons on the MkVI).

[Karlosovic]

I leave my wipers in the "off" position ... allows me to easily use the momentary one wipe downward flick of the wiper switch

I've found that a light pull back on the wiper switch (the motion to use the washers) will result in one action of the wipers without the washer pump spooling up enough to spray water

[dopey]

I've found that they misbehave if the car hasn't been washed in a while. If the windscreen glass is nice and clean and free of excessive residue the automatic wipers function quite well (I prefer the sensitivity set to about middle) but the dirtier it gets the more it seems to act up, presumably because the dirt makes it harder for the sensor to read accurately.

[ryano]

I never had a single problem with my MKV Rain sensor (dirty whildshield or not), but on my Mk6 it was just crap, I managed to convince the dealer to replace it and have had the occaisional 'phantom' wipe since, but not nearly as many.

[mzm]

It's possible there's a faulty sensor. I had that on my MkV. It was usually show itself by having the headlights on in bright sunshine as well when on auto (not so easy to tell if you have bi-xenons on the MkVI).

If that's the case, I believe I got a faulty sensor on my MK6. I have noticed twice the headlights was on in the morning after I started up the car under blue sky. And more annoyingly, the automatic wipers are crap. They seem too sensitive, a tiny bit of rain will make them run continuously, the next sensitivity level up will make them run continuously at full speed.

In addition, the driver side wiper make noise when change direction in vertical position. And passenger side wipe make noise and a jump when going down close to the end. I have tried to clean the windscreen with glass polish, rainX, clay bar and iso-propyl alcohol, but non of them helps. This problem only happens if the glass is wet with rain or plain water. I don't know if replace the blades can fix it or not, but what my wife and I are doing now is turn up the music to cover the noise. Does anyone else have this problem?

[elephino]

If that's the case, I believe I got a faulty sensor on my MK6. I have noticed twice the headlights was on in the morning after I started up the car under blue sky. And more annoyingly, the automatic wipers are crap. They seem too sensitive, a tiny bit of rain will make them run continuously, the next sensitivity level up will make them run continuously at full speed.

In addition, the driver side wiper make noise when change direction in vertical position. And passenger side wipe make noise and a jump when going down close to the end. I have tried to clean the windscreen with glass polish, rainX, clay bar and iso-propyl alcohol, but non of them helps. This problem only happens if the glass is wet with rain or plain water. I don't know if replace the blades can fix it or not, but what my wife and I are doing now is turn up the music to cover the noise. Does anyone else have this problem?

It would depend on what the noise is. Often it's just the blade moving on the change of direction.

For the sensor, I'd definitely suggest taking it to the dealer to change it.

[cameronp]

If that's the case, I believe I got a faulty sensor on my MK6. I have noticed twice the headlights was on in the morning after I started up the car under blue sky.

You realise that the Golf has daytime driving lights as well as headlights, right? I've found the automatic headlights on mine to be pretty much spot on, although the only way you can tell whether they're on seems to be looking at the radio and seeing if it has its blue backlight on. Might be worth taking yours to the dealer to get the sensor checked out.

And more annoyingly, the automatic wipers are crap. They seem too sensitive, a tiny bit of rain will make them run continuously, the next sensitivity level up will make them run continuously at full speed.

The automatic wipers on mine are also a bit crap.

[paulcito]

What also gets me is that the rear wiper engages on reverse gear if the rear screen is slightly wet

[Corey_R]

What is it that gets you about that?

[ryano]

What is it that gets you about that?

Can be a pain if you have just used the washer to clean the front windscreen and not the rear, but since there may be a bit of water on the senser it sets off the rear wiper when you go into reverse, has happened to me a couple of times, not that big a deal though

ED: hmm didn't read his post correctly, the sensor doesn't go off if the rear screen is wet?

[mzm]

You realise that the Golf has daytime driving lights as well as headlights, right? I've found the automatic headlights on mine to be pretty much spot on, although the only way you can tell whether they're on seems to be looking at the radio and seeing if it has its blue backlight on. Might be worth taking yours to the dealer to get the sensor checked out.

Yes, I have the DRL activated. I could tell the headlights were on according to the indicator around the headlight switch. I also had a look at the headlights and made sure they were on.

I only noticed it happened in the morning (maybe cold morning only?). I am not sure if there is something to do with the dew on the car.

[Cuppa]

WARNING TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT USED TO AUTO WIPERS. - CAUTIONARY TALE.

While washing my brand new GTI MK6 for the very first time I finished hosing it down and moved the car under cover into the shade and left the ignition on to listen to the radio like i've done with previous cars in the past. Next I was wiping down the windscreen with a chamois when suddenly the wipers burst to life across the windscreen hitting my hand and snapping off in the process. Fearful that the metal arm would scratch the windscreen I then grabbed it with my hand and lifted it away from the windscreen thinking this would save the situation only to discover that the base of the wipers are restricted by the bonnet preventing the wiper arm from moving more than a few degrees off the windscreen so all I managed to do was cause a nasty scratch to the edge of the bonnet!

I'd only had the car a week and wasn't aware that the wipers were set to auto which left me frustrated and angry. So I now know where the VW parts department is located and also know NEVER leave the car on when wiping the windows!!

[Tux]

That's a trap for young players! That might've saved some grief for me.. thanks mate.

I got to use the auto wipers on my second day of ownership and found they were all over the shop. I played with the sensitivity settings and couldn't find a happy medium. When they first came on I told the wife about them being auto. Not too long after we could hardly see through the screen when she asked why they hadn't come on.

[Corey_R]

WARNING TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT USED TO AUTO WIPERS. - CAUTIONARY TALE.

I think that this is the best case yet for the "Read The Flippin' Manual" cause. If you had, you would see that there is a "service position" for the windscreen wipers which you should use when washing the car or cleaning the windscreen/wipers. It places the wipers in the extended position (pointing up the windscreen) so that they are accessible, won't trigger from water, and can be safely lifted without impacting with the bonnet

Sorry to hear you have had this issue, but it's clearly explained in the manual.