tca45 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) Hey everyone, just recently purchased a new 2011 Fusion Sport. I also have a 09 Focus which is also a blast. But the Fusion is totally different and better in every way. Love the seats, the power, and other things about the car. Anyways, I have a question, there is this little black box behind the rear view mirror attached to the windshield. There is no black box behind the focus mirror so I was wondering what it was. When I remove the box, it is a circular plastic thing and on the front windshield side, it seems to have a little lens. Hopefully one of you guys can tell me what it is. Anyways, thanks a lot guys, love the car. Will try and post pictures of little bro (focus) and big bro (fusion) soon. Edited August 17, 2012 by tca45 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) That would be the rain sensor for the automatic wipers. It shoots a beam of infrared light into the windshield and looks at how it's reflected. When water drops on the glass in front of the sensor, the amount of infrared light reflected increases proportional to the amount of water on the glass which is used to control the speed of the wipers. I believe the magnetometer for the compass is also located in the box. To keep the automatic wipers working optimally, keep the little patch of windshield around the sensor really clean. Edited August 6, 2012 by FusionDiffusion 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 That would be the rain sensor for the automatic wipers. It shoots a beam of infrared light into the windshield and looks at how it's reflected. When water drops on the glass in front of the sensor, the amount of infrared light reflected increases proportional to the amount of water on the glass which is used to control the speed of the wipers. I believe the magnetometer for the compass is also located in the box. To keep the automatic wipers working optimally, keep the little patch of windshield around the sensor really clean. I have tested it out and it seems to either not be working or I am doing it wrong. I set the wiper setting to a middle sensitivity and sprayed water over it and it doesn't wipe at all. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Are they enabled in the setup menu? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Are they enabled in the setup menu? Well currently, they swipe once when I turn it into any of the sensitivity settings. So does that mean it is on? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 (edited) I'm not sure. My car doesn't have them (first available in 2011 MY), so I can't tell you exactly how they should work. On other cars I've driven you just leave the knob somewhere in the middle and the wipers don't wipe until water hits the windshield sensor. Spritzing with a squirt bottle should activate them (the water needs to form drops rather than a stream). Perhaps you didn't put the sensor back correctly after you took it off? Edited August 7, 2012 by FusionDiffusion 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 I tried squirting water on it after turning it on, nothing. And I removed the black box, not the actual sensor itself, just what covers it to make it look nice. Like an engine cover for an engine. Anyways, thanks for your help though. Other then that, the car is amazing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Try spraying more/in different areas. See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIDRUnwo6j0 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 yes, I have tried, I even tried the hose, no response. I think it may be a faulty sensor or needs to be reflashed. Hopefully it is covered under warranty which I think it should be. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Engine was running when you tried, right? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 yes, and I tried even without the engine running. I tried it without engine running, moving the stalk through the sensitivity settings, and turning the engine on and repeating the same step. The only ones that work is either, off, or low/high setting, no intermittent. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Well currently, they swipe once when I turn it into any of the sensitivity settings. So does that mean it is on? Yes, that means they're on. There's no on-off driver option in the setup menu for them. Before you take it to the dealer, shut them off completely, spray a fine mist over the sensor and turn them back on. Keep spraying and see what happens. If they still don't activate and the 3/36 B2B warranty is still in effect, then this is a covered repair. The wipers are between the bumpers. Let us know how you make out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 9, 2012 Author Share Posted August 9, 2012 We have decided to remove the the sensor altogether and with that, the wipers have returned to intermittent mode. We have checked all over the car for if it may create any issues but none so far, everything is working. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 We have decided to remove the the sensor altogether and with that, the wipers have returned to intermittent mode. We have checked all over the car for if it may create any issues but none so far, everything is working. Not sure what you mean by this. Cars with rain-sensing wipers don't have an intermittent mode. There are no interval (intermittent wipe)settings on vehicles with rain-sensing wipers And why would you remove the sensor anyway? You didn't reply about your warranty coverage but if you're still covered this could be repaired by your dealer under warranty. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 9, 2012 Author Share Posted August 9, 2012 (edited) They do, they returned back to intermittent mode when you remove the sensor as per the BMW forum I visited, and I decided against repairing it since I read that it is a bigger pain to have then to not have. It is finicky. But the sensor is still attached, just the plug is removed. But thanks droid1 and the rest for your help, I will post pics as soon as I can get both cars at home and give it a good wash. Edited August 9, 2012 by tca45 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tca45 Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) And finally, here are the pictures with the Focus beside it as well. Edited August 17, 2012 by tca45 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Nice Sport! Mines just like it and my wife has a dark grey 2010 Focus like yours. As far as the rain sensing wipers go when you first turn them on the wipers will work once then wait for the sensor. You could even cover it with you hand and it should work. From there of you turn them back off and on again it should work intermittently. Depending on how much water your misting on it might not work, sometimes I find when it's spitting outside it takes a bit of water for them to start working. Your hand should work though because when I scrape ice in the winter and run the scrapper across the sensor the wiper blades work. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alankriv Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 My cars twin! Lol 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOval2010 Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Great looking pair of Fords. My 2010 sport has rain sensing wiper too. I sense rain, I turn the wipers on ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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