Automatic Wipers...

[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.

[FJ Steve]

^^^ beat me to it^^^

also, that was part of the 2.5 hr pre-delivery introduction we had with the .:R32. It was VERY comprehensive.

[Maverick]

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!!

As coreying said reading the manual has benefits.

To add to his post the radio can be operated with the ignition off, press the power button and it will fire up (also in the manual).

Touch up paint in both a pair of small bottles (color and clear) or spray paint is also available from the spare parts department to touch up the bonnet. Around $20 for the bottles.

[GTI mk6]

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

I was told by the dealership that if you have the wipers on auto/rain sensor mode, "everytime
you engage reverse gear", the rear wiper engages (think just one sweep), even if the window is completely dry?
Cant test this out right now as my car is currently over at dealership for the next week.

Personally I dont like this idea, particularly having it sweep a dry window, so would then need to
keep wipers in the "off" position to prevent this happening.
Can anyone confirm this?
Must remember to try this once i get my car back

[FJ Steve]

this is not the case on a MK5. The rear wiper won't sweep unless:

1. Reverse gear is selected, AND
2. The rain sensor prism on the front screen actually detects water.

The only other way the wiper should operate, is if you manually select it yourself.

Sounds like your dealership is not quite up to speed with the vehicle. Same as a well known dealer here in Perth, who tried to tell me that the new Golf R is a turbocharged/supercharged engine. Huh?

[Karlosovic]

My parking spot at home is in an underground garage, so the car is always dry when i get in and reverse out
I have left my wipers in auto mode for several weeks now and have never seen the rear wiper sweep while reversing