spijun

You have the ability to completely turn off the rain sensor or try to change the sensitivity rain sensor

GregH

Maybe the option exists inVCDS/VAGCOM but you definitely cannot override the auto intermittent wipe function otherwise. Only option is to control the "sensitivity" of the auto system using the rocker switch on the stalk.

Only other option is to turn wipers to off and then manually flick the wiper stalk when you need a wipe which is not always practical.

If your system seems really erratic, might need to be replaced. On my first Q5, the sensor was way to lazy (did not wipe the screen often enough, even when set to most sensitive and Audi replaced it. After that, no more problems.

Transfer

Bumping this up because I think the rain sensing wiper system on my SQ5 just plain STINKS. My M3 rain sensing wipers had the same sensitivity type switch as Audi but that system was flawless. I could always get it to wipe when I wanted it to and at the proper rate, but in my SQ5 it seriously never wipes as fast or slow as I want it. It's definitely worse with slow falling rain. I can't for the life of me figure out what the hell it's thinking and the speed/sensitivity switch doesn't really seem to make a difference. Lots of rain... no wipe. No rain... wipe. I mean come on!

Am I alone in thinking it doesn't really work?

Q5 Bob

You might want to have them looked at. Maybe a bad sensor etc.

I've been satisfied with them in rain, snow, slop etc. on my Q5 and haven't made any adjustments since delivery.

My two previous cars were Lexus and they worked good on them too.

jbbarrette

Where in So Cal are you? You interested at all in a small group get together? I'm in Aliso Viejo.

spijun

I never had a problem. I am satisfied with how the system works

OttoNY

My only issue with the rain sensing wipers is that there should be an indicator LED to show when they are in the on position. When the rain stops the wipers stop--it's easy to forget and leave them on. Then, when the car goes into a carwash the wipers go on which is not a good thing. It's hard to tell looking at the stalk if they're on. To check it you risk pushing it into the manual position and cause the blades to rub against a dry, dirty window.

Transfer

Hmm. I wonder if mine is faulty.

JaXeN

I can toggle the rain sensing function on and off via the MMI under Car Settings. (Under the driver aids I believe)

When the rain sensing wipers are enabled, the intermittent switch adjusts sensitivity. With rain sensing disabled, the intermittent switch functions as it did on all my previous Audis.

Redd

There is always the simple Yankee Brute Force solution.

Somewhere there must be documentation what shows where the actual rain sensor is? The old ones used to be a capacitive sensor, two thin wires or a little "postage stamp" at the base of the windshield. When a drop of water "shorts out" the two wires, the wiper system engages.

If Audi is using any similar sensor, it can probably be defeated by simply unplugging it, or placing a piece of electrical tape or other insulating material over it, so it never "senses" rain again. (In case simply unplugging it causes a fault code to be thrown by a car that is often too clever about sensing failed sensors.)

Spijun? Any location for the sensor?