SI82.30-P-0006B | Service Information: Notes on operation of the rain/light sensor (RLS) | 23.8.04 |
MODELS 163, 168, 171, 203, 209, 211, 215, 220, 230 with CODE (345) Rain sensor
The customer notices that wiping occurs too fast and lasts too long in cases where the windshield has been soiled with road salt residue. This causes white streaks and buildup (impairing vision) on the windshield.
The rain/light sensor (RLS) reacts to streaked and smeared road salt spray in a similar way as if there were heavy rain. As a result, it does not correctly evaluate the actual conditions.
Streaked salt deposits (white coating) on the windshield can thus lead to triggering of undesired wiping cycles. Cleaning the windshield with window washer fluid prepared with the proper concentrated washer additive will dissolve the salt layer and remove it from the glass.
The sensor will then function normally.
Please also observe the information in the vehicle owner's manual.
The RLS itself is functioning correctly; it must not be exchanged! | |||
1 | Inform customers about the technical considerations pertaining to this situation. | Whenever there are white smears and streaks on the windshield caused by road salt, the windshield washer system must be used more frequently to keep the windshield free of salt residue. |