Driving through the drizzle this morning, the absurdity of the ~6 second minimum wipe interval became very clear (or not clear, in this case).

I searched the archives here and on Renntech, and a couple of people mentioned that you could change the potentiometer or substitute a relay from an older VW (worked on 928s, not sure about 996s) to get a more reasonable shortest intermittent wipe interval.

So, here we are a few years later, has anyone solved this problem?

 

What was the problem? Too short or too long of delay?

Move to Seattle, you don't need wipers here

 

The delay interval goes from about 6 sec at the shortest, to something like 20 min at the longest. Most cars go from about 2 sec (just a tiny bit slower than low wiper speed) to about 30 sec.

In most drizzle/light rain situations, you want about 3-4 second delay.

 

I know there are people who have converted to the rain sensing wiper sysem on the 996. That would take care of the problem.

 

I notice there is a different part number for the potentiometer that goes with the M265 rain sensing option. 996.613.127.10 with vs 996.613.115.10 without.

Also they changed part numbers for 2002 and later vs 2001 and earlier.

I wonder if any of the other pots have a different range?

 

Mine is pretty aggressive on the high end. Even at 50% I was getting a swipe every 2sec in steady rain.

Also keep in mind that I think the thing is speed sensitive too.

 

Are you referring to the rain sensor? I'm just talking about the standard, potentiometer controlled intermittent wipers.

But if so, does that imply that the rain sensor pot has more range? Or is there something else about the rain sensor that enables it to run at a shorter interval?

 

ooops...yes I'm talkin rain sensor...guess I didn't read closely.

I assume that the rain sensor is computer controlled as well as working w/ the pot. I really have no clue if it would work on a regular wiper and if it would give you any more range.

 

With the rain sensor the intermiitant dail is by-passed and has no function.

 

But rain sensing automatically turns on the wipers? Does it make the wipers come on intermittent under very light rain, switch to low speed/high speed on it's own? Basically, I'd like somebody to outline rain sensing operation please!

 

The rain sensor detects the drops of rain on the windshield and turns on the wipers for one sweep when it senses the drops. No speed control is involved. The on/off two speed of the wipers will still function as it does now.

 

I have rain sensing wipers in the Cayenne. They are nice. There is a control for the sensitivity of the sensor too - a nice feature.

 

Timed my intermittent wipes this morning. Right ~5 seconds at their longest interval. Seems fine for fine drizzle, my nizzle