Rain sensors for rear screen wipers

[9xxNick]

I'm surprised that there don't appear to be any car manufacturers that offer a rain-sensitive rear wiper, or even one with a variably-timed sweep.

Has anyone come across this feature in any car at all?

[tapkaJohnD]

My old Citroen C5 had intermittent rear wipe, and so does my present Peugeot 208. Not rain sensitive though
Many cars have a "reversing wipe" facility, so that if the front wipers are on, and you reverse, the back gets a wipe too.

The Bad Obsession boys fitted rain sensitive front wipes to their 'Binky' Mini. As they said, the original Mini front wiper speeds were "Slow " and "Not much faster", and rain sensitive wasn't even thought of. Watch them to find what they fitted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX4lBvHDMs8&t=... about 20 minutes in.
John

[Turbobanana]

It's not fitted because most people don't look behind them. Evidence: the number of cars you see driving round with a rear wiper happily wiping a dry screen hours (days?) after it last rained. See also: fog lights left on and people driving without headlights because their dash is electronic and lights up without them putting their lights on.

[Riley Blue]

9xxNick said:

I'm surprised that there don't appear to be any car manufacturers that offer a rain-sensitive rear wiper, or even one with a variably-timed sweep.

Has anyone come across this feature in any car at all?

Not yet, not in any car, classic or modern.

[LE62NDE]

The Ford Anglia and Citroën Dyane made them unnecessary...

[moffspeed]

I remember seeing an XR2 many years ago with one of those Halfords clip-on anti-lift wiper fins on the rear screen.

I’m guessing he left school at a young age….

[Mr Tidy]

tapkaJohnD said:

My old Citroen C5 had intermittent rear wipe, and so does my present Peugeot 208. Not rain sensitive though
Many cars have a "reversing wipe" facility, so that if the front wipers are on, and you reverse, the back gets a wipe too.

Intermittent rear wipe seems quite common. I've only ever had the "reversing wipe" feature once on my 1985 Ford Scorpio.

To be fair not all cars need rear wipers once you get moving, it seems to depend on the shape. The more upright the rear screen is the more you seem to need to use the rear wiper. Once it was clear on my Capris it stayed clear until you got into traffic, unlike MK1 and MK2 Golfs that sucked up spray all the time.

[Sheepshanks]

Mr Tidy said:

Once it was clear on my Capris it stayed clear until you got into traffic,

I fitted a varible delay to the rear wiper on my Capri. I recall friends being amazed by it - but I don't think even front intermittant wipers were a thing then?


Modern car - wife's Karoq does a strange thing in that the rear wiper wipes now and again if the fronts are on even if the rear is turned off.

[chopper602]

LE62NDE said:

The Ford Anglia and Citroën Ami made them unnecessary...

Corrected that for you . . .