Auto Wipers - I just don't get it

[dleepnw]

I don't understand why there are 3 levels in the Auto setting. Isn't the point of "auto" to just turn it on and it auto-adjusts? It's actually kind of lame the way it works right now. Just give us 1 level of auto and let the system determine if it should run slow, medium, or fast.

And when you want to get to manual setting you have to pass through the 3 auto settings each time. Its stupid.

Move the auto on/off setting to the main infotainment screen or figure out a better way to enable/disable it.

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[f1racer328]

You can press and hold the wiper switch to shortcut to different speeds/settings.

Also having different auto sensitivities is great if you ask me. I have auto wipers on my Land Rover and they're fantastic. Never have had any issues, and they have a bunch of different sensitivity settings as well.

 

[VSG]

I don't understand why there are 3 levels in the Auto setting. Isn't the point of "auto" to just turn it on and it auto-adjusts? It's actually kind of lame the way it works right now. Just give us 1 level of auto and let the system determine if it should run slow, medium, or fast.

That's what Rivian did - for the first two years there was only one "auto" setting.

And everyone on forums like this bitched and moaned about how it was too slow in auto, or too fast in auto, etc.

So we get what everyone asked for, then we get the complaints that it should be changed back to the old way.

Damned if you do, damned if you dont ...

 

[beatle]

Some people want zero water droplets on their windshield and want it cleared ASAP, so the most aggressive setting is ideal. I prefer the wipers to come on only when there's a fair amount of water present, so low is my preference. I think this is why they have multiple settings. I never use the manual settings since auto works so well. If I want to activate the wipers "out of cycle" for some reason, I'll just use the button at the end of the stalk.

Also, if you want to immediately turn the wipers on full speed, just hold the switch up for a couple seconds and they'll skip all the intermediate settings. Same for turning them off - just hold down and they'll skip straight to off.

 

[BrianB]

Set it to “medium” and pretend the added flexibility and choice doesn’t exist. Same on the AC auto fan speed.

 

[josh0]

All but one car* I’ve owned since 2006-ish had automatic windshield wipers, and they’ve all worked this way. I generally leave it on low and am happy, but occasionally the rain or snow is weird in such a way that it reduces visibility more than usual and I turn it up. Rain-sensing wipers are one of my favorite features, as it’s always bothered me to have the wipers running, so I try to keep their use to the minimum necessary.

First was an ‘06 (I think) Mazda 3 that we got used. I’d never even heard of the feature yet, and it kinda blew my mind at the time. Our only car that hasn’t had it since then was a 2010 Hyundai Sonata.

 

[Golfer04]

All but one car* I’ve owned since 2006-ish had automatic windshield wipers, and they’ve all worked this way. I generally leave it on low and am happy, but occasionally the rain or snow is weird in such a way that it reduces visibility more than usual and I turn it up. Rain-sending wipers are one of my favorite features, as it’s always bothered me to have the wipers running, so I try to keep their use to the minimum necessary.

First was an ‘06 (I think) Mazda 3 that we got used. I’d never even heard of the feature yet, and it kinda blew my mind at the time. Our only car that hasn’t had it since then was a 2010 Hyundai Sonata.

I don't remember which of my vehicles first had it, but I now the one I got after (Silverado) didn't have it. I was so ticked at myself for not noticing it wasn't included in what I thought was a decent package. Was really annoying. Never made that mistake again.

 

[mpshizzle]

Mind you, the idea isn't that "auto high" wipes faster than "auto low". Rather it just changes the threshold for when the wipers are activated and how aggressively they clear the windshield with a light drizzle. Once you get into heavy precipitation they're all going to act about the same. In that sense, yes. Auto is auto

 

[Donald Stanfield]

How often are you setting this that it’s an issue? The whole point of auto wipers is to find the setting you like then leave it alone. Most nice cars have multiple auto settings to adjust for user preferences on how often to operate.

 

[teartags]

Does every "Auto" make the wipers cycle once when you turn the car on every time? That always seems like it's smearing everything on my glass and prematurely wearing out my blades.

 

[bigsky]

To me, Rivian wipers are pretty decent, work very well. If you think the Auto feature is not up to snuff, you ought to try the Tesla wipers. Oh, boy. Even at the slightest drizzle, Tesla wipers on Auto will wipe at 100 miles an hour.

 

[NY_Rob]

^ yeah, the Tesla Auto setting is waaaay to sensitive. I always keep it off. Surprisingly, the Auto setting on our i3 works great, BMW somehow found a way to make it just work so you don't need to mess with it.

 

[iansriv]

I found myself contemplating why there hasn't been any advancement in this function. Wipers have been around as long as cars. With all the advancements one would think that there would be something else.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

I don't think the issue is having three wiper settings.

I think the issue is the entire UI for the wipers and lighting is a bad design.

You should be able to instinctually know how to turn on the wipers to the setting you want without much fumbling around.

You should also be able to turn on the lights, the front fogs, etc without accidently driving in the dark as you fumble around.

I like having three sensitivities, but I don't like the entire UI interface for it. I hope that gets a redesign in the R2.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

I found myself contemplating why there hasn't been any advancement in this function. Wipers have been around as long as cars. With all the advancements one would think that there would be something else.

Tesla has had some major innovations with this.

Vision autowipe brought autowipe for the Vision system entirely ignoring the desire of the human driver.

The Cybertruck is a massive wiper that comes with a trash can.

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