Auto Wipers - I just don't get it

[SPITmadFIRE]

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.

In short, yes. The auto wipers will "reset" whenever you start the car if the sensors detect any sort of dirt or obstruction on the windshield. This is required because of how auto sensing wipers work; they activate when the receiving sensor detects less light being reflected back from the transmitting sensor. If there's any amount of dirt or debris on your windshield when the vehicle starts, it will attempt to clear the debris and calibrate the sensors to whatever the "clean" state is afterwards.

This is why your auto wipers don't work accurately after you get tons of bug splatters all over your windshield. Give the windshield a clean with a glass cleaner; the sensors are located in the area behind the rear view mirror housing.

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[smack206]

This, x100.

I live in Seattle, where we have a hundred different kinds of rain. In my experience (10K miles at this point), none of the Auto settings work well for me - I have to continually goose the setting one way or the other. The annoying part is that the first time you flick the switch, it doesn't change the setting, it brings up the menu.

If I've flicked the switch up, I clearly want it to go faster. So bring up the menu, sure, but also increase the speed one notch. Don't make me "ask permission" to change the setting, which is what it feels like.

Last night I was driving across the pass and hit some pretty bad fog, which really confused the automatic high beams, which kept coming on. I tried changing the setting to "Lights plus lower fog lights," but this does not disengage the automatic high beams. This feels wrong to me - and it's not something I want to futz with at highway speeds in fog. I had to pull over at the next rest stop (which luckily was only a mile away) and disengage the automatic high beams function, and then figure out how manual switching works (which is backwards to what I'm used to, FWIW).

I love the mechanical engineering of my R1S, but the software drives me crazy.

p.s. Why does the radio constantly "reconnect?" It's FM, fer chrissakes! And don't get me started on the lack of AM radio...

 

[EVTrukHog]

This, x100.

I live in Seattle, where we have a hundred different kinds of rain. In my experience (10K miles at this point), none of the Auto settings work well for me - I have to continually goose the setting one way or the other. The annoying part is that the first time you flick the switch, it doesn't change the setting, it brings up the menu.

If I've flicked the switch up, I clearly want it to go faster. So bring up the menu, sure, but also increase the speed one notch. Don't make me "ask permission" to change the setting, which is what it feels like.

Last night I was driving across the pass and hit some pretty bad fog, which really confused the automatic high beams, which kept coming on. I tried changing the setting to "Lights plus lower fog lights," but this does not disengage the automatic high beams. This feels wrong to me - and it's not something I want to futz with at highway speeds in fog. I had to pull over at the next rest stop (which luckily was only a mile away) and disengage the automatic high beams function, and then figure out how manual switching works (which is backwards to what I'm used to, FWIW).

I love the mechanical engineering of my R1S, but the software drives me crazy.

p.s. Why does the radio constantly "reconnect?" It's FM, fer chrissakes! And don't get me started on the lack of AM radio...

You can temporarily disable the automatic high beams by pulling and releasing the signal stalk...no need to fiddle with the headlight switch settings.

 

[VSG]

p.s. Why does the radio constantly "reconnect?" It's FM, fer chrissakes!

It's switching between basic FM and HD FM, as the HD signal comes in and out. You can turn off the automatic switching if it bothers you.

 

[smack206]

You can temporarily disable the automatic high beams by pulling and releasing the signal stalk...no need to fiddle with the headlight switch settings.

But that's only temporary, right? Or does that disable the automatic high beams?

 

[smack206]

It's switching between basic FM and HD FM, as the HD signal comes in and out. You can turn off the automatic switching if it bothers you.

Sure, I figured as much, but what happens in my other vehicle is that the signal degrades gracefully. The quality degrades until the unit can latch back on to HD.

When you say you can disable the auto switching, are you referring to the HD radio or the headlights?

 

[Seano]

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.

This! I often wonder if anyone who designs the UI drives home from Tahoe in the dark, in a storm, passing trucks, cars passing you with family in the car... all while trying to adjust the wipers from "auto" to "On already... I can't see"

 

[EVTrukHog]

You can temporarily disable the automatic high beams by pulling and releasing the signal stalk...no need to fiddle with the headlight switch settings.

But that's only temporary, right? Or does that disable the automatic high beams?

It disables automatic high beams until you return the stalk to the forward position - which returns it to auto mode. I use this frequently when the automatic mode starts flashing too much due to traffic. I agree that messing with the headlight rocker switch while driving is not easy or safe.

 

[VSG]

When you say you can disable the auto switching, are you referring to the HD radio or the headlights?

HD radio.

 

[Ohm Boy]

The Rivian auto wiper system is the best I have ever experienced. Had a model 3 and Y along with my wife’s model 3, and I thought their systems were really bad. I personally love the flexibility with the R1s. And with the speed with which one can scroll through the options, I don’t see how it could really be a problem. Just sayin’…

 

[s4wrxttcs]

It disables automatic high beams until you return the stalk to the forward position - which returns it to auto mode. I use this frequently when the automatic mode starts flashing too much due to traffic. I agree that messing with the headlight rocker switch while driving is not easy or safe.

I bet that it bugs you that they flash on when you turn them off.

All Rivian had to do was to default the automatic high beams to off and then turn them on when a person turned the brights on.

That's how my Sprinter Van works,

 

[racekarl]

The Rivian auto wiper system is the best I have ever experienced. Had a model 3 and Y along with my wife’s model 3, and I thought their systems were really bad. I personally love the flexibility with the R1s. And with the speed with which one can scroll through the options, I don’t see how it could really be a problem. Just sayin’…

Tesla's auto wipers are notoriously poor because they use the ADAS camera to detect rain. If that's all you've ever experienced of course the Rivian's will feel better. I find Rivian's auto wipers to be fine and on-par with those from JLR, Volvo, and Audi that I've had in the past.

 

[smack206]

It's switching between basic FM and HD FM, as the HD signal comes in and out. You can turn off the automatic switching if it bothers you.

Thanks for the suggestion. I gave it a shot, which disabled HD radio, but all the info from HD was then frozen on the screen: song title, artist, The favorite buttons had various fragments in them. I'd expect the display to clear and reflect just basic information. I couldn't take the cognitive dissonance, so turned HD back on.

Honestly, I just want it to work like my ten-year old Subaru. Switch to standard FM when there are HD reception issues, and switch back when they resolve. Don't pause playback when you do.

Anyhow, it's solvable via software, so here's hoping they do.

 

[CrazyOne]

Adjustable auto isn't new and I like it.

Problem is with the minimalist(cheap?) controls. It's the same with lights. The fog lights turning off is annoying. The main headlights don't illuminate the sides and fog lights make a big difference while turning. Since G2 lost the fog lights, I suspect there will be no update to make the fog light settings sticky.

 

[iforbes]

I believe figs off when high beams on is SOP for most cars (the ones I have owned and behavior I see from oncoming cars anyway)

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