Rain sensor XC70 self install

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jadder - 11 Sep 2005 17:30 GMT

Has anybody added on a 3rd party self install windshield mounted rain
sensor to their XC70 (2001)? Any brand recommendations? Does Volvo do
this? how well does it work? Thanks for any info/advice/experiences.

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Stephen Henning - 11 Sep 2005 18:00 GMT

> Has anybody added on a 3rd party self install windshield mounted rain
> sensor to their XC70 (2001)? Any brand recommendations? Does Volvo do
> this? how well does it work?

This is one gismo that I wouldn't want to use. When and at what speed
to turn on wipers doesn't just depend upon rainfall, it depends upon
traffic, splashes, cleanliness of the windshield, time of day, position
of the sun if it is out also, oncoming headlights and many other
factors. I think this is a very stupid idea since the visibility
problem is right in front of your eyes and the control is at your finger
tip.

On the other hand, I use cruise control constantly, even on back roads
and some city streets. It is my way of not getting speeding tickets.
I set my speed to a safe speed below where they start giving tickets and
let it control. The fastest way to get between two points is to
accelerate quickly to just below the enforcement level and stay there.
Cruise is the best way to do this.

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Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html

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Randy G. - 12 Sep 2005 02:02 GMT

>> Has anybody added on a 3rd party self install windshield mounted rain
>> sensor to their XC70 (2001)? Any brand recommendations? Does Volvo do
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>problem is right in front of your eyes and the control is at your finger
>tip.

I agree. Adjustable intermittant additions are nice but "auto on"
devices are a waste of time and money.

>On the other hand, I use cruise control constantly, even on back roads
>and some city streets. It is my way of not getting speeding tickets.
>I set my speed to a safe speed below where they start giving tickets and
>let it control. The fastest way to get between two points is to
>accelerate quickly to just below the enforcement level and stay there.
>Cruise is the best way to do this.

Cruise also has its place on long trips as beign able to move your
legs about prevents cramping and blood loss which also slows reaction
time. It is also good for people with leg or lower back problems.

__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

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Mike F - 12 Sep 2005 14:15 GMT

> >> Has anybody added on a 3rd party self install windshield mounted rain
> >> sensor to their XC70 (2001)? Any brand recommendations? Does Volvo do
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
> "Shelby" & "Kate"

Just because you have this feature, don't think that's the only way the
wipers will come on. You still can disable the automatic setting, and
you can still manually turn the wipers on as well. It just gives you an
additional way of activating the wipers. I drove a friend's Mercedes in
light mist on the highway equipped with this feature, and it worked very
well - at lower speeds the interval stretched out, and at higher speeds
the wipers came on more frequently. Never once did I think the wipers
had wiped too late.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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Stephen Henning - 12 Sep 2005 19:28 GMT

> > >> Has anybody added on a 3rd party self install windshield mounted rain
> > >> sensor to their XC70 (2001)? Any brand recommendations? Does Volvo do
> > >> this? how well does it work?

> Just because you have this feature, don't think that's the only way the
> wipers will come on. You still can disable the automatic setting, and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the wipers came on more frequently. Never once did I think the wipers
> had wiped too late.

But the Mercedes didn't have a 3rd party self install module did it?

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Mike F - 13 Sep 2005 15:48 GMT

> But the Mercedes didn't have a 3rd party self install module did it?
> --
> Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
> Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
> The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
> http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html

No, but you seemed to talk in general terms, and so was I. I have no
experience with it, but I know Hella has (had?) a kit for the 850/S70
that plugged in in place of the interval relay. You then stuck the
sensor to the windshield somewhere the wiper wipes, so you end up with
the old interval switch position becoming "auto", and you still have
Off, as well as High and Low positions. I would imagine any kit for a
newer car would work similarly.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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jadder - 14 Sep 2005 16:04 GMT

thanks for the opinions. I am not car savvy at all, I just love the
function that was factory installed in my mother's 2004 XC70, so I'm
trying to replicate it in my 2001. This is what I've been looking at:
http://tinyurl.com/c8t9c

Just wondering if this sounds like something a complete car ignoramus
like myself can install and whether or not it will work in my Volvo.

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Mike F - 15 Sep 2005 13:23 GMT

> thanks for the opinions. I am not car savvy at all, I just love the
> function that was factory installed in my mother's 2004 XC70, so I'm
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Just wondering if this sounds like something a complete car ignoramus
> like myself can install and whether or not it will work in my Volvo.

I would say if you're not comfortable cutting and splicing wires, then
your current car is not a good one to learn on. Also any part that has
"Note: In case of faulty operation during use, especially in the rain,
immediately turn off the device and operate the wipers manually." in
the *sales* info may not be a good one to buy.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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