C8 Automatic wipers - disable?

[Bunny]

The windscreen wipers on my C8 automatically come on whenever the light and damp sensor, located in the lower-middle of the screen, decides it is raining enough. Unfortunately, it seems to activate at the slightest suggestion of rain (I even turn the radio off when the long-range weather forecast is about to be broadcast - just in case it is listening in).

Consequently, the wipers often virtually "dry-wipe" the screen - making a horrible juddering noise and the rubber from one of the blades has already been half torn off because of friction with an all-but-dry screen.

Apart from plastering the outside of the windscreen, where the sensor is located, with Duct Tape - can anyone please advise me how to switch the ruddy thing off?

[GiveMeABreak]

Usually this is caused by dirt and hardened grease / grime over the sensor area.

You'll need some really good glass cleaner and lots of elbow grease to remove the build up.

Generally when you start the car the auto wiper function is off, until you sweep the wiper down and then back into the AUTO position. So I would advise against putting into AUTO when starting the car.

[Paul-R]

Has it ever worked as it should? It's possible that it's been like that since new as it has been decreed to be acceptable. I have never been happy with the related auto light setting (far to eager to switch on and slow to switch off) on our 308 however the dealer said it was not adjustable so that was that.

[Bunny]

Thanks.

I'll try what you advise in the cleaning and control arm adjustment and hope that either or both sort it for me.

Usually this is caused by dirt and hardened grease / grime over the sensor area.

You'll need some really good glass cleaner and lots of elbow grease to remove the build up.

Generally when you start the car the auto wiper function is off, until you sweep the wiper down and then back into the AUTO position. So I would advise against putting into AUTO when starting the car.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'd just better clarify that I'm referring to the wiper control stalk on the steering column AUTO position and not the actual physical wiper arm of course - in case that wasn't clear.

Also, use a bit of soft kitchen tissue and put some glass cleaner onto the tissue and gently wipe along underneath the length of the wiper blades. That will clean some of the accumulated grime off there too. If you're going the whole hog, then I'd recommend replacing the wiper blades - but get the wiper blades from Citroen - I've never yet found any aftermarket ones or premium blades from other suppliers like Bosch that come close to the Citroen OEM ones. They just never squeak!

Don't forget to 'park' the wiper blades first before pulling the arms away from the screen. To do this, switch the ignition off, then press the wiper stalk once and this will park the wipers in maintenance position. To 'unpark' them, switch ignition on and press the wiper stalk down.

Just to reconfirm the deactivation of Auto wiping:
Put the stalk into the 'I' intermittent position, then to '0' position. This will stop the automatic function until triggered again in the Auto position.

[Bunny]

Thanks for the additional info.

So all we need then is an Oxbridge Degree in higher mathematics, to use the windscreen wipers.

Progress, I guess.

Thanks, again.

I'd just better clarify that I'm referring to the wiper control stalk on the steering column AUTO position and not the actual physical wiper arm of course - in case that wasn't clear.

Also, use a bit of soft kitchen tissue and put some glass cleaner onto the tissue and gently wipe along underneath the length of the wiper blades. That will clean some of the accumulated grime off there too. If you're going the whole hog, then I'd recommend replacing the wiper blades - but get the wiper blades from Citroen - I've never yet found any aftermarket ones or premium blades from other suppliers like Bosch that come close to the Citroen OEM ones. They just never squeak!

Don't forget to 'park' the wiper blades first before pulling the arms away from the screen. To do this, switch the ignition off, then press the wiper stalk once and this will park the wipers in maintenance position. To 'unpark' them, switch ignition on and press the wiper stalk down.

Just to reconfirm the deactivation of Auto wiping:
Put the stalk into the 'I' intermittent position, then to '0' position. This will stop the automatic function until triggered again in the Auto position.

[Homer]

The windscreen wipers on my C8 automatically come on

As above, it should not do this unless you have specifically put it in auto mode, and you have to do that every time the car is started. It's a "safety" feature.

Otherwise they should behave as manual wipers.

So the solution should be, just don't put them in auto mode.

So all we need then is an Oxbridge Degree in higher mathematics, to use the windscreen wipers.

No, just RTFM.