C5 X7 Light / Rain Sensor Pic Please

[GiveMeABreak]

Having had the Windscreen replaced just over a week ago, we've only just noticed in the torrential rain yesterday that the auto wipers are a bit slow to react.

I've done the water test (buckets & sprinkler) but they won't come on at all now unless I physically cover the whole sensor with my hand, then the wiper will engage.

I suspect the gel pad has got some air in or some part of the sensor is contaminated from when they took it off to change the screen.

I'm waiting for Autoglass to make an appointment to view with their warranty dept., and they say they should be able to clean and fix it and that they carry spare gel packs - but having looked at the service docs they don't show the pad as a separate part, only the sensor at £187! So I would appreciate it if the X7 clan would mind taking a clear pic if possible of their sensor from the outside of the windscreen so I can compare with mine and see how it should look!

Thanks in advance if you can oblige

Update - should of posted a picture of mine as it is:

[leocitroen]

Here you go..

[GiveMeABreak]

That's great Leo, all your outer circles are black, showing it is firmly pressed against the screen with no air trapped inside. From my picture, you can see the outer circles are opaque and cloudy, so looks like the outer sensors are for the rain detection and the inner cluster for the light sensor.

This is great, as I can show the assessor what they should look like. Many thanks.

[Paul-R]

Just been out to look at my car Marc and it's not as per your photograph but like the description of Leo's car (his photos are blocked here at work). No photo account anywhere so can't post mine I'm afraid.

[leocitroen]

Yes, I agree, there should be no air between the sensor and windshields, and probably the only problem is that.

[GiveMeABreak]

Thanks guys, having now had a few hours to look into this - it seems there aren't any gel packs ready made, but you need a Sensor Tack kit including a mould to create a new pad. These guys do one for most cars:
http://eshop.pma-tools.de/Fahrzeuge/CITROEN/C5-08/2/
There's no chance I can see any repair to this once the sensor has been removed - as you will never get the thing to fit airtight back on once removed, rendering it useless. I'll see what they come up with when they arrive.

[Paul-R]

Myglaren has added my photo into my post above (thanks) and it looks much the same as Leo's.

[GiveMeABreak]

Cheers Paul/Steve, looks for sure that mine is well shot. They are coming out Tuesday so I'll see what happens!

[GiveMeABreak]

Update: They turned up this morning and the fitter had his spray bottle at the ready. He started spraying and Sod's law - it started working again! Off I went to get a jug of water, feeling a right ! Anyway he said he would take it off and try and fix it on a bit better, once I showed him the Pics you posted for comparison. As it turned out, once it had been cleaned and put back, it started playing sillly bu**ers again. The wipers went from nothing to warp speed without any water on the screen and everything in between! So he tried 4 times re-fitting the sensor and Gel Pad and then it stayed on full speed.

So thankfully, in the end it was clear to see that it wasn't going to work and the fitter has made a warranty report on the unit - so looks like a new sensor will be fitted now - which should have it's own gel pack with it.
So lesson here is - whatever you do if you end up having a windscreen replaced, make absolutely sure that you are happy that the rain / luminosity sensor works properly and test it both straight away and within a few days under different outside temperatures if you can - as I am sure the hot weather we have had has affected the gel pad and squiffed the effectiveness of the sensor - especially if it has already got air in between the gel and the screen.

[vborovic]

Isn't the luminosity sensor on the dash (the central bulge) on the X7?

[Paul-R]

Isn't the luminosity sensor on the dash (the central bulge) on the X7?

Must admit I thought that as well but kept quiet in case I was wrong.

[leocitroen]

In my case, c5-x7 when I cover rain/luminosity?? sensor on the windshield with my hand, headlights switch on .. This means that the sensor on the windshield is RAIN/LUMINOSITY!

[GiveMeABreak]

Isn't the luminosity sensor on the dash (the central bulge) on the X7?

The 3 white sensors in the middle are for the automatic lighting (luminosity) - the outer ones for the rain sensing . The bulge on the dashboard is for the climate control - sun intensity sensor. Basically, it changes the air distribution depending on how intense the sun is shining.

If you are drinving with the sun head on - full on intensity for example, with the climate on auto and set to quite cool - then the sun goes in for a while behind some clouds, you can hear the air distribution change as it adapts.

[vborovic]

True, I've just remembered actually covering the windshield sensor when I've tested the lights on the car ... well, that just shows I've written off my car already ...

[GiveMeABreak]

It's interesting - some people think it's a radar dome, some the rain sensor (!)