Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Basic Principle
- Detecting the amount of rainfall
The light (beam) emitted from light emitting diodes (LED) is totally reflected on the external surface of the windshield and comes back to the photo diodes. When there is water on the external surface of the windshield, the light is optically separated and reflected partially and the remaining brightness is measured by the photo diodes. Water remaining on the windshield results in the light being not totally reflected. The loss of brightness due to this indicates how much the glass surface is wet.
- Detecting light
Brightness of light is measured by the diodes using the infrared light. The brightness of the outside of the vehicle is measured in two directions:
- the upper direction and
- the front direction. The measured amount of light is used to determine whether it is day or night.
- Detecting the amount of sunlight
The system measures the amount of sunlight from the left and right sides and operates the air conditioner on the driver side or the passenger side.
NOTE: Integrated rain sensor is composed of 2 LEDs and 2 photo diodes to detect rainfall, 2 photo diodes to detect light, 1 photo diode to detect the amount of sunlight, and bracket.
NO RELATED
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
Pair factory procedures with proven DIY tools so the instructions are easier to execute.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.