XC70: General Windscreen query

[XC70Virgin]

Hi all, I'm asking to see if someone with an '09 era XC70 or a V70 could check and see what windscreen is fitted to their car if they know it is an original. I'm not 100% sure mine is. Does it say Volvo on it, a brand name etc?
My auto wipers work ok but the sensitivity is rubbish and I think may need to be recalibrated and this suggests a replacement was fitted at some stage without recalibration.

Many thanks.

[robertsmart]

Hi

A Volvo screen will say Volvo on it. I got my screen replaced in the summer. The seal was leaking. It was fired with an aftermarket screen and the auto wipers in mine now don't work. The air gap between the screen and sensor pad is too great.

You can adjust the sensitivity in the rotary switch on the super stalk too.

[V70Zig]

Originally Posted by XC70Virgin

Hi all, I'm asking to see if someone with an '09 era XC70 or a V70 could check and see what windscreen is fitted to their car if they know it is an original. I'm not 100% sure mine is. Does it say Volvo on it, a brand name etc?
My auto wipers work ok but the sensitivity is rubbish and I think may need to be recalibrated and this suggests a replacement was fitted at some stage without recalibration.

Many thanks.

Just a thought, but the thumb wheel that you adjust when in intermittent mode also adjusts the sensitivity when in auto

[Tony500]

Have your u gave the windscreen a good clean? Or have you coated it in a repellent?

I notice a difference when I apply a strong cleaner to my windscreen while if I use a repellent the auto setting has a mind of its own.

[Tatsfield]

Originally Posted by robertsmart

Hi

A Volvo screen will say Volvo on it. I got my screen replaced in the summer. The seal was leaking. It was fired with an aftermarket screen and the auto wipers in mine now don't work. The air gap between the screen and sensor pad is too great.

You can adjust the sensitivity in the rotary switch on the super stalk too.

If the auto wiper sensor aperture on the after market screen is correctly placed and the sensor is correctly fitted there is no reason why the feature shouldn't work. It's only a photo-electric cell looking through a piece of glass. It's more likely to be the way in which the auto wiper sensor was refitted by the inexpert after market windscreen fitters. I've come across this on other makes of car where a silicon gasket between the sensor and the glass has been discarded by the fitter who didn't understand what it did and the device didn't work. It is also possible that the aperture printed on the screen through which the sensor looks changed shape from model to model to take different sensors and the wrong screen was fitted. Sadly it pays to have Volvo dealers fit Volvo screens as you never really know if you can trust after market screen outfits to understand the devices which attach to the screen.

[Colger23]

About 5 years ago I purchased a 2010 XC90. The garage (a Volvo agent) said that there was a mark on the screen and it would be replaced under the Selekt Warranty, hopefully before delivery. This couldn't be done at the time so the car was returned a week or so later for the screen to be replaced. It was replaced with a non-standard Screen. The auto wipers failed to function correctly.
The saga began - the Sales Manager said the sensor must be faulty so it was replaced, no luck - so he decided to try again, ordered and replaced the sensor for the second time. No luck - in the meantime I kept telling him that it was because the screen was non-Volvo.
A Volvo screen was ordered and fitted - no problem, wipers worked as designed. It must have cost the dealership a fair amount in the end.
Incidentally, I did find several threads on this site which confirmed that others had had the same problem and the only solution was to replace with a Volvo screen but as it was a few years ago I cannot remember where the threads are located.

[XC70Virgin]

Thanks for the replies. I can't see Volvo on it. Just Pilkington brand in bottom left corner and reference to airbags. I wonder was it replaced because of leaky windscreen syndrome yonks back.
I've the sensitivity at max and its just OK. Wife's XC60 is bang on sensitive. I'll call the dealer and see how much calibration is possible.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Tony500

Have your u gave the windscreen a good clean? Or have you coated it in a repellent?

I notice a difference when I apply a strong cleaner to my windscreen while if I use a repellent the auto setting has a mind of its own.

One car wash I sometimes use rinses off with some sort of waxy solution as you can see it changes how water droplets form on the car. It upsets the auto wipers until you have been driving in the rain for 20 min or so....

[XC70Virgin]

Well, here's the latest on this one. I enquired whether or not calibration of sensor was possible and service manager said no. What he suggested was to check the sensor was clipped in right and so on. Worth I shot I suppose.

Checked it all out today and he was right. Not only was it not clipped in right but the screen under was dirty with general muck from the previous screen fitter. I spent a while cleaning that and getting it clipped in properly as the mounting frame was coming off the screen a bit.

All I need is some rain to check it out!

[XC70Virgin]

I got rain yesterday and glad to report that the sensor is now doing its job properly and normal sensing activities have been resumed.

Just goes to show a genuine screen is not always the answer.