How are you all?!
I'm new here, but not at all new to cars, driving, boats and bikes. Been driving for better than 40 years coast to coast. Was a British Leland mechanic in the '70's.
Let me tell you a thing or two about Rain-X.... Worst thing you can ever put on your windshield bar none. Yeah, it makes the rain blow right off like you never needed windshield washers really good. Fantastic as a matter of fact! I see you have all been noticing that the orange stuff covers your sensors and makes it stop working by insulating them from sensing the fluid in the reservoir, that's just fortelling you of things to come. To all of you users of that magnificent Rain-X, have you ever noticed that at dusk your windshield seems to have a haze on it making it difficult to see. The same gunk that is all over your sensors insulating them, is now all over your windshield. You are now addicted to Rain-X. Not because it's the best windshield washer fluid in the universe, but because if you ever switch and go to the plain old blue stuff of any brand, you'll always have that haze on your windshield, even when it rains. It doesn't matter if you use the Rain-X washer fluid or the wipe on treatment, it does the same thing. In short, you will never, ever, be able to see clearly out of that windshield again. Those who have experienced it know what I'm talking about, it's really hazy, like I'm amazed people haven't been killed because of it (well, they probably have, just nobody ever attributed it to not being able to see out the windshield because of Rain-X).
Now for the bad news.... You cannot get it off! (at least off the windshield, don't know about the sensor).
I've tried ammonia, vinegar, even acetone! nothing touches it. the ONLY way you will ever fix the situation is by breaking the windshield and having it replaced with a clean one that Rain-X hasn't been used on. This is no joke. I have bought several cars over the years that have had the Rain-X treatment and I just couldn't wait 'til a sander truck came by me in the winter spewing rocks all over the place so I could say that one of those rocks broke my windshield, just so I could have it replaced. (I buy full glass coverage with my insurance).
So those of you who wish to see for yourselves and love that sight of the rain flying off your windshield (that you can see in the daytime) give it a try, but don't say I didn't warn you. You see Rain-X is worse than heroin.... at least with heroin you have to try it several times 'til you're hooked.... not so with Rain-X.... One use and you're hooked!
By the way, I've just bought my first 2012 JSW TDI on Saturday and I'm picking it up on Thursday... Can't wait! Been shopping for just the right one for about 3 months now!
