FYI Rain-X Wiper Fluid Warning

DieselRacer

banned
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Oct 4, 2013
Location
AZ-NV
TDI
BMW Advanced Diesel...2011 BMW 335d
VW has put out a bulletin about RainX washer fluid, at the dealership they said don't use it, per the parts manager....
 

vw_norm

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Jul 22, 2012
Location
Hawaii
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2012 NMS TDI SEL Platinum Gray w/moonrock
I buy this einszett windshield concentrate from amazon and mix my own. Use it in all my vehicles, and is cheaper and works better than any store bought stuff. Comes in a reservoir type bottle (like 2 cycle oil) that makes for an easy proportioning for mixing with water. Plus it smells great.
 
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VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
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Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
I buy this einszett windshield concentrate from amazon and mix my own. Use it in all my vehicles, and is cheaper and works better than any store bought stuff. Comes in a reservoir type bottle (like 2 cycle oil) that makes for an easy proportioning for mixing with water. Plus it smells great.
I'm gonna pick a bottle of that up and see how it goes. $8 for concentrate that makes 7 gallons is a pretty good price, as long as it works well. I've been disappointed with most off-the-shelf washer fluids.
 

rwehuman

on banned subject probation
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Apr 27, 2012
Location
Delaware
TDI
2012 TDI jetta
I get best results by using the wax first then using the washer fluid. It sucks I know, rags and elbow grease but the coating that leaves really works best with the fluid. The fluid in my
Jetta does not last as long as it could because when I am being followed too closely I tend to wash my wind shield a lot >nudge, nudge, wink, wink< ; - )
 

maniago

Active member
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Jul 12, 2012
Location
Bowie MD
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'13 Passat TDI 1/2SE-1/2SEL DSG
There's another thread on Rain-x - maybe many - in the MkIV area. I just posted there but here's what I did to solve the Rain-X permanent washer light on:
2013 TDI Passat with the same problem here with the Rain-X. Light came on right after I put the stuff in. Left it on all the winter, and just finished it. I put in some cheap target blue stuff, and it was slow to come on, but did none the less after a few minutes. I pulled my tank (its a cake job - pull the fender liner and all its screws. The washer pump and the sensor are just pushed in with rubber bungs - easy to wiggle out), washed it out with soap and water, cleaned the prongs with soap and water, and filled the tank up half way with tap water to test out. No light. Yeah. On to the next PITA - DSG oil change....boo.
 

schlafe

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Location
Amston, CT
TDI
2010 Golf TDI 6MT
Agreed:
There's another thread on Rain-x - maybe many - in the MkIV area. I just posted there but here's what I did to solve the Rain-X permanent washer light on:
2013 TDI Passat with the same problem here with the Rain-X. Light came on right after I put the stuff in. Left it on all the winter, and just finished it. I put in some cheap target blue stuff, and it was slow to come on, but did none the less after a few minutes. I pulled my tank (its a cake job - pull the fender liner and all its screws. The washer pump and the sensor are just pushed in with rubber bungs - easy to wiggle out), washed it out with soap and water, cleaned the prongs with soap and water, and filled the tank up half way with tap water to test out. No light. Yeah. On to the next PITA - DSG oil change....boo.

I have been using Rain X windshield washer fluid in my vehicles for well over a decade without issue. Switched to the 'New Formula' Rain X 2-in-1 this month as it was the only Rain X windshield fluid option available in the store. The windshield washer fluid light came on approximately 24 hours after filling up the reservoir in my Golf TDI with the new formula.

I doubt the sensor is actually damaged as the electrodes are the only exposed piece of the sensor. I would be surprised to find that windshield washer fluid is corrosive enough to eat through a seal. It is more likely a conductivity issue, less conductive fluid, or coated electrodes. Some other vehicles are not impacted as they do not use a conductive sensor to gauge the fluid in the reservoir, rather they rely on a float sensor mechanism.

I will flush out the system, add regular blue fluid, and re-post with results. I may clean the sensor prongs if I can find the time to remove and re-install. I know there are several posts with links to the replacement part... RockAuto has the part for $17, the cheapest I have found online.

josh
 

BPofMD

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2013
Location
Maryland
TDI
2012 Passat SE
I have been using the "new" formula for about a month now. No problems. I wonder if anyone has tried mixing in a little water in with the new fluid to give it conductivity?
 

VernK

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Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Location
Kelowna
TDI
2012 Passat 2.5L Gas
It's not a conductivity issue directly, the sensor senses capacitance and the new formula is coating the sensor probes and effectively insulating them so that the sensor measures a capacitance close to that of air, which sets off the warning.

Yours
Vern
 

schlafe

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Location
Amston, CT
TDI
2010 Golf TDI 6MT
It's not a conductivity issue directly, the sensor senses capacitance and the new formula is coating the sensor probes and effectively insulating them so that the sensor measures a capacitance close to that of air, which sets off the warning.

Yours
Vern

understood... thanks for the clarification

josh
 

BarnyardsTDI

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Oct 28, 2010
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Sacramento California
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2010 Golf w/DSG, Malone Stage 2 (all emissions intact), HID's, Sunroof, Dynaudio, NAV
Wouldn't you know it. I started using the "new and improved!" formula of rain-x about a week ago. Washer fluid tank is full this morning. Start the car. Low washer fluid light comes on. Oh well. Time to look for an alternative. Why Rain-x?! The "old" formula worked just fine. Happy driving!
 

Roishe Cheng

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Joined
May 25, 2013
Location
South Bronx, NYC
TDI
2013 Passat
I buy this einszett windshield concentrate from amazon and mix my own. Use it in all my vehicles, and is cheaper and works better than any store bought stuff. Comes in a reservoir type bottle (like 2 cycle oil) that makes for an easy proportioning for mixing with water. Plus it smells great.
I'm gonna pick a bottle of that up and see how it goes. $8 for concentrate that makes 7 gallons is a pretty good price, as long as it works well. I've been disappointed with most off-the-shelf washer fluids.
If you like Einzsett, try Unger Easy Glide Glass Concentrate. I used it in my car all last year summer. You can usually find it at Lowes or Home Depot in their cleaning aisle. One quart makes $25 gallons for under $8. It's the cleanest wipe I've ever seen. It doesn't mess with any rubber seals or cause any lights to go on etc. There's a few people on Autopia using Unger with ONR (Optimum No Rinse) for the ultimate clean windshield.

It's typically much easier to find than Einzsett as well.



http://www.webstaurantstore.com/ung...nOamPryYmf74pyEZg5GQW6n5sSOBTbie6bzCp-oLw_wcB
 

BarnyardsTDI

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Location
Sacramento California
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2010 Golf w/DSG, Malone Stage 2 (all emissions intact), HID's, Sunroof, Dynaudio, NAV
Update!!

Hey everyone,
After my low washer level light refused to turn off after I filled the reservoir with the "new formula Rain-x 2-in-1" fluid I tried something after work. I pumped enough fluid to allow me to add about 20oz of filtered water. After I did this the light went off just fine. So then I just pumped it until the tank was dry. The light then turned back on as it should as I drained it. Then, I bought the regular old green rain-x (bugwash/water repelant) that is meant for 32F and above (Texas will not see freezing temps for a while). And after I filled with this fluid the light has stayed off.

Just wanted to update everyone on a fix for this issue. If you are still running the new rain-x formula with the light on, I suggest you add some filtered or DI water to the mix and the light will likely turn off. The sensor will be happy.

Happy Driving everyone!

John
 

MikeS_18

Top Post Dawg
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Feb 18, 2005
Location
Bow, NH
TDI
'03 Jetta Wagon, '13 Passat SE, '64 Ford Econoline
I now have a sensor light that won't go off and I have to check with the Boss, but I don't think we have used anything but basic blue fluid. The dealer was a dope about the issue too. I drove off after a service and saw the light still on. Drove back and they said "yeah, it didn't go off for us either." Really guys??

And if VW thinks that they are going to require us to use OEM wiper fluid, they have completely lost their minds. If you have designed and released a sensor that fails to survive the use of the fastest growing brand in this market segment then they are really off the rails.
 
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rbsmith6

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Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
TDI
'13 JSW TDI GSD Pano.
Ok You can add me to the thread. I also added the "new and improved" RainX and now have the light. Went to the dealer yesterday and found the it is a "Known Problem"> Does anyone know if Audi has the same thing? Is just adding water the best fix?
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
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Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
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2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
Audi uses the same style sensor.

The fix is to not use the new RainX formula fluid, as it coats the sensor probes with an electrically insulating layer.

I would contact RainX and file a complaint about their new fluid not being compatible with certain fluid level sensing systems.

I have another question - if the probes are developing buildup, what else in the system is developing buildup? Could long term use of the new RainX formula cause issues with other parts of the washer system like restricted lines and nozzles?
 

Tuco

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Feb 22, 2014
Location
Las Vegas
TDI
2010 Jetta
Anyone tried adding hot (less than 200 deg. F) distilled water to the reservoir, to dissolve any build-up? Works like a charm in our water softener.
 

BarnyardsTDI

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Location
Sacramento California
TDI
2010 Golf w/DSG, Malone Stage 2 (all emissions intact), HID's, Sunroof, Dynaudio, NAV
I just added room temp filtered water. After doing that it cleared the light. Had the "old" green rain-x formula in there for about 2 weeks now and no issues at all.
 

ZootsAlures

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Jul 6, 2013
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Windsor, CT
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2012Passat SE TDI
I know I'm setting myself up to get keel-hauled but: For the last 30+ years I've been mixing my own windshield washer cocktail, a 5 to 1 ratio of distilled (Boiled and cooled down) water to ammonia for xtremely cold winters or 8 to 1 summer formula. I add blue food coloring for winter and red for summer. Including my '12 B7 TDI I've never had a problem with sensors or delivery systems throwing fits. That ammonia cuts right through all bug guts et al. And iced slush too. And it leaves my windshield squeaky clean. The worst scenario is when using my winter blend, the ammonia smell can temporarily get odiferous. I will usually hit the cabin switch and turn on the fan to mitigate the issue. Not that I'm a cheap bastard but a gallon of my elixir costs less that 40 cents per Gal.
 

tadawson

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Lewisville, TX
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2013 Passat TDI SEL, 2015 Passat TDI SEL
I know I'm setting myself up to get keel-hauled but: For the last 30+ years I've been mixing my own windshield washer cocktail, a 5 to 1 ratio of distilled (Boiled and cooled down) water to ammonia for xtremely cold winters or 8 to 1 summer formula. I add blue food coloring for winter and red for summer. Including my '12 B7 TDI I've never had a problem with sensors or delivery systems throwing fits. That ammonia cuts right through all bug guts et al. And iced slush too. And it leaves my windshield squeaky clean. The worst scenario is when using my winter blend, the ammonia smell can temporarily get odiferous. I will usually hit the cabin switch and turn on the fan to mitigate the issue. Not that I'm a cheap bastard but a gallon of my elixir costs less that 40 cents per Gal.
Uh, I hate to tell you this, but boiling/cooling is just concentrating the impurities. Distillation is boiling are recondensing the steam back into pure water. Simply boiling loses pure water and leaves the crap behind . . . it's sterile, though, which is irrelevant in this context . . .

- Tim
 

ZootsAlures

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Windsor, CT
TDI
2012Passat SE TDI
Pseudo conformity... My tap water is good enough and to s your point- it ain't rocket science.


2012 Passat TDI SE. 6SpM
 

tadawson

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Jun 14, 2013
Location
Lewisville, TX
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SEL, 2015 Passat TDI SEL
Then skip boiling it, and the job got easier yet . . . Unless you have rocks in your water which clog the nozzles, it doesn't matter much forwasher fluid anyhow.

- Tim
 

passsattdi

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Jun 23, 2012
Location
NE PA
TDI
2012 Passat SEL Premium TDI
Ruins the seals use oem fluid...
From what I am told by my dealer, the same stuff in the fluid that coats your windows, coats the probe tips. My guess is that the sensor works on the ohms shown across the probe, created by the washer fluid being in contact with it. When it is sealed up, sees no ohms, so shows as empty.
What I was told, was just to switch back to the blue stuff, and the probe should start working again. If not, all that will need to be done is the tips cleaned. So the BS of replacing it it is a dealer looking to get paid for a new probe, once you are out of warranty. This guy is pretty straight up with me, so I tend to believe him. Why would he not have me come right in? A reputable dealer....... When I run out of the fluid, I will let you know. Not to awfully worried about it.
Ruins the seals? Come on. Can you say hook line and sinker?
Bill
 

LokiWolf

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Apr 21, 2008
Location
Richmond, VA
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SEL
From what I am told by my dealer, the same stuff in the fluid that coats your windows, coats the probe tips. My guess is that the sensor works on the ohms shown across the probe, created by the washer fluid being in contact with it. When it is sealed up, sees no ohms, so shows as empty.
What I was told, was just to switch back to the blue stuff, and the probe should start working again. If not, all that will need to be done is the tips cleaned. So the BS of replacing it it is a dealer looking to get paid for a new probe, once you are out of warranty. This guy is pretty straight up with me, so I tend to believe him. Why would he not have me come right in? A reputable dealer....... When I run out of the fluid, I will let you know. Not to awfully worried about it.
Ruins the seals? Come on. Can you say hook line and sinker?
Bill
All you need to do is dilute it a bit with a little distilled water. Did it to a friends dodge, started working within minutes and the light went out. Tap water will work, but you have to add more. Distilled worked after like 6-8 oz.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 

passsattdi

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NE PA
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All you need to do is dilute it a bit with a little distilled water. Did it to a friends dodge, started working within minutes and the light went out. Tap water will work, but you have to add more. Distilled worked after like 6-8 oz.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Will try that. Bet that softened water will work even better, as it has salt in it, which acts as a conductor. I have an RO System that removes 99% of everything, so it is like distilled. May try that. Maybe add a little ammonia, like Windex does to boot. Dang, it will be like no window is there at all!! :p
In all seriousness. This is really the least of our problems. Thanks Loki!
 

LokiWolf

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Apr 21, 2008
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Richmond, VA
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2013 Passat TDI SEL
Will try that. Bet that softened water will work even better, as it has salt in it, which acts as a conductor. I have an RO System that removes 99% of everything, so it is like distilled. May try that. Maybe add a little ammonia, like Windex does to boot. Dang, it will be like no window is there at all!! :p
In all seriousness. This is really the least of our problems. Thanks Loki!

Salt would be bad. Any significant amount of solute is bad. You want to add something that dilutes the Rain-X and gives the extra stuff they have added to the "New Formula" something to dissolve in. Once you do that no issues.
 

VernK

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Jul 31, 2012
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Kelowna
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2012 Passat 2.5L Gas
It's not about conductivity, it's about capacitance. Pure water would work as well as salt water.

The issue is the chemical in RainX coating the sensor, adding capacitance that the computer can only equate to being in air. The coating always happened, but they've increased the concentration and obviously a threshold has been crossed with VW's sensor. The chemical obviously doesn't adhere, as flushing seems to be 100% effective. Adding water effectively returns the RainX to the old lower, problem free, concentration.

Yours
Vern
 

LokiWolf

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Apr 21, 2008
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Richmond, VA
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2013 Passat TDI SEL
Salt water will not work as well as Distilled. You want nothing in the water you are adding. If the water already contains a solute, then you decrease it's ability to dissolve the additional concentration of the Rain-X chemical.
 

TurboDieselPoint

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May 16, 2012
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N/A
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2014 Passat TDI SE 6-Speed Manual
My solution is to run the cheap blue stuff with the 0*F freezing point year round. Very inexpensive, no problems with the sensor.
 

oldpoopie

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Sheridan Oregon
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2001 golf gl, 1981 ALH swapped rabbit pickup, 1998 beetle, 2003 jetta wagon, 2002 jetta wagon BEW swapped, 2001 Audi TT
Add my 2006 jetta to the rain-x level sensor fail list....
 
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