MNShortBus
Member
I believe I have solved this mystery finally! My suspicion about the voltage dips on pin 1 appear to be correct and is definitely related to the signal to the wiper relay.
I used my phone camera to capture the IR light from the sensors (some phones have IR filters, luckily mine didn't). The sensors sending .6 volts are dead and do not emit any IR light. It looks like these IR LEDs simply wear out with age because the newer ones are working better. VW was nice enough to print a manufacture date on the back. A good sensor should send up 5V to the wiper relay and will lower the voltage according to the sensor detecting a change in IR light. This dip in voltage tells the wiper relay to turn the wipers on.
Now for the pics. Earlier it was mentioned that the LEDs appear to be missing from the sensor I took apart. They aren't missing and instead are EXTREMELY small.
Here is a dead sensor. Notice the lack of light.
Here is an almost dead sensor. This is the one from my car. Notice how only 4 LEDs are working and they are very dim.
Here is a working sensor. All 8 LEDs are working. I installed this sensor in my car and it was working even without the gel.
Hopefully this helps others with a dead sensor function on their cars. I can finally finish this mod after 3 years.
I used my phone camera to capture the IR light from the sensors (some phones have IR filters, luckily mine didn't). The sensors sending .6 volts are dead and do not emit any IR light. It looks like these IR LEDs simply wear out with age because the newer ones are working better. VW was nice enough to print a manufacture date on the back. A good sensor should send up 5V to the wiper relay and will lower the voltage according to the sensor detecting a change in IR light. This dip in voltage tells the wiper relay to turn the wipers on.
Now for the pics. Earlier it was mentioned that the LEDs appear to be missing from the sensor I took apart. They aren't missing and instead are EXTREMELY small.
Here is a dead sensor. Notice the lack of light.
Here is an almost dead sensor. This is the one from my car. Notice how only 4 LEDs are working and they are very dim.
Here is a working sensor. All 8 LEDs are working. I installed this sensor in my car and it was working even without the gel.
Hopefully this helps others with a dead sensor function on their cars. I can finally finish this mod after 3 years.
