Alfa Romeo MiTo Owner's Manual page 81

80
RAIN SENSOR (where provided) fig. 35
This is an infra-red LED sensor fitted on the vehicle windscreen. It
is able to detect the presence of rain and consequently manage
windscreen wiping in accordance with the amount of water on
the windscreen.
Activation
The sensor is activated by turning selector wheel A-fig. 34 to the
automatic position (AUTO): in this way the windscreen wiper strokes
are regulated in accordance with the amount of water on the wind-
screen. The frequency can vary between no strokes (no rain - wind-
screen dry) and the 2 nd continuous speed (intense rain – wind-
screen wet).
The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be adjusted by operating se-
lector wheel A-fig. 34.
fig. 35
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
A0J0189m
If the vehicle is switched off with the lever in the automatic posi-
tion, when the vehicle is next started no wiping cycle will take place
even if it is raining. This is to prevent unwanted activation of the
rain sensor when the engine is started (i.e. when the windscreen
is being washed by hand or the wipers are stuck to the windscreen
by ice).
Carry out any of the following manoeuvres to restore automatic
operation:
❍ move the left-hand lever from the automatic position to any
other position and then back to automatic;
❍ adjust the sensitivity (by turning selector wheel A-fig. 34 to
increase or decrease).
When the rain sensor is reactivated using any of the manoeuvres
described above, reactivation is indicated by a single stroke of
the windscreen wipers, regardless of the condition of the wind-
screen. If the sensitivity of the rain sensor is adjusted whilst it is
in operation, a single stroke of the windscreen wiper takes place
to confirm the changed setting.
In the event of the malfunction of the rain sensor whilst it is ac-
tive, the windscreen wiper operates intermittently at a speed con-
sistent with the sensitivity setting of the rain sensor, regardless of
whether it is raining or not (the sensor failure is indicated on the
instrument panel display). The sensor continues to operate and it
is possible to set the windscreen wiper to continuous mode (1
2 nd speed). The failure indication remains for as long as the sen-
sor is active.
st or