Adding Rain Sense Wipers with AlfaOBD

Ghost_RAM · Nov 27, 2018

Hey all! Well, it appears we can add auto rain sensing wipers to the list of things AlfaOBD can do. Below is a list of parts needed and settings to enable in Alfa.

YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE UPGRADED MIRROR HARNESS IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK.

Those who have performed the MTC to ATC conversion and installed the correct harness for the humidity sensor behind the mirror should have the harness already. It is the extra plug leftover after the install.

Link to @Mpgrimm2 post regarding information for installation of the correct header harness for rain sense.

Added to 2016 Ram 1500 Express with upgraded mirror/harness, MTC to ATC conversion.

Parts List:
Rain Sensor part#s
68149325AC Or 68149325AB (Thank you @Jkieffer)

Depending on where you look... Compatible with 2013 - 2019 Ram 1500
2013 - 2018 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500

Cover
https://www.polycase.com/ag-43
https://www.ramforum.com/posts/1886948/
https://www.ramforum.com/posts/1888438/

Rain & Light Sensor Kit
http://www.automotivedesigngroup.com/catalog/i2423.html

Extra Pad
http://www.automotivedesigngroup.com/catalog/i2414.html

Black Vinyl (Having had the problems with the perforated frit and air in those areas, I might mask off the area and use an enamel paint in the future.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NQMLVUM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Codes for AlfaOBD in BCM:
VehConfig 2-Rain sensor Present
CustSetMenu 1 Rain sensitive wipers CSM

Side note: I did notice in the new setup for Alfa that there is a 2014 section in the last third of the list of the BCM. Under there I noticed "Rain Sensor Module #2 Present". I did not set this of course but I'm not sure if earlier trucks would need something more???

For whatever reason, I did not have to run the Light Rain Sensor Calibration (for new light/rain sensor module) or the Light Rain Sensor Re-Adaptation (for windshield replacement).

Installation:
The factory location of course cannot be utilized due to the frit, so you have to move the sensor to the passenger side below the dot matrix frit in the upper corner by the mirror. The plug for the rain sensor is short, so you will have to free it up a little and clear it from the rest of the harness. I tried adding some black vinyl to give it as close to factory appearance as possible but as you will see in the pictures below I did not judge my distance very well. This will be redone at a later date.

The lens kit and sensor have to be mounted low enough below the frit and for the height of the wiper. This is why behind the mirror at the factory location is the best spot but I wasn't springing for a new windshield.

I still need to separate the rain sense harness portion from the main harness so it will drop straight down.

My poor measuring for vinyl and also air in dot matrix area of frit.

Instructions for lens/sensor kit general sensor info and sensor installation. You will receive these when ordering the above kits/pads. Mark from GGGCorp was a huge help and gave some much needed insight into the workings of the sensor and their kit I purchased.

Thank you to everyone involved and to @Chach for supplying some great pics which really helped in seeing what the mounting plate (lens) looked like.

If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer!
Thanks

Ghost_RAM · Nov 27, 2018

Future use

Edit: Video to show operation

Edit: So I went ahead and took everything back off due to my poor measurements the other day. Also not liking the way the dot matrix part of the frit would show small air bubbles on the outside. When I was told it was a type of silicon pad I was a little leery in how well it would stay attached to the windshield. I can now tell you having taken one off....what a PIA!! The mess left behind was a little difficult to clean up. Perhaps once these get some age on them they might be a little easier to remove? You'll see in the pictures below that I nearly destroyed the lens cleaning it up. Isopropyl alcohol was a huge help.

I ended up going to the hobby store and getting some acrylic enamel black satin paint and using that with a business card to sort of trowel in those areas. After putting a heat lamp on the area for a while I went back over it again with the black vinyl. This time around the end result was much better.

The excess acrylic paint was easy enough to scrape off with a single sided razor (box cutter). Word of caution, DO NOT USE a regular razor knife. I accidentally scratched my windshield trimming some area on my vinyl. Oops... Going to attempt some resin to fix once it gets warmer. Live and learn

chrisbh17 · Nov 27, 2018

Thanks for being the groundbreaker!

How good or bad do they work? Not sure I'd ever tackle this but great job with all the research and implementation.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Ricks Ram · Nov 27, 2018

Ghost_RAM said:
Hey all! Well, it appears we can add auto rain sensing wipers to the list of things AlfaOBD can do. Below is a list of parts needed and settings to enable in Alfa.

YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE UPGRADED MIRROR HARNESS IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK.

Those who have performed the MTC to ATC conversion and installed the correct harness for the humidity sensor behind the mirror should have the harness already. It is the extra plug leftover after the install.

Added to 2016 Ram 1500 Express with upgraded mirror/harness, MTC to ATC conversion.

Parts List:
Rain Sensor part#s
68149325AC Or 68149325AB (Thank you @Jkieffer)

Cover
??? Need to find something. The factory location of the sensor is behind the mirror with a section of the frit missing for the lens.

Rain & Light Sensor Kit
http://www.automotivedesigngroup.com/catalog/i2423.html

Extra Pad
http://www.automotivedesigngroup.com/catalog/i2414.html

Black Vinyl (Having had the problems with the perforated frit and air in those areas, I might mask off the area and use an enamel paint in the future.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NQMLVUM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Codes for AlfaOBD in BCM:
VehConfig 2-Rain sensor Present
CustSetMenu 1 Rain sensitive wipers CSM

Side note: I did notice in the new setup for Alfa that there is a 2014 section in the last third of the list of the BCM. Under there I noticed "Rain Sensor Module #2 Present". I did not set this of course but I'm not sure if earlier trucks would need something more???

For whatever reason, I did not have to run the Light Rain Sensor Calibration (for new light/rain sensor module) or the Light Rain Sensor Re-Adaptation (for windshield replacement).

Installation:
The factory location of course cannot be utilized due to the frit, so you have to move the sensor to the passenger side below the dot matrix frit in the upper corner by the mirror. The plug for the rain sensor is short, so you will have to free it up a little and clear it from the rest of the harness. I tried adding some black vinyl to give it as close to factory appearance as possible but as you will see in the pictures below I did not judge my distance very well. This will be redone at a later date.

The lens kit and sensor have to be mounted low enough below the frit and for the height of the wiper. This is why behind the mirror at the factory location is the best spot but I wasn't springing for a new windshield.

View attachment 147656

I still need to separate the rain sense harness portion from the main harness so it will drop straight down.

View attachment 147648

My poor measuring for vinyl and also air in dot matrix area of frit.

View attachment 147655

Instructions for lens/sensor kit general sensor info and sensor installation. You will receive these when ordering the above kits/pads. Mark from GGGCorp was a huge help and gave some much needed insight into the workings of the sensor and their kit I purchased.

View attachment 147650
View attachment 147651

Thank you to everyone involved and to @Chach for supplying some great pics which really helped in seeing what the mounting plate (lens) looked like.

If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer!
Thanks

Lol now your gonna cost me more money! Well done. Looks like I'm going to be ordering some parts.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Ghost_RAM · Nov 27, 2018

chrisbh17 said:
Thanks for being the groundbreaker!

How good or bad do they work? Not sure I'd ever tackle this but great job with all the research and implementation.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

We don't have rain here until Friday but using a squirt bottle they seemed to work just fine. If I can figure out how to upload a video I will.

Ghost_RAM · Nov 27, 2018

Ricks Ram said:
Lol now your gonna cost me more money! Well done. Looks like I'm going to be ordering some parts.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure you're one of the people who started me down this whole upgrade path. Payback time! Lol

chrisbh17 · Nov 27, 2018

Glad to hear that!

How hard and nerve racking was it to put the sensor on? Thats what would stop me from trying (granted the pads are fairly cheap I guess).

How would I know if I need the upgraded mirror harness? I have dual zone already in my truck from the factory.

Ghost_RAM · Nov 27, 2018

chrisbh17 said:
Glad to hear that!

How hard and nerve racking was it to put the sensor on? Thats what would stop me from trying (granted the pads are fairly cheap I guess).

How would I know if I need the upgraded mirror harness? I have dual zone already in my truck from the factory.

The hardest part was ensuring there was no air gap behind the lens/pad. Other than that is is pretty straight forward. As recommended by Mark with GGGCorp, I used the remaining primer and put a little extra on the area then kind of "rolled" the lens from the top to the bottom. Then being careful not to touch the center area I lightly pressed working my way to the bottom edge. Pads are fairly cheap and I ended up ordering 2 extra just in case. Lol

Edit: Sorry, as far as the harness goes, I would think you would have it already there. The hardest part is finding it in the headliner which it should be located just above the mirror.

WTM75 · Nov 27, 2018

Definitely interested in this one...why not I already have the harness. Thanks for doing all the research and figuring this out for us!!

chrisbh17 · Nov 27, 2018

Any idea if its possible to get the frits off the existing windshield? Never tried it before, I wonder if you could polish them out?

Ghost_RAM · Nov 27, 2018

chrisbh17 said:
Any idea if its possible to get the frits off the existing windshield? Never tried it before, I wonder if you could polish them out?

Added a vid to second post.

While I have removed frit before, I would probably not recommend it as the glass needs to be clear. When I removed it years ago you could see a kind of haze but since I was going back with something over it I wasn't concerned then.

mjf6175 · Nov 28, 2018

Ghost_RAM said:
Added a vid to second post.

While I have removed frit before, I would probably not recommend it as the glass needs to be clear. When I removed it years ago you could see a kind of haze but since I was going back with something over it I wasn't concerned then.

Ghost....outstanding job! Kudos to you on doing this. Of course my brain is now on sensory overload and my wallet is once again in trouble. And you know me, I have questions. And I know you have the answers! So that my brain does not overheat:

1) Do you know where on the windshield the factory normally mounts this thing? I know that the dot matrix will not be there with the correct factory windshield, just trying to figure out just how close to the same position you can get it.

2) You have smart beam, correct? Would you be able to mount the rain sensor behind the rear view mirror but at the same time low enough to not be in the way of the smart beam eye?

3) I guess the factory cover will not work with this?

I tried researching the frit and it is really not removable. The dot matrix is made from a ceramic that is put on the glass, then the glass is placed in the furnace. The ceramic fuses with the glass and turns black from the heat. As you mentioned, sanding the frit off usually distorts the glass and changes the opaqueness of the glass.

mjf6175 · Nov 28, 2018

Ghost_RAM said:
Added a vid to second post.

While I have removed frit before, I would probably not recommend it as the glass needs to be clear. When I removed it years ago you could see a kind of haze but since I was going back with something over it I wasn't concerned then.

Ghost....take a look at the pic posted previously by Chach of his OEM rain sensor, I pasted a link to it below. The rain sensor looks like its mounted to the windshield in an area where its "blacked" but not into the dot matrix area? Maybe have Chach look at the windshield from the OUTSIDE to see if the blackened part of the windshield is there or not. If it is blackened then mounting the sensor can be done in the stock location?

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/alfaobd.123982/page-198

chrisbh17 · Nov 28, 2018

mjf6175 said:
Ghost....take a look at the pic posted previously by Chach of his OEM rain sensor, I pasted a link to it below. The rain sensor looks like its mounted to the windshield in an area where its "blacked" but not into the dot matrix area? Maybe have Chach look at the windshield from the OUTSIDE to see if the blackened part of the windshield is there or not. If it is blackened then mounting the sensor can be done in the stock location?

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/alfaobd.123982/page-198

My guess is the black only goes where the sensor is NOT. It is imperative there is nothing but clear glass for the sensor to work (which is also why it is very important to get the silicone pad installed without even any bubbles and surely no smudges).

My guess is the black is "sprayed" onto the windshield during manufacturer with some sort of pad blocking the area where the sensor will go.

I still wonder if we could just get a windshield shop to order the correct windshield, if our current one happens to break

Ghost_RAM · Nov 28, 2018

mjf6175 said:
Ghost....outstanding job! Kudos to you on doing this. Of course my brain is now on sensory overload and my wallet is once again in trouble. And you know me, I have questions. And I know you have the answers! So that my brain does not overheat:

1) Do you know where on the windshield the factory normally mounts this thing? I know that the dot matrix will not be there with the correct factory windshield, just trying to figure out just how close to the same position you can get it.

2) You have smart beam, correct? Would you be able to mount the rain sensor behind the rear view mirror but at the same time low enough to not be in the way of the smart beam eye?

3) I guess the factory cover will not work with this?

I tried researching the frit and it is really not removable. The dot matrix is made from a ceramic that is put on the glass, then the glass is placed in the furnace. The ceramic fuses with the glass and turns black from the heat. As you mentioned, sanding the frit off usually distorts the glass and changes the opaqueness of the glass.

Lol no problem. I'll answer as much as I can.

1) The factory mounting location is either center to passenger side of center in the solid area of the frit. There is a small clear area where there is no frit. Unless your truck came with rain sense then you don't have that type of windshield which is why I went to the passenger side upper corner by the mirror.

2) I do have smart beam and while I guess you could mount it below the frit there, I would think it would be more visible than the passenger upper corner.

3) No, the factory lower cover which houses the smart beam camera would not be able to cover it as it is in the frit area.

Correct on the frit. It is possible to remove but you would virtually render it useless for the senor anyway.

mjf6175 said:
Ghost....take a look at the pic posted previously by Chach of his OEM rain sensor, I pasted a link to it below. The rain sensor looks like its mounted to the windshield in an area where its "blacked" but not into the dot matrix area? Maybe have Chach look at the windshield from the OUTSIDE to see if the blackened part of the windshield is there or not. If it is blackened then mounting the sensor can be done in the stock location?

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/alfaobd.123982/page-198

See the above #1.

Ghost_RAM · Nov 28, 2018

chrisbh17 said:
My guess is the black only goes where the sensor is NOT. It is imperative there is nothing but clear glass for the sensor to work (which is also why it is very important to get the silicone pad installed without even any bubbles and surely no smudges).

My guess is the black is "sprayed" onto the windshield during manufacturer with some sort of pad blocking the area where the sensor will go.

I still wonder if we could just get a windshield shop to order the correct windshield, if our current one happens to break

Or dust, that can even cause some issues with them turning on when they're not supposed to. Which is why when heating the area the pad will be applied it is not recommended to use a dryer or heat gun. Radiant heat from a 100 watt bulb or heat lamp is best. The dryer will create static which of course will attract a lot of dust.

I looked before and I think they're around $400??

Edit: Just realized I left out the part about using a heat lamp in the area of the windshield the pad will be applied. I'll update the OP.

Edit 2: It's in the instruction sheet. Never mind lol

chrisbh17 · Nov 28, 2018

Yeah, thats the weird thing. All of the windshields are within 20-30 of each other, and its even possible the rain-sensing windshield is *less* than the non-rain-sensing one.

I know they are expensive, but a lot of people (including myself) have full glass coverage as part of auto insurance. If my windshield needed replacing, I can go to an approved installer and they would order the correct windshield. If insurance is going to pay out 400.00 for a windshield anyway, I wonder if the installer could order the rain-sensing windshield in place of the non.

Ghost_RAM · Nov 28, 2018

chrisbh17 said:
Yeah, thats the weird thing. All of the windshields are within 20-30 of each other, and its even possible the rain-sensing windshield is *less* than the non-rain-sensing one.

I know they are expensive, but a lot of people (including myself) have full glass coverage as part of auto insurance. If my windshield needed replacing, I can go to an approved installer and they would order the correct windshield. If insurance is going to pay out 400.00 for a windshield anyway, I wonder if the installer could order the rain-sensing windshield in place of the non.

If your insurance is anything like mine then yes. My company (State Farm) cuts me a check and I can do the repairs myself. Funny thing is I could have done this a couple months ago. You can bet that I will do this next time!

chrisbh17 · Nov 28, 2018

I will have to ask about that. Been with our current insurance co for a while, but have never had to make a glass claim.

I dont mind throwing in the difference in cost between the windshields if I have to...it looks like it would still be cheaper than buying the bracket and silicone pad (and even more importantly it will already be installed)

Ghost_RAM · Nov 29, 2018

Having a difficult time tracking down a cover for the sensor. There has to be something that is aesthetically pleasing enough out there.

Adding Rain Sense Wipers with AlfaOBD

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