I like a control that does one thing. The wiper dial has chosen a slightly more ambitious career: depending on the mode, it can change the pause between wipes or the sensitivity of the rain sensor. Once I know which job it is doing, the whole system becomes pleasantly understandable.
In intermittent mode I choose a pause. In automatic mode I choose how readily moisture triggers a wipe.
Before I reach for a tool
I read the whole job first. Then I get the car, the parts and myself ready.
- Identify whether this car has the optional rain-sensing system
- Make control adjustments while safely stopped when learning the system
- Defrost the windshield fully before running the wipers
- Check that the washer reservoir contains suitable fluid
Give the blades a wet, clear surface
I do not run the wipers across dry glass. That can scratch the windshield, damage the blades or overheat the wiper motor. I use the washers first when the glass is dry, and clear frozen conditions before operating the blades.
Switch off before the car wash
I switch the windshield wipers off before entering a car wash, including any automatic wiping function.
My four ordinary wiping choices
The stalk’s five positions
Up through the modes
Single wipe ↓ · Off · Intermittent/auto ↑ · Normal ↑↑ · High ↑↑↑
The other two movements
Rotate the dial: adjust the pause, or rain sensitivity if automatic wiping is enabled.
Pull toward you: request the windshield washers.
Clear ice first. Never run the washers with an empty reservoir.
The lever provides the following wiping functions. I identify the markings on the actual stalk before driving; the table explains each function without relying on the original manual drawing.
| Function | What I am asking the wipers to do |
|---|---|
| Single wipe | Make one wiping cycle |
| Intermittent wipe | Wipe with pauses between cycles |
| Normal wipe | Continue at the normal wiping speed |
| High-speed wipe | Continue at the faster wiping speed |
Here is where the dial’s job changes
One dial, two possible assignments
The rotary control changes the pause between wipes. Vehicle speed also affects that interval.
The rotary control changes rain-sensor sensitivity across six settings. Higher sensitivity responds to less moisture.
In intermittent mode, I turn the rotary control to adjust the time between wipes. A shorter interval means more frequent wiping; a longer one means more time between sweeps. The car also reduces that interval as vehicle speed rises.
If the car has rain-sensing wipers and the feature is enabled, the dial instead adjusts sensitivity. The sensor sits in the windshield area near the interior mirror and uses detected moisture to control operation and wiping speed. The feature can be enabled or disabled through the information display.
Six sensitivity settings, minus the mystery
I think of sensitivity as how quickly the sensor raises its hand. It is not a direct “motor speed 1 to 6” selector. The system determines wiping speed from the moisture it detects.
| Automatic setting | Moisture needed to trigger wiping |
|---|---|
| Lowest sensitivity — first position | A larger amount of moisture |
| Intermediate positions | Sensitivity between the two end settings |
| Highest sensitivity — sixth position | A smaller amount of moisture |
When the weather gets creative
Glass or blades leave smears
I clean the windshield and blades. If that does not restore performance, I fit replacement blades.
Automatic wiping behaves unexpectedly
I check that the outside glass around the mirror and rain-sensor area is clean. Dirt, mist and insects there can trigger wiping. Ice, snow and salty road spray can also cause inconsistent wiping or smears.
Winter spray needs a different approach
I can reduce rain sensitivity, select normal or high-speed wiping, or switch automatic wiping off. I choose the setting that gives a clear view under the actual conditions.
Two useful connections: washers and headlights
To spray the windshield, I pull the washer lever toward me. I avoid operating the washers with an empty reservoir because the pump can overheat.
With both automatic headlights and automatic wipers enabled, the low-beam headlights turn on when the rain sensor calls for normal-speed wiping. I still remain responsible for appropriate lighting and visibility.
The dial is not being mysterious. It just has two job descriptions.
From my Atlas notebook
What I check before wrapping up
- I can distinguish interval control from automatic sensitivity
- The windshield and sensor area are clean and fully defrosted before use
- The washer reservoir is not empty
- I know how to switch wiping off before a car wash
Sources & editorial notes
Original Atlas writing and independently drawn illustrations, based on the technical facts below. First-person comments express editorial judgment, not a claim of hands-on testing. Applicability follows the cited edition.
- 2015 owner publication: manual wipers, intermittent interval, rain sensing, washers and automatic-light interaction2015-Mustang-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US_07_2014.pdfPDF file pages 69, 70 · counted from the first PDF page, which may differ from printed page numbers
This guide covers the topic and vehicle configuration stated above. The source register tracks the developing library; the full four-PDF collection has not yet been re-authored.