Lexus LS rain light sensor malfunction

I'm having a bizarre issue with my 2016 Lexus LS hybrid. I've got 241076 km on the clock, and the rain-light sensor seems to have gone haywire. I'm getting an error stored, and the auto-wiping doesn't work when it rains. Plus, the headlights don't switch on automatically anymore, the speedometer dimming is out, and the lights just switch on whenever they want. I'm suspecting it's those bubbles people talk about forming under the windshield gel pad. Anyone else seen this?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I have an LS too, and experienced a similar problem a while back. Is the light sensitivity also affected?

Good question! Now that you mention it, I'd say yes. It's not completely dead, but feels less responsive. Do you suspect something in particular?

Yep, sounds like the gel pad issue. Air bubbles mess with the sensor's readings, like trying to read a book through frosted glass. Best to take it to a workshop to get it sorted.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions and for the great analogy! I took it to the workshop, as suggested, and you were spot on. They replaced the rain sensor, which indeed solved the issue. Turns out the bubbles were the culprit, just as we thought. The repair set me back 62€ – not too bad, all things considered.

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