Volkswagen Golf Mk7 Service & Repair Manual: Removing and installing rain and light sensor, vehicles with front camera for driver assist systems

Note: the rain and light sensor has a silicon coupling pad forming contact with the windscreen, and is designed to be reused — this page covers removal on front-camera-equipped Volkswagen Golf Mk7 models.

Note The rain and light sensor has a silicon layer (coupling pad) which forms the contact surface to the windscreen. The rain and light sensor has been designed so that it can be used again. A prerequisite for re-use is that the coupling pad is not damaged or dirty (check!). If a rain and light sensor -G397- is renewed with a rain and light sensor -G397- having a different part number, the new rain and light sensor -G397- has to be coded → Anchor. The rain and light sensors -G397- cannot be fitted arbitrarily. Determine the correct rain and light sensor -G397- using the Electronic Parts Catalogue (ETKA). Removing –  Switch off ignition and all electrical consumers. –  If ignition key is present, disengage in position 0 (locked).

–  Remove cover -1- in direction of arrow -A-.   Note Wait at least 1 minute after releasing the retaining clip. This is necessary to ensure that the silicone coating is relieved of tension and will not be damaged during removal.

–  Release retaining clip on left and right -arrows-. –  Starting from top, carefully lever rain and light sensor -G397--1- out of retaining frame on windscreen.

–  Release and pull off connector -1- and remove rain and light sensor -G397--2-.   Caution Store the removed rain and light sensor -G397- so that the coupling pad cannot be damaged or soiled from dust etc. until it is refitted. Installing Install in the reverse order of removal, observing the following:   Caution Prior to installation, thoroughly clean the surface of the windscreen within the retaining frame for rain and light sensor -G397-. Make sure to completely remove any remains of the coupling pad adhering to the windscreen. The surface (coupling pad) of the rain and light sensor -G397- must not be soiled on installation. A sensor with a damaged coupling pad must be renewed → Chapter.   Note If the surface of the coupling pad on the rain and light sensor -G397- is soiled, it may be possible to clean it by “sticking on” and then “pulling off” one or more adhesive strips. –  Clean windscreen in the area of the retaining plate thoroughly.

–  If necessary, remove protective cap -1- from new rain and light sensor -G397-. –  Press grip in direction of arrow -A-. –  Remove protective cap -1- in direction of arrow -B-.

–  Reconnect connector. –  Insert rain and light sensor -G397--1- into retaining frame on windscreen. –  Push retaining clip on both sides -arrows- so that it can be heard to engage.   Note Even when sensor is installed correctly, small air bubbles may first appear between windscreen and coupling pad. After approx. 10 minutes, the contact surface must be free of bubbles. If the contact surface is not free of bubbles after 10 minutes, the rain and light sensor -G397- must be removed and installed anew. Air bubbles between the windscreen and the coupling pad will cause the rain and light sensor -G397- to malfunction. –  Read event memory and delete sporadic faults of the rain sensor → Vehicle diagnostic tester.   Note With the rain sensor disconnected, opening the door, for example, can wake up the CAN bus. The sporadic event entries in the onboard supply control unit must be deleted following repair work. –  If the rain and light sensor -G397- was renewed, perform coding → Anchor. Coding the rain and light sensor -G397-. –  Connect vehicle diagnostic tester → Chapter. –  Code rain and light sensor -G397- → Vehicle diagnostic tester.

Questions & answers

Removing and installing rain and light sensor, vehicles with front camera for driver assist systems — Volkswagen Golf Mk7

How do I remove the Golf Mk7 rain/light sensor (with camera)?

The sensor shares the windscreen module with the front camera. Unclip the cover, disconnect the sensor connector and remove. Do not disturb the camera.

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Removing and installing rain and light sensor, vehicles without front camera for driver assist systems

  Note The rain and light sensor has a silicon layer (coupling pad) which forms the contact surface to the windscreen. The r ...

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