When I arm my wipers in the rainsense mode, my lights come on in the high beam mode when it is still light enough out so that the automatic lights don"t dim the interior dash lights. Cannot dim the lights out of high beam in this situation. If the automatic lights later come on, lights work as they should--low beam with traffic and high beam with no traffic. Take the wipers out of rainsense mode, and lights work normally.
Does anybody else get high beam only with their wipers on and still light enough out for no lights if it wasn't raining? Thanks in advance for any input.

For years, your observation has been a complaint to Cadillac. However, consider this. In previous models, for instance the last Eldorado, if one accidently activated the rainsense wipers when it was not raining, the car acted as if the wipers were on even though the wipers did not move. . The headlights went on, unknown to the driver, but also the dashboard dimmed to whatever the dimmer control was set at causing inability to read the dials. I would be driving along wondering why I couldn't read the dash. Took a long time to figure out my hand had accidently hit the wiper control.

It seems to me that in the latest models such as the 2005 STS, they have put a separate sensor for the dash lights so that when the wipers turn on the headlights, it does not affect the daytime brightness of the dash.

This is an improvement but I think it would help if something were done to make it more obvious that the wipers have been activated (especially when it is not raining outside).

Well I do not get highbeams I believe but the regular driving lights do come on 6 seconds after the wiper stalk is moved into the intellisense position as it is designed to do.

Having had a detailer knock it into the on mode once I too would wish for an indicator when it is "armed" and optimally for the lights to only cylce on with the blades, but otherwise I do not mind the feature.

Of course here in Cali driving lights are required whenever the wipers are active anyway so it is a saved step from having to put them on manually.

thank you--I remember getting my low beam lights on with the wipers armed, but not the high beams--guess I'll have to break down and take it to the dealer.

Just to be sure...Your turn signal stalk isn't kicked into the high-beam position is it?

nope--tried that but the stalk has no effect--high beams stay on no matter what--thanks though

The 06 STS Owner's Manual states, on pages 3-14 "Rainsense II Wipers" and 3-35 "Wiper Activated Headlamps", that the headlamps come on whenever the Rainsense II wipers are enabled by moving the stalk up one stop from the off position.

I think this mode of operation is sub-optimum. Rainsense II could be better integrated with the automatic headlamps by turning on the headlamps only when Rainsense II actually activates the wipers, and switching to DRLs when it stops the wipers and leaves them parked in standby.

I opened file # 1-399331709 with Cadillac Customer Assistance making this suggestion.

I think this mode of operation is sub-optimum. Rainsense II could be better integrated with the automatic headlamps by turning on the headlamps only when Rainsense II actually activates the wipers, and switching to DRLs when it stops the wipers and leaves them parked in standby.
That doesn't seem to make any sense at all. What happens in a light rain when the wipers activate ever 15 or 30 seconds? You want to drive down the road with your headlights turning off and on ever few seconds.

I personally think the current configuration is correct.

That doesn't seem to make any sense at all. What happens in a light rain when the wipers activate ever 15 or 30 seconds? You want to drive down the road with your headlights turning off and on ever few seconds.
:bouncy: Well, depending on one's frame of mind and sense of humor, what you describe might be just the thing.

If, on the other hand, one is concerned about upholding the dignity of Cadillac ownership and operation perhaps the following would be better. California's Vehicle Code requires that headlamps be on when wipers "are in continuous use." Other States have similarly dumb laws. So be it.
The Auto lamp system should control the headlamps until Rainsense II determines that it must run the wipers at something like continuous low-speed (or faster), at which time it turns on the headlamps and starts a 2-minute egg timer.
If, when this two-minutes egg timer expires, Rainsense II is still running the wipers continuously, it should restart the egg timer. (This egg timer will prevent the headlamps from switching off in lock-step with the wipers going intermittent.)
If, however, after two minutes, the wipers are making only occasional swipes or are parked, it should turn headlamp control back to the Auto lamp system and start a 30-second egg timer. (This egg timer will prevent the headlamps from switching on in lock-step with the wipers resuming continuous operation. While this egg timer is running the Auto lamp system will have on either the DRLs or the headlamps depending on ambient light.)
When this 30-second egg timer expires Rainsense II should go back to step 1, above. (If Rainsense II is running the wipers more-or-less continuously, it will turn on the headlamps. Otherwise the Auto lamp lamp systme will be in charge.)
This cycle should continue as long as Rainsense II is enabled.(I'm a retired computer programmer--could you guess?)