Need advice for car in poor weather: On a standard car (no fancy tech except for a reverse camera), how do you use the side mirrors to reverse safely when it is really dark outside AND heavy raining?
1d 12h ago by lemmy.world/u/mazzilius_marsti in asklemmy
Recently moved to a new area and i am facing this scenario:
It is raining very heavily outside such that the side mirrors are wet and difficult to see. You cant really roll the window down to wipe without splashing the passengers and the car interiors.
On a normal day, street lights are already dim and hard to see. It is much worse when it rains. Plus, I use these UV films on my windows. I have to use them because it is scorchingly hot during the day.
So under those above conditions, it is very tricky to reverse down a basement. Due to the design, it is better to reverse down instead of going head first.
So what i usually do:
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Use the reverse camera. I can adjust its brightness settings to show the back clearly.
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Use the hazard lights. The flashes from these lights can bounce off of the nearby gate. So they can give some sort of "guideline" for me.
That is all i can do. I am literally blinded on the left and right in this scenario. Without any passengers, I can bite the bullet and roll down the windows. But even then, it is tough because of the heavy rain.
Are there any rain guard to put on the side mirrors, to stop the rain coming down? I have no idea if these exist or what they are called.
Appreciate any help
If your hazard lights are illuminating the area, why aren’t your back-up lights? The white lights for backing up are meant to be “rear-facing headlights” and should be bright enough to light your surroundings. It seems many manufacturers have forgotten this over the years.
You can also try putting Rain-X on your side windows and your mirrors, that can help with heavy rain conditions.
The white lights for backing up are meant to be “rear-facing headlights”
Honestly this is the first time I've ever heard that, and I don't think I've ever seen a car with reverse lights that qualify. I always thought they were just meant to be indicators for cars behind.
Most modern cars (in EU at least) has reversing white lights very, VERY dim, just to tick the box "has white backing lights". My car (kia) barely lights road one meter behind the car, it's really terrible in this regard and I honestly understand OP as I recently moved and reversing to my parking place is always like a lottery when it's dark and rainy. As a workaround I put solar led lights along the driveway as a runway lights so I can see at least something.
Could get a hydrophobic coating to make the rain slip off the side mirrors more easily. There are also mirror rain visors that so what you describe.
Is this the same basement every day, like at your house? Install some lights is one thought.
Carry a rag in the car, roll down the windows, wipe the rear view mirrors, roll windows back up.
Alternately, when dry, apply Rain-X to the mirrors.
Paint the pillars with some reflective paint, make sure the reverse light is working
Getting a bit of rainwater in the car won't kill it as long as you air it out
Sounds like conditions are too hazardous to operate with your tinted windows.
Turning in the mirror demisters helps keep them somewhat clearer.
Is your reversing light working properly?
Mirror demisters? Get a load of the 1%er over here flaunting their wealth.
More fancy than a reversing camera? My 2013 Seat Mii has mirror demisters even though the only screen on it is the one to show the millage!
Probably regional, I've never seen mirror demisters, but I'm also Australian. We just drive blind over here :D
Depending on the location, this has been standard since at least the 90s.
I am a Swede, and even the car my dad got in the early 90s had heated side mirrors.
My current car has heated side mirrors but no reversing cam.
My base model Subaru has them. Heated windshield wipers, too.
You keep switching back and forth between left side mirror, right side mirror and rear view mirror while manually craning you neck and shoulder checking the line of sight. Do this slowly and incrementally and you should be okay.
Can't do much about improving visibility without getting more light there.
Is it your cellar? I've got this nice solar-powered motion-sensor flood light that I i got for like $15. Let's me see my dogs when I let them out at night.
You can install rear-facing work lights. It's not legal to use on the road, but on your own property you do you. Would be activated with a switch up front. Or a wireless XBB relay if you have cash.
Rainx or a competitor. ProjectFarm on YouTube tested a few different brands.
Right now?
Add sensor motion detection lights to your driveway.