Multiple Alfa Romeo Sensors Failing Simultaneously

Had a similar issue with my Giulia diesel 2020. As someone who regularly does basic maintenance but leaves electronics to professionals, this sensor fault caught my attention because of how multiple systems were affected simultaneously. The rain sensor problems combined with lighting issues pointed to what ended up being bubbles under the gel pad where the sensor unit sits on the windshield. These bubbles were interfering with proper sensor calibration and causing electrical fault readings across multiple systems. The fix required removing and replacing the gel pad interface between the sensor and windshield. Total cost was 62 Euro including calibration. The workshop confirmed this is a known issue that can occur when the original gel pad deteriorates over time. Could you share your vehicle year and whether you notice any visual abnormalities around the sensor mounting area? Sometimes you can spot the bubbles if you look carefully at the right angle. Also, have you noticed if the issues get worse in extreme temperatures? The car electronics in these models are quite sensitive to proper sensor positioning, so it is worth checking if the sensor housing itself is firmly mounted before assuming a complete unit failure.

Last service performed at 61500 KM, just checked maintenance records. I carefully inspected the sensor area as suggested and noticed slight discoloration around the edges of the mounting. The issues do seem to intensify during hot weather, which aligns with your gel pad theory. The auto sensor problems appear most pronounced during dawn and dusk, when the automatic headlights should normally activate. The rain detection fails completely regardless of precipitation intensity. Will take it to a workshop for gel pad inspection, as this seems like a logical starting point given the commonality of symptoms and the reasonable repair cost you mentioned.

Thanks for the additional details about the service history and your visual inspection. Those symptoms match exactly what I experienced, especially the temperature sensitivity and dawn/dusk malfunction patterns. The discoloration you noticed around the mounting edges is a telltale sign of gel pad deterioration. In my case, this deterioration created a chain reaction affecting multiple car components due to incorrect sensor readings. After my repair, I learned that heat cycling causes the malfunctioning sensor symptoms to worsen because the compromised gel pad expands differently than when new. The workshop explained that proper sensor calibration requires perfect optical contact between the sensor and windshield. Given your description, I am even more convinced you are dealing with the same issue I had. Make sure the workshop checks the entire rain detection assembly, not just the gel pad, since sometimes moisture can get trapped in the housing once the seal is compromised. Just monitor the repair cost, if they quote significantly more than what I paid (62 Euro), ask them to explain why, as a simple gel pad replacement with sensor calibration should resolve these electrical fault indicators based on my experience.

My 2021 just hit 65000 KM and I carefully inspected the sensor mounting area after reading these responses. The discoloration pattern matches exactly what was described, and I am also experiencing increased issues during warmer weather. The light sensor seems most unreliable during dawn and dusk transitions, and the rain detection system has completely stopped responding to any precipitation. This matches the symptoms described perfectly. I will schedule an appointment for the gel pad replacement and sensor calibration. The quoted repair cost of 62 Euro seems reasonable considering the multiple electrical fault codes and systems affected. The temperature sensitivity and visual indicators strongly suggest this is indeed a deteriorating gel pad rather than a complete sensor unit failure. Will report back after the repair to confirm if replacing the interface material resolves both the rain detection and lighting control issues. The systematic troubleshooting approach shared here has been extremely helpful in narrowing down the likely cause.