Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Power Mirrors

POWER MIRROR SYSTEM
If equipped with power mirrors, the control switch is located on the instrument panel to the left of the headlamp switch.

The power mirrors are connected to battery feed at all times. Each mirror head contains two electric motors, two drive mechanisms, an electric heating element, and the mirror glass. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional memory system, each mirror head also contains both a horizontal and a vertical motor position sensor. One motor and drive controls mirror up-and-down movement, and the other controls right-and-left movement.

An optional driver side outside electrochromic mirror is able to automatically change its reflectance level. This mirror is controlled by the circuitry of the automatic day/night inside rear view mirror. A thin layer of electrochromic material between two pieces of conductive glass make up the face of the mirror. Two photocell sensors on the inside rear view mirror are used to monitor light levels and adjust the reflectance of both the inside and driver side outside mirrors. This change in reflectance helps to reduce the glare of headlamps approaching the vehicle from the rear. Refer to the Automatic Day/Night Mirror for more information on the operation of this system.

The motors which operate the mirrors are part of the mirror assembly and cannot be serviced separately.

AUTOMATIC DAY/NIGHT MIRROR SYSTEM
An automatic dimming inside day/night rear view mirror and an automatic dimming driver side outside rear view mirror are available factory-installed options on this model. Following is a general description of this optional equipment.

The automatic day/night mirror is able to automatically change its reflectance. A thin layer of electrochromic material between two pieces of conductive glass make up the face of the mirror. Two photocell sensors are used to monitor light levels and adjust the reflectance of the mirror to reduce the glare of headlamps approaching the vehicle from the rear.

The ambient photocell sensor faces forward, to detect the outside light levels. A second sensor faces rearward to detect the light level received through tie vehicles back window. When the difference between the two light levels becomes too great (the light level received at the rear of the mirror is much higher than that at the front of the mirror), the mirror begins to darken.

The mirror switch allows the driver a manual control of whether the automatic dimming feature is operational. When AUTO is selected a small Light- Emitting Diode (LED), to the right of the mirror switch, is illuminated. The automatic dimming feature will only operate when the ignition switch is in the On position. The mirror also senses the backup lamp circuit, and will automatically disable its self-dimming feature whenever the transmission gear selector is in the Reverse position.

NOTE: The mirror always defaults to an ON state upon ignition.

The driver side automatic mirror is standard with the automatic inside mirror. The signal to control the dimming of that mirror is generated by the automatic day/night inside rear view mirror circuitry. That signal is then delivered to the driver side outside rear view mirror on a hard wired circuit.

The automatic day/night mirror cannot be repaired. If faulty or damaged, the entire inside rear view mirror assembly must be replaced.