Mirrors: Description and Operation

SIDEVIEW MIRRORS

Power Mirrors
Each power mirror head contains two electric motors, two drive mechanisms, and the mirror glass. One motor and drive controls mirror up-and-down movement, and the other controls right-and-left movement.

The power mirrors in vehicles equipped with the available heated mirror system option also include an electric heating grid located behind the mirror glass. This heating grid is energized by the heated mirror relay in the heater and air conditioner control only when the ignition switch is in the ON position, and the heated mirror system is turned on.

The power mirror assembly cannot be repaired. If any component of the power mirror unit is faulty or damaged, the entire assembly must be replaced.


Heated Mirror System
Electrically heated outside rear view mirrors are an additional factory-installed option on models that are equipped with factory-installed dual power mirrors. Vehicles with this option can be visually identified by the International Control and Display Symbol icon for rear window defogger, which appears on the lower inboard corner of each outside mirror glass; or, by the heated mirror switch that is located in the lower left corner of the a/c heater control unit face plate. The heated mirror system helps the vehicle operator maintain outside rear view mirror visibility during inclement operating conditions by keeping both outside mirror glasses clear of ice, snow, or fog. The heated mirror system for this vehicle includes the following major components:

The heated mirror switch, including the heated mirror system solid state electronic control logic and timer circuitry the heated mirror relay and the heated mirror system indicator lamp. All of these components are integral to the a/c heater control unit on the instrument panel.

The two outside mirror heating grids, which are integral to the power outside mirror units.

Following are general descriptions of the major components in the heated mirror system. See the owner 5 manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of the heated mirror system.

The solid state electronic control logic and timer circuitry for the heated mirror system receives battery current from a fuse in the Junction Block (JB) only when the ignition switch is in the ON or Start positions. After the heated mirror system is turned ON, the electronic control logic and timer circuitry will automatically turn the system OFF after a programmed time interval of about fifteen minutes. After the initial time interval has expired, if the heated mirror switch is depressed and released a second time during the same ignition cycle, the electronic control logic and timer circuitry will automatically turn the heated mirror system OFF after a programmed time interval of about five minutes. The heated mirror system will be shut OFF automatically if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF or Accessory positions. After the heated mirror system is turned ON, it can also be turned OFF manually by depressing and releasing the heated mirror switch a second time.

When the heated mirror system is turned ON, the heated mirror system control logic and timer circuitry energizes the heated mirror system indicator lamp and the heated mirror relay. When energized, the heated mirror relay supplies fused ignition switch output (run/start) current from a fuse in the JB to the outside mirror heating grids located behind the mirror glass of each of the outside rear view mirrors. When energized, each of the outside mirror heating grids produces enough heat to warm the glass of the outside rear view mirrors.






REAR-VIEW MIRROR

Automatic Day-Night Mirror
The automatic day/night mirror uses a thin layer of electrochromic material between two pieces of conductive glass to make up the face of the mirror. When the mirror switch is in the ON position, two photocell sensors are used by the mirror circuitry to monitor external light levels and adjust the reflectance of the mirror.

The ambient photocell sensor is located on the forward-facing (windshield side) of the rear view mirror housing, and detects the ambient light levels outside of the vehicle. The headlamp photocell sensor is located inside the rear view mirror housing behind the mirror glass and faces rearward, to detect the level of the light being received at the rear window side of the mirror. When the circuitry of the automatic day/night mirror detects that the difference between the two light levels is too great (the light level received at the rear of the mirror is much higher than that at the front of the mirror), it begins to darken the mirror.

The automatic day/night mirror circuitry also monitors the transmission using an input from the backup lamp circuit. The mirror circuitry is programmed to automatically disable its self-dimming feature whenever it senses that the transmission backup lamp circuit is energized.

The automatic day/night mirror is a completely self-contained unit and cannot be repaired. If faulty or damaged, the entire mirror assembly must be replaced. The automatic day/night mirror system is able to automatically change the reflectance of the inside rear view mirror in order to reduce the glare of head-lamps approaching the vehicle from the rear. The automatic day/night rear view mirror receives battery current through a fuse in the junction block only when the ignition switch is in the ON position.

A switch located on the bottom of the automatic day/night mirror housing allows the vehicle operator to select whether the automatic dimming feature is operational. When the automatic day/night mirror is turned ON, the mirror switch is lighted by an integral Light-Emitting Diode (LED). The mirror will automatically disable its self-dimming feature whenever the vehicle is being driven in reverse.

Refer to the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of the automatic day/night mirror system.