Mirrors: Description and Operation

GENERAL INFORMATION
Power operated or power operated and heated outside rear view mirrors are available factory-installed options on this model.

POWER MIRROR SYSTEM
The power operated or power operated and heated outside rear view mirrors allow the driver to adjust both outside mirrors electrically from the driver side front seat position by operating a switch on the driver side front door trim panel. The power mirrors receive a non-switched battery feed through a fuse in the junction block so that the system will remain operational, regardless of the ignition switch position.

The heated mirror option includes an electric heating grid behind the mirror glass in each outside mirror, which can clear the mirror glass of ice, snow, or fog. The heating grid receives fused battery current through a relay integral to the rear window defogger switch in the rear window switch pod only when the ignition switch is in the ON position, and the rear window defogger system is turned on.

Following are general descriptions of the major components m the power mirror system. Refer to the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of the power mirror system.

POWER MIRROR
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 relay integral to the rear window defogger switch in the rear window switch pod only when the ignition switch is in the ON position, and the rear window defogger 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 power mirror unit must be replaced.

POWER MIRROR SWITCH
Both the right and left power outside mirrors are controlled by a single multi-function switch unit located on and mounted to the upper flag area of the driver side door trim panel. The switch knob is rotated clockwise (right mirror control), or counterclockwise (left mirror control) to select the mirror to be adjusted. The switch knob is then moved in a joystick fashion to control movement of the selected mirror up, down, right, or left.

The power mirror switch cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced. The power mirror switch knob is available for service replacement.The heated mirror system will only operate when the ignition switch is in the ON position. When the rear window defogger switch is in the ON position, an electric heater grid located behind the glass of each of the outside rear view mirrors is energized. When energized, each of these heater grids produce heat to help clear the outside rear view mirrors of ice, snow, or fog.

The heated mirror system is controlled by a momentary rear window defogger switch in the rear window switch pod installed in the instrument panel lower bezel, which also includes the switch for the rear wiper and washer system. An amber indicator lamp in the switch pod will light to indicate when the defogger system is turned on. The rear window switch pod also contains the defogger system control circuitry including the timer logic and the defogger relay.

The heated mirror system only operates in concert with the rear defogger system, and will be automatically turned OFF after a programmed time interval of about ten minutes. After the initial time interval has expired, if the defogger switch is turned ON again during the same ignition cycle, the heated mirror system will automatically turn OFF after about five minutes.

The heated mirror system will automatically shut OFF if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, or it can be turned OFF manually by depressing the defogger switch a second time. Following are general descriptions of the major components in the heated mirror system. Refer to the owner's manual in the vehicle glove box for more information on the features, use and operation of the heated mirror system.

GENERAL INFORMATION
An automatic dimming inside day/night rear view mirror is an available factory-installed option on this model.

AUTOMATIC DAY/NIGHT MIRROR SYSTEM
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 headlamps 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.

Following is a general description of the automatic day/night mirror. 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.

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.