Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Mirrors: Description and Operation




Rear View Mirrors

The main components of the exterior rear view mirrors are:

- Exterior mirror control switch
- Exterior mirror cover
- Exterior mirror glass
- Exterior mirror glass adjustment motors
- Exterior mirror plastic housing
- Exterior mirror glass with blind spot monitoring indicator (optional)
- Heated exterior mirror glass (optional)
- LH exterior auto-dimming mirror glass (optional)
- Memory exterior mirrors (optional)
- Puddle lamps (optional)

For information on the puddles lamps, refer to Exterior Lighting Exterior Lighting.

For information on the blind spot monitoring system, refer to Side And Rear Vision Blind Spot Monitoring.

Exterior Mirrors

Heated Exterior Mirrors

The power exterior rear view mirrors are available with a heated mirror glass feature, which heats the mirror glass to remove frost, snow, ice and condensation. The rear window defrost switch controls the operation of the heated exterior rear view mirrors. The heated exterior mirrors should be warm to the touch after 4 minutes of operation.

Memory Exterior Mirrors

The memory mirror function recalls the preferred positioning of the LH and RH exterior mirror glass. The preferred positioning of the LH exterior mirror glass is retained in the Driver Door Module (DDM) memory, while the preferred positioning of the RH exterior mirror glass is retained in the Driver Seat Module (DSM) memory. The memory mirror function is activated by the door mounted switches or the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. When a memory position is recalled by the operator, the LH and RH exterior mirror glass will automatically adjust to the preferred position. The DDM and DSM are capable of setting a DTC for the memory mirror system when a system concern exists. For information on the DDM, refer to Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems Description and Operation. For information on the DSM and Memory Position Programming, refer to Seating Programming and Relearning.

LH Auto-Dimming Mirror

The LH exterior mirror may be equipped with an auto-dimming feature. This feature automatically reduces the glare caused by headlamps reflecting in the mirror. To provide increased visibility when backing up, the LH exterior mirror will automatically return to a high reflectance mode whenever the vehicle is in REVERSE.

Interior Mirror

The vehicle can be equipped with one of the following interior rear view mirrors:

- Interior rear view mirror
- Interior auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass (optional)
- Interior auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass and video display (optional)

Interior Rear View Mirror

The interior rear view mirror consists of a mirror glass and housing. The interior rear view mirror mounts to an interior rear view mirror bracket at the upper center of the windshield glass. The interior rear view mirror can be adjusted left, right, up and down using the 2 pivot points on the support arm. The interior rear view mirror can be adjusted from a day position to a night position to reduce unwanted glare caused by headlamps reflecting in the mirror. Adjusting the interior rear view mirror day/night tab, located at the bottom of the interior rear view mirror, rearward will adjust the interior mirror to the night position. Adjusting the interior rear view mirror day/night tab forward will adjust the interior mirror to the day position.

Interior Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror

The interior rear view mirror may be equipped with an auto-dimming feature. The interior auto-dimming rear view mirror feature automatically reduces the glare caused by headlamps reflecting in the interior rear view mirror. The auto-dimming feature is activated when the ignition is in the RUN or ACC position. The interior auto-dimming rear view mirror adjusts the reflectance level of the interior rear view mirror glass to eliminate unwanted glare. The reflectance level of the mirror glass is variable and depends on the amount of rear glare in relation to ambient light conditions in front of the interior mirror. When the forward sensor detects daytime conditions, the rearward sensor is inactive and the interior rear view mirror stays in a high reflectance mode. When the forward sensor detects nighttime conditions, the rearward sensor is active and detects glare from the headlights of vehicles approaching from the rear or other glare-producing light sources. To provide increased visibility when backing up, the interior rear view mirror will automatically return to a high reflectance mode whenever the gear selector is in REVERSE.

On vehicles equipped with a compass, the interior rear view mirror will be equipped with an integrated compass module. For compass information, calibration or diagnostics, refer to Instrumentation, Message Center, and Warning Chimes Description and Operation.

On vehicles equipped with a rear-mounted object detection camera, a video image will be displayed on the LH side of the interior rear view mirror glass when the gear selector is in REVERSE. For information on the rear-mounted object detection system, refer to Parking Aid Parking Aid.