power mirror HEEEELLLPPP
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
power mirror HEEEELLLPPP
OK I'm losing my mind here - '81 with power mirrors. Both used to work fine, then pass stopped working. Checked switch: OK, checked toggle: OK, and I have power to the harness connector under dash (above footwell) in all positions, up down/left and right. I can unplug the connector and run 12v to the harness (green appears constant) and I can get the mirror to go up, then I switch polarity and the mirror goes down. I can't get it to go left or right though. So I plug it all back in and NUTTIN'....
WTH? I then cut out the plug (it was crappy to begin with, Bubba had it mangled a bit) and connected the wires directly, and again, NUTTIN'....
What gives? Can the mirror motor be hosed? It doesn't look like I can get the mirror off without taking the glass out of the door either.
Help!
WTH? I then cut out the plug (it was crappy to begin with, Bubba had it mangled a bit) and connected the wires directly, and again, NUTTIN'.... What gives? Can the mirror motor be hosed? It doesn't look like I can get the mirror off without taking the glass out of the door either.
Help!
Last edited by mxscooter; Jun 4, 2010 at 04:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
I was using the blue and the green wires - here's an update: after fiddling and diddling with this mess I can get the mirror to go up and down from the console (yay) but no left/right. If I switch the green and the white, then I can get it to go left and right, but then it's backwards on the console.
?????
Mind you, this all used to work fine after I put the car together....
?????
Mind you, this all used to work fine after I put the car together....
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
The system is a little weird and operates sorta like the door lock actuators.
In your case I'm going to guess the black wire is your problem.
The polarity reverse should be done between the green and black or the blue and black.
Do you have a diagram ?
I think you need to follow the black with white tracer and see if you can find a connector not making connection or broken.
This is worse than the door lock actuators. I think I have a mirror in the garage I'll get it and see what I can figure out.
In your case I'm going to guess the black wire is your problem.
The polarity reverse should be done between the green and black or the blue and black.
Do you have a diagram ?
I think you need to follow the black with white tracer and see if you can find a connector not making connection or broken.
This is worse than the door lock actuators. I think I have a mirror in the garage I'll get it and see what I can figure out.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Ok thats what I thought.
Green is right and left with the black/ white--reverse polarity to go opposite direction
Blue is up and down with the black/white
I'm thinking your missing the black somewhere and it would have to be after it splits from the black/white that goes to the drivers mirror.
Green is right and left with the black/ white--reverse polarity to go opposite direction
Blue is up and down with the black/white
I'm thinking your missing the black somewhere and it would have to be after it splits from the black/white that goes to the drivers mirror.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
Cool thanks I will have another go at it after dinner - I can figure most stuff out but I stink at electronics.
So should I look under the dash or console somewhere instead of inside the pass door/harness
Oh yeah what about that fact that I get power on the black when I use the console toggle for left/right?
So should I look under the dash or console somewhere instead of inside the pass door/harness
Oh yeah what about that fact that I get power on the black when I use the console toggle for left/right?
Last edited by mxscooter; Jun 4, 2010 at 05:56 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Cool thanks I will have another go at it after dinner - I can figure most stuff out but I stink at electronics.
So should I look under the dash or console somewhere instead of inside the pass door/harness
Oh yeah what about that fact that I get power on the black when I use the console toggle for left/right?
So should I look under the dash or console somewhere instead of inside the pass door/harness
Oh yeah what about that fact that I get power on the black when I use the console toggle for left/right?
Look for the 3 wire connector and wire from the pass mirror above the kickpad,(you might have to pull the glovebox if they ziptied it)pull it down and seperate the connector. Now with 2 wires , pos and neg, see if you can get the mirror to work correctly from the connector pos on the green and neg on the black to go right and left and then reverse them,then do the same using the blue to go up and down
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
OK this is correct
pos on the blue and neg on the black=mirror goes down
neg on the blue and pos on the black= mirror goes up
pos on the green and neg on the black=mirror goes left
neg on the green and pos on the black=mirror goes right
pos on the blue and neg on the black=mirror goes down
neg on the blue and pos on the black= mirror goes up
pos on the green and neg on the black=mirror goes left
neg on the green and pos on the black=mirror goes right
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If you used the green and black wire while testing then I would have say yes the motor is bad or you have a bad connection at the motor.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
Crap that's what I was thinking too - anyone selling one?
I guess now's the best time seein's how I've got it apart this far.
Sigh if it's not one thing it's another, it never ends.
I guess now's the best time seein's how I've got it apart this far.
Sigh if it's not one thing it's another, it never ends.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Take the mirror off the door and up inside the base are 2 torx screws,remove them and the mirror glass and motors slide out. You might be able to fix what you have.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
Really crummy and cold and rainy today and my buddy asked me to help him change tie rod ends on a Bonneville, and I need to put a hitch on my Jeep. I've been working on my car every day for 4 weeks and this is the first day I'm not - I feel like I'm cheating on it LOL.
Maybe after work tomorrow
Maybe after work tomorrow
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
Okay I had a chance to take many things apart to get the mirror off, and then after taking the motor out I checked wires again - still the same, no left/right. Problem is, I don't know how to get the lens off without breaking it. The screws that hold the housing together are behind the lens and frame, and impossible to get to.
Anyone dissect a mirror/motor apart before or any ideas? At this point I hate to break anything but I'll be needing a new one I'm sure, especially if I can't get the bugger apart.
I'm also posting a WTB in the for sale section, so if anyone has one collecting dust let me know lol
Giving up for tonight, gonna go play my guitar.
Anyone dissect a mirror/motor apart before or any ideas? At this point I hate to break anything but I'll be needing a new one I'm sure, especially if I can't get the bugger apart.
I'm also posting a WTB in the for sale section, so if anyone has one collecting dust let me know lol
Giving up for tonight, gonna go play my guitar.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
The bad news I have a drivers side parts mirror. The really bad news is a junkyard mirror in working order is over $200.00 but I did hear that the cadillac mirrors used many of the same parts inside. This I never confirmed.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
I FIXED IT!
Mirror popped off easily, after gently prying the 'T' that it swiveled on, between the motor and mirror. I tore the bellows a little, but you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs lol. From there I removed all the screws holding the motor together, and then a dremel to gently cut apart the housing enough to where I could pry it apart. Surprise, there are 2 motors, driving 2 gears that adjust the mirror direction. Very simple. Motors tested fine, both and in in both directions, so I next looked at the harness - Surprise again! Bad wire before the plug - so I repaired that, put a bit of triflow on the gears, and very gently screwed it together. I had to be gentle because the housing is plastic and too much pressure binds the assembly, as it was I think the whole deal was dry and binding, even if the wires were good.
I sealed where I dremele'd (is that a word) with weatherstrip adhesive and put the whole thing back on the car, all the time checking the wires.
What a relief, I knew if I was tenacious enough I could do it.
Mirror popped off easily, after gently prying the 'T' that it swiveled on, between the motor and mirror. I tore the bellows a little, but you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs lol. From there I removed all the screws holding the motor together, and then a dremel to gently cut apart the housing enough to where I could pry it apart. Surprise, there are 2 motors, driving 2 gears that adjust the mirror direction. Very simple. Motors tested fine, both and in in both directions, so I next looked at the harness - Surprise again! Bad wire before the plug - so I repaired that, put a bit of triflow on the gears, and very gently screwed it together. I had to be gentle because the housing is plastic and too much pressure binds the assembly, as it was I think the whole deal was dry and binding, even if the wires were good.
I sealed where I dremele'd (is that a word) with weatherstrip adhesive and put the whole thing back on the car, all the time checking the wires.
What a relief, I knew if I was tenacious enough I could do it.
That's great glad you were successful. 
