I have a late production '79 L82, automatic with all factory options save the spoilers.

Somewhat oddly it has the standard unlighted mirror on the passenger side sun visor. The electrical connector for it is in the main wiring harness and my research shows that it was supposed to be part of the "convenience package" that included the courtesy light delay, headlights "on" warning, etc.

Not that I care much but the glass on the mirror has lots of holes in the silvering and I think that the lighted version is available in replacement.

How much of a pain is it to snake the wiring through the windshield frame and into the visor?

I'm also considering installing a new rear view mirror with built-in compass, outside temperature and universal remote garage door opener, so some additional wiring through the windshield frame will be the most direct route. If really a pain to snake wires through the frame I could I the outside temperature sensor in the rear of the car instead of ahead of the radiator like in nearly every new car with that feature and the suggested location for aftermarkets.

I'm keeping my car almost completely stock but there are some modern accessories I consider very useful. I've already added an RKE (remote keyless entry) system with starter cut-off and really appreciate it. In addition to the rear view mirror with compass/temp/garage door opener I'm also thinking of adding a high mount brake light as I'm a confirmed believer that such greatly reduces the chance of being rear-ended.

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Sorry for typos and grammar/punctuation problems. I just had hernia (under/around my belly button) repair surgery yesterday morning. I'm on pretty strong opiates and despite a double dose before going to bed spent a nearly sleepless 4 hours in bed before getting up WAY to early. So now I'm stoned and sleepy.

 

The plastic trim pieces at the "A" pillar can be removed to run wiring...the lighted mirror disconnect plug can be seen with the glove box removed...Good Luck

 

It is relatively easy to install the compass/temp/electrochromic (auto-dimming) rear view mirror. I wouldn't be without it. The compass is very useful on those long rural/autumn leaves drives, the outside temperature display is even more useful (t-tops stay off until about 50 degrees); and, the auto-dimming is nice because many people like to pull up too close behind us at night to get a closer look at our C3s, blinding us. It is a fairly discrete upgrade and about a 3-4 hour, low to medium stress installation. Run the temp sensor wire to the front bumper through the speedo grommet in the firewall, along the same vacuum hose/wiring path of the driver side. One WARNING: the windshield trim surround pieces have a rib/s which will (twice for me) rub a hole in the wiring you route through it if you don't grind/sand off a level route for the wire to safely run through. I ground it off with no negative consequences. I also wrapped the wires in wire tape for insurance.
Btw, I also rap plies tape on both the metal windshield pieces that were exposed and the inside of the plastic trim pieces which eliminated the rubbing noise that C3's make there when driving over rough roads no matter how much you tighten the trim pieces. Also, I inserted a fuse link in the hot wire for piece of mind.

On the topic of the high mount stop light, I roughed in the wiring while I was replacing the carpet this summer. It will be more challenging if you don't have this access.

Good luck and hope this helped.

Dave

 

Looks like the consensus is to run pillar wiring external to the metal framing instead of through it as I suspect is the factory way.

Can anyone confirm that the wiring for the lighted visor vanity mirror ran through the pillar? Also any idea about why my fully equipped '79 doesn't have one. Again the connector for it is in my main wiring harness. Since I don't see it listed as a separate factory option, was it perhaps a dealer installed option?

 

The stock vanity mirror wiring on my '82 runs down the a-pillar on the right (passenger) side, into a connector fed from a harness near the heater plenum. You can buy a complete mirror assembly which I did because the top cover is poorly designed and breaks if you fail to lube the length of the hinge from time to time.
Regarding the mirror, the silver had come off on mine as well. I originally removed the old glass, bought a small mirror at Target, and cut a replacement using a glass cutter. Lube the mirror with WD-40 before you cut it. The mirror looked like new, though I replaced the entire assembly this year because my wife likes to use the lighted mirror function.

 

Is that along the A pillar or inside the A pillar?

 

In my 1980 it ran along the pillar taped to it not inside the pillar.

 

It runs along-side the pillar - can't recall whether inner or outer-side. As previous poster noted, pull out the glove-box liner to make it easily accessible.

 

THANKS! For some reason I had the thought in my mind that it ran inside of it. When I now consider the location of the connector at the harness however that doesn't make much sense.