I purchased an auto-dimming/compass/temp/homelink mirror. When properly wired it doesnt work.....nothing. I called tech support at the manufacturer and it was suggested that I wire it directly to the battery to 'test it'. Bingo....it works fine. As soon as I hook it to the cars existing 12v mirror wire and the ground it doesnt work.

I did a some testing and here is what I found. Using a volt meter all of the cars existing wires are functioning properly. I have identified the always on 12v lead, the keyed 12v lead and the lead powered when the door opens. All of the leads are measuring the 13.x volts. When I hook up a test lamp by attaching the alligators to the ground wire and the 12v lead the little light doesnt light up but it does light when I hook it to the cars battery. My final test was done with the new mirror properly wired. I measured the voltage and it drops to 4.x when the mirror is wired.

The tech guy mentioned something a 'load on the mirror' and a voltage drop???

Does anyone have any Ideas as to what might be the problem? Is there a corvette quirk?

Bad ground?
Bad Installer?

I'll be calling the tech guy tomorrow...hes very helpfull and patient...he wants the mirror to work as much as I do!!!

Thanks,
Jim

 

Sounds to me like you have a short on the 12V lead into the mirror or somewhere in the mirror that is drawing down the volts when connected. Wired directly to the battery, is workign because full battery power available? Just my guess. Maybe an exposed wire in the 12v wire at teh plug or in the new mirror plug in.

 

Sounds like a bad ground to me. There must be a good ground there since the factory courtesy lights are in the mirror...

But where did you get this mirror? I would love one of these. Can't believe a $55k car doesn't have Homelink built in.

 

I agree with the tech, I tried to run my V1 off the mirror, I got a voltage and an amperage drop to the point nether the stock mirror worked or the the V1, I had to run to the panel. :nonod:

 

Corvette (and a few others) I/S mirrors operate off positive triggering. Unless the mirror is made specifically for a C5 (like OEM), which I doubt, the mirror probably operates off negative triggering, which means you must replace your wiring harness. The replacement wiring harness will contain a relay which changes the current (triggering) so your negative triggered mirror will work w/ your positive triggered Corvette. Check w/ the vendor to determine if the mirror has a negative trigger. Hopefully, the vendor will be able to give you specifics about the mirror you bought. If the mirror is positive triggered, you probably do have a short somewhere. :yesnod: Bob

 

Trying to find this mirror on the internet, I found the following link:
http://www.lovecars.com/store/indexmirrors.htm

You can buy a wiring harness for positive trigger cars like the vette. Looks like BiggieBoy is dead on.

Still looking for a homelink mirror!

 

http://www.c5reations.com/pages/827873/index.htm
Bottom right hand of page!

 

Just a little heads up on the installation. The mirror is the one in the above post.

The mirror does come with a wiring harness that does include a relay to compensate for the positive/negative door trigger nad i do realize I need to install it. The wiring harness is designed for a car with no wires runnig to mirror so I'm cutting ooff whatever connectors and relays I need then splicing them in.

The tech guy said I only need to hook-up as many wires as functions I would like. Basicly if I dont want the compass and temp functions, I simply dont hook up the wire.

At this point I was able to get the mirrir to turn on but I accidently had two power wires touch so I'm looking for the fuse to the 12v ingition lead. Also when I press the homelink button I can hear a click from the fuseblock. Its either the realy or a circuit breaker.

As noted in an earlier post I'm begiing to think this mirror puts to much load on the stock wiring. If I cant get it to work today I'm going to try running a new ground with the stock power then if that doesnt work a new power wire with the stock ground.

By the way I paid $325 plus shipping from simplycheaper.com. The mirror came with the harness and instructions.

Biggieboy: It does have the relay which I have not installed yet. I just want to gett the thing to work!!

Joe_G: when I get this figured out I drive up and let you take a look at it..


[Modified by jim2527, 9:27 AM 6/7/2003]


[Modified by jim2527, 9:28 AM 6/7/2003]

 

For what it is worth and Not to stir up anything, I installed the current GM auto-dimming mirror in my 99. Fichtner Chev has them and the wiring harness to install. It worked fine, although you have to cut and solder new clips from new harness to your old harness to install. A bit cheaper.

 

One or two comments and I'll back out of here. Why are you messing around with the stock wiring in trying to get your new mirror to work??? Your mirror came w/ the proper wiring harness, relay included,---that is what you should be using to hook up your mirror. It sounds as if you have some kind of a Bube Goldberg hook up to your mirror, no wonder it's not working. No disrespect but, I'd FORGET THE STOCK WIRING, follow the install instructions to the letter (this means using the new harness) and hook your power into the accessory wiring outlet in the passenger side footwell. Good luck :seeya

 

I had a similar problem last year; one of the factory wires would't carry the load but did read a voltage. I ran a new wire to the power and all was well.

 

Biggieboy your comments are well taken. I'm using the existing harness because its there. The manufacturers tech guy said its OK not to use it. The harness that came with the mirror has extra wires for the temp probe and a reverse wire to 'un-dim' the mirror when shifting into reverse. Its primarily for cars with no existing harnes.

Right now I have no power to the keyed ingition orange wire. Once I locate that fuse.......

 

Are you sure that's the right link? When I try it, all I get is some site that says "this is just a test web site". :confused:

 

I bought a Chrysler visor with a Homelink from a junk yard. $10. I tested it with a 9 volt battery and it worked. I put the unit in my cars visor and it worked great. I love it. :hurray: