installing auto-dimming mirror

[Kit Sullivan]

I want to install an auto-dimming mirror in my car that came with the standard mirror. Is there an additional wiring harness that I need?
Is this a difficult task?

[WILLIAM SHIREY]

I found an auto-dimming mirror on a continental at the junkyard. I got it for $10 and also cut off the cable and connector as well. On my '85 Mark, the cable for an auto-dimming mirror (I had a standard mirror also) was above the overhead console headliner. You can unscrew the console and see it (I can't remember if it was taped back or not, it has three conductors).
Unfortunately the connector on my cable did not fit the socket on the mirror off the continental. So I swapped the connectors and it worked. One wire is ground, one is +12V dc and one is tied into something..I can't recall right now. I just switched the wires until it worked. If I can do it, you can too! :mad:

[Kit Sullivan]

Cool! I think the 'third' wire is tied into the transmission. It un-dims it automatically every time you engage reverse gear.

Mine came off of a Mark VII, so the connector,if it is there, should just connect right up!

How is the overhead console removed?

[ October 28, 2003: Message edited by: Kit Sullivan ]

[JoshMcMadMac]

To remove the console, you need to pull the plactic covers for the lights. They may not look like they can be pulled, but they do come off. Then there are two screws, one on each side. Slides right out. I hope this makes sense, let me know if I am unclear.

[88MK7Man]

my autodimming mirror doesnt seem to do anything, I can turn the switch on and the green led comes on when a car approaches but I dont notice the mirror doing anything. hmm

[pro-five-oh]

quote:Originally posted by 88MK7Man:
my autodimming mirror doesnt seem to do anything, I can turn the switch on and the green led comes on when a car approaches but I dont notice the mirror doing anything. hmm

The motor inside the unit is shot. I have two of them with that problem. Wish I knew how to get that mirror off the assembly so I could look at the guts of the system! smile.gif

[Jon90LSC]

Use a bashing device (hammer). that will generally seperate glass from just about anything. Just be sure to follow manufacturer's guidelines before using product...... tongue.gif

[DWPort]

I added a auto dimming mirror to my 89 LSC about a year ago. My mirror had 3 wires coming out of it. The pink/white connected to the purple wire coming out of the connector plug, black is ground and can be tapped into a metal bracket nearby, purple/black wire is for reverse. I ran a wire from the mirror to the pos. reverse light wire under the passenger seat in the back. You can run it all the way back to the back up lights but it was easier to do it in the back seat. You just have to locate the right wire. It was a easy job and it has worked real well.

David

[pro-five-oh]

quote:Originally posted by Jon90LSC:
Use a bashing device (hammer). that will generally seperate glass from just about anything.

Excellent advice! Care to make a TECH article for us on this technique??? :rolleyes: tongue.gif

[WILLIAM SHIREY]

The later auto-dimming mirrors use an electronic means of dimming vs. the motor. Like I said you can get them at the junkyard by the dozen. I wouldn't bother with a motorized mirror. Just my 2 cents (still unchanged by inflation)LOL :D

[Kit Sullivan]

I took my overhead console down and there were no connectors or looses wires that I could see to hook up to the mirror.
Are you sure they are in there?

[Nick]

I bought an auto-dim mirror for my Continental only to find it did not have the propper harness, however, a harness of some sort should be up there. There needs to be wiring for the auto-dim high beams.

Does the autochromatic mirror just plug into the harness for the mechanically dimmed mirror?

[Kit Sullivan]

There is the harness for the auto-dim lights hooked up to the electric eye-sensor, but there is no additional harness for the mirror.

[ekooke]

When I did my '90 BB about 2 years ago, I remember the wires were there (buried), but no connector, so I just spliced. I don't believe they'd put in a different harness on non-autodimming mirror equipped cars just to save the cost of 3 pieces of wire, but knowing Ford's Cost Engineers…

[Kit Sullivan]

OK, I'm with you when you think thjat Ford put the wires in there all the time...it only makes sense. I just can't seem to find them.
When I take down the console, there is a harness that comes from each side of the headliner opening that connects to the map-light on that side, and then there is the linr that runs to the auto-dim head lamp 'eye'. I can't find any other wires. Where are they?
And, the wires that are connected to the console are so short that it can barely be moved around to 'fish around' for any other wires.

[pro-five-oh]

quote:Originally posted by Kit Sullivan:
and then there is the linr that runs to the auto-dim head lamp 'eye'. I can't find any other wires. Where are they?

Kit, you might need to do a little exploratory surgery. Take off the driver's side A-pillar cover and the entire headliner assembly (sunvisors, etc) to find a group of three small wires.

I plan on doing the same thing to get juice for my Valentine One for my new Mark VIII, so wish me luck. :rolleyes:

[Kit Sullivan]

I was at a junk yard today, and I ripped a headliner down on the mark I was taking parts off of, and there was a wiring harness for the map lights and the auto-dim, but there was definately not a harness or any group of extra wires for the mirror. And I took the entire front section of the headliner down, including the visor 'seats', the overhead console and all the insulation. I followed the wire all the way to the pillar post, and there was no extra wires.
That car and mine are both 88s, so I assume they are probably the same.
Seems odd that they would make two different harnesses, though.

[ekooke]

Odd indeed. Check at the other ends (this is for a '90, from the Shop Manual);
R/Y spliced near Chime Assembly
BK/PK spliced near Keyless Entry Module
BK Ground (G202)
Another part of the puzzle is that my '90 EVTM calls it the Moonroof power harness where the wires for the autodimming mirror are. Possibly cars without the factory moonroof had one harness, and cars without that had a "stub harness" spliced in for the autodimming mirror when a car was ordered with the mirror, but without the moonroof. You'll probably need a wiring diagram, or you can just run wires to something hot with key on, the backup light circuit, and a ground.

[Kit Sullivan]

Yeah, I was just hoping for the old 'plug and play' scenario, you know?

[ekooke]

quote:Originally posted by Kit Sullivan:
Yeah, I was just hoping for the old 'plug and play' scenario, you know?

Yeah, plug and play would be nice, but real life is usually tougher than that. :(