Mirrors: Description and Operation
POWER MIRRORSAutomatic Day/Night Mirror
The automatic day/night mirror system is able to automatically change the reflectance of the inside rear view mirror in order to reduce the glare of headlamps approaching the vehicle from the rear. The automatic day/night rear view mirror receives battery current through a fuse in the junction block only when the ignition switch is in the ON position.
A switch located on the bottom of the automatic day/night mirror housing allows the vehicle operator to select whether the automatic dimming feature is operational. When the automatic day/night mirror is turned ON, the mirror switch is lighted by an integral Light-Emitting Diode (LED). The mirror will automatically disable its self-dimming feature whenever the vehicle is being driven in reverse.
Refer to the owner's manual for more information on the features, use and operation of the automatic day/night mirror system.
Outside Rear View Mirror
The power operated outside rear view mirrors allow the driver to adjust both outside mirrors electrically from the driver side front seat position by operating a switch on the driver side front door trim panel.
The power mirrors receive a non-switched battery feed through a fuse in the junction block so that the system will remain operational, regardless of the ignition switch position.
AUTOMATIC DAY / NIGHT MIRROR
The automatic day/night mirror uses a thin layer of electrochromic material between two pieces of conductive glass to make up the face of the mirror. When the mirror switch is in the On position, two photocell sensors are used by the mirror circuitry to monitor external light levels and adjust the reflectance of the mirror.
The ambient photocell sensor is located on the forward-facing (windshield side) of the rear view mirror housing, and detects the ambient light levels outside of the vehicle. The headlamp photocell sensor is located inside the rear view mirror housing behind the mirror glass and faces rearward, to detect the level of the light being received at the rear window side of the mirror. When the circuitry of the automatic day/night mirror detects that the difference between the two light levels is too great (the light level received at the rear of the mirror is much higher than that at the front of the mirror), it begins to darken the mirror.
The automatic day/night mirror circuitry also monitors the transmission using an input from the backup lamp circuit. The mirror circuitry is programmed to automatically disable its self-dimming feature whenever it senses that the transmission backup lamp circuit is energized.
The automatic day/night mirror is a completely self-contained unit and cannot be repaired. If faulty or damaged, the entire mirror assembly must be replaced.
POWER MIRROR SWITCH
The mirror switch on the door trim panel operates both the outside rear view mirrors. On vehicles equipped with Memory/Heated Seats, the Memory Heated Seat Mirror Module (MHSMM) activates the mirror motors in recall mode.
Position sensing potentiometers are built into each mirror's vertical and horizontal motor assembly These potentiometers provide a sense voltage to the MHSMM that indicates where the actual location of each mirror is. If a memory position is set, the values of the potentiometers at that location are stored in memory.