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Old 12-24-2012, 12:47 AM   #1
Nas Escobar
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How To: Retrofit an autodimming rear view mirror with compass and temperature readout

In this how to, I will show you how to turn your plain Donnelly rear view mirror that looks like this:



and turn in into a better looking rear view mirror that actually has features that you can use.

I will split this post as apparently, there's a 10,000 character limit. This is not post whoring, I just want to be as clear and concise as possible.

Things you will need:
  • A Gentex branded mirror from a donor car
  • The mirror wiring harness from the donor car that gave you the mirror
  • Ambient Temperature Sensor from a donor car or new from your local auto parts store
  • The wiring harness for the temperature sensor from the same donor car that you got the mirror from
  • 5-10 feet of red wire
  • 5-10 feet of black wire
  • Wire strippers
  • A way to connect wires together (heat shrink, solder, etc)
  • Electrical Tape
  • Wire Loom
  • Velcro or a Drill
  • T20 Torx Screwdriver
  • 3/8 Ratchet and socket set

Before you start:

You may feel some of the things on this list are a bit odd. The reason you will want a drill is if you get the bracket from the donor car that holds the ambient temperature sensor and want to drill it in to the body. Usually, you want the sensor away from any engine heat and away from any outside exposure. The best place for this would be in front of the radiator or on the headlight panel. As you may see, you have no holes for the bracket. You have to make your own. You can also take off one of the 10MM bolts that hold the headlight panel in and bolt it there. It should be protected by the bumper. The donor car will have a 10MM bolt that holds the bracket in, so it is a pretty simple add on.

Also, it should be noted before ANYONE asks, there is NO known Gentex mirror that has the auto dimming feature, the compass, the temperature AND map lights.

Well... actually, there is a mirror; but it is a rare model of mirror. The Oldsmobile Intrigue GLX has it, but it is a very rare mirror. Any ebay search will show that these mirrors have a high demand to supply ratio. In other words, if you want to spend $50 for LED lights that were made to look like they were incandescent bulbs and deal with the headache that this mirror MIGHT be wired into the BCM (some sources have stated that the Intrigue's mirror is wired in differently from other normal Gentex mirrors), then go ahead. I personally would have done it if I found an Intrigue GLX at the junkyard but after a year of searching, none was found and ultimately gave up.

The Onstar ones MAY have all the nifty features that one may want on a rear view mirror, but why would you want an Onstar mirror on a car that never came equipped with Onstar? You would have many buttons that you wouldn't be able to use.

The best mirror to use for this mod is the Gentex 177. These are distinct from other Gentex mirrors in that instead of the very common "compass" and "mirror" buttons found on non temperature mirrors, you will find that they have "compass" and "temp" on the 2 buttons below the mirror. There is a Gentex 202 that came in the Escalade and Denali that has temperature, compass, and a headlight delay button, but the button would be no use to us unless we can figure out how the Escalade/Denali auto headlight feature worked so we can rig our car's auto headlight to actually delay. It's something to look into for anyone that's bored (more than likely I'll attempt that mod later)

The Gentex 177 is usually found in the GM trucks. Some fords may have it, but it is not a safe bet. The safest bet is to look in a Tahoe/Suburban, Escalade, Yukon, Silverado/Sierra, and MAYBE the C/K series.

I will try to compile a list that have the mirror as I go along, but the safest bet is the GM trucks.

Most American cars had only the compass as they had an overhead console or electronic interior temperature control panel that had the temperature readout, thus making the temperature feature in the rear view mirror irrelevant.

One more thing to note, most/all American cars have a wedge placed on the windshield that holds the rear view mirror and most/all imports have a "cam-lock" style mechanism that hold the rear view mirror in place. In other words, DO NOT get a rear view mirror from a Japanese or European car and expect it to slide through the wedge that the Grand Am/Alero/Malibu has on its windshield. You CAN however get a rear view mirror from a Ford or a Chrysler built car and it WILL fit the N body/GM car as they all use the same style of wedge to place the rear view mirror in place onto the windshield.

PRELIMINARY STEPS:

STEP ONE: Go to the junkyard and look for a GM SUV/Truck. You can try your luck with a Ford truck or any other American built car. To make it real easy, just look for a Tahoe/Yukon.

STEP TWO: Take your T20 screwdriver and unscrew the torx screw that holds the rear view mirror on to the windshield wedge.

STEP THREE: Slide the rear view mirror up so it detaches from the windshield.

STEP FOUR: Cut as much wire from the car as you can that lead to the connector in the back of the mirror.

STEP FIVE: Look in front of the donor car (more than likely a Tahoe/Yukon) and look for the ambient temperature sensor. It is a very small piece of plastic that will be bolted on either at the center of the car near the hood release latch or near the driver's headlight.

STEP SIX: Unbolt the 10MM bolt that holds the bracket in place. The bracket will come loose and with it you will get the ambient temperature sensor. KEEP THE BRACKET or else you will have to velcro on the ambient sensor or be extremely "innovative" and roll tape around it to keep it in place.

STEP SEVEN: Cut as much wire from the connector for the temperature sensor as you can.

Now that you have your rear view mirror, and temperature sensor, your setup should look something like this:



The bracket isn't pictured but it isn't necessary. Only recommended. As I said, velcro or tape works fine. It just depends how deep you want to involve yourself in this.

NOW: Time to actually get this mod done!!
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