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For 1990-2009 cars only

Automatic Day-Night Mirrors Inoperative With RPO DL3/DR4

Diagnostic Instructions

    • Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
    • Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach.
    •  Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category.

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

Ignition

1

1

--

--

Automatic Day/Night Mirror Signal

2

2

2

--

Backup Lamp Control

1

1

1

--

Automatic Day/Night Mirror Low Reference

--

2

2

--

Ground

--

1

--

--

1. Rearview mirror automatic dimming malfunction

2. Outside rearview mirror automatic dimming malfunction

Circuit/System Description

The inside rearview mirror uses 2 photocell sensors. One sensor is the rear light sensor, located on the face side of the mirror, facing the rear of the vehicle. The rear light sensor is used to determine light conditions present at the mirror face. The other sensor is the front light sensor, located on the backside of the mirror, facing the front of the vehicle. The front light sensor is used to determine the exterior light conditions at the front of the vehicle. With a low exterior light condition detected by the front light sensor and a high light condition from the rear light sensor, the inside rearview mirror will automatically darken the face of the inside rearview mirror and the left outside rearview mirror. The inside rearview mirror provides a signal circuit and a low reference circuit to the left mirror face to darken the mirror when needed.

With the gear selector lever in the REVERSE position, backup lamp supply voltage is supplied as an input to the inside rearview mirror. The mirror monitors this input to disable the automatic day-night feature. This allows the driver to see objects in the mirror clearly when backing up, regardless of the rear light sensor status.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

    •  Inside Rearview Mirror Schematics
    •  Outside Rearview Mirror Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Component Connector End Views

Description and Operation

Automatic Day-Night Mirror Description and Operation

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Wiper/Washer Schematics
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

Scan Tool Reference

Control Module References for scan tool information.

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Ignition ON, vehicle in PARK, cover the front light sensor with a towel or other suitable item. Shine a flashlight at the rear light sensor while observing the inside rearview mirror face. The inside rearview mirror face should dim.
  2. Place the transmission in REVERSE. The inside rearview mirror face should transition from dim to bright.
  3. If the mirror does not transition between the bright and dim states, refer to Inside Rearview Mirror Dimming Malfunction.
  4. Vehicle in PARK, the outside rearview mirror face should dim.
  5. Place the transmission in REVERSE. The outside rearview mirror face should transition from dim to bright.
  6. If the mirror does not transition between the bright and dim states, refer to Outside Rearview Mirror Dimming Malfunction.

Circuit/System Testing

Inside Rearview Mirror Dimming Malfunction

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the inside rearview mirror.
  2. Test for less than 10 ohms between the ground circuit terminal 8 and ground.
  3. If greater than the specified range, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance.
  4. Ignition ON, Verify that a test lamp illuminates between the ignition circuit terminal 13 and ground.
  5. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the ignition circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance.
  6. Park brake applied, vehicle in REVERSE, verify that a test lamp illuminates between the backup lamp control circuit terminal 9 and ground.
  7. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the control circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, refer to Backup Lamps Malfunction.
  8. If all circuits test normal, test or replace the inside rearview mirror.

Outside Rearview Mirror Dimming Malfunction

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the inside rearview mirror.
  2. Ignition ON, verify a test lamp does not illuminate between the following circuits and ground:
  3. • Signal circuit terminal 5
    • Low reference circuit terminal 16
    If the test lamp illuminates, test the appropriate circuit for a short to voltage.
  4. Ignition OFF, test for infinite resistance between the following circuits and ground:
  5. • Signal circuit terminal 5
    • Low reference circuit terminal 16
    If less than the specified range, test the appropriate circuit for a short to ground.
  6. Test for less than 100 ohms between the signal circuit terminal 5 and the low reference circuit terminal 16.
  7. If greater than the specified range, test both circuits for an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, test or replace the driver outside rearview mirror glass.
  8. If all circuits test normal, replace the inside rearview mirror.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.

    •  Inside Rearview Mirror Replacement
    •  Outside Rearview Mirror Glass Replacement

Automatic Day-Night Mirrors Inoperative Without RPO DL3/DR4

Diagnostic Instructions

    • Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
    • Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach.
    •  Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category.

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

Ignition

1

1

--

--

Backup Lamp Control

1

1

1

--

Ground

--

1

--

--

1. Rearview mirror automatic dimming malfunction

Circuit/System Description

The inside rearview mirror uses 2 photocell sensors. One sensor is the rear light sensor, located on the face side of the mirror, facing the rear of the vehicle. The rear light sensor is used to determine light conditions present at the mirror face. The other sensor is the front light sensor, located on the backside of the mirror, facing the front of the vehicle. The front light sensor is used to determine the exterior light conditions at the front of the vehicle. With a low exterior light condition detected by the front light sensor and a high light condition from the rear light sensor, the inside rearview mirror will automatically darken the face of the inside rearview mirror.

With the gear selector lever in the REVERSE position, backup lamp control voltage is supplied as an input to the inside rearview mirror. The mirror monitors this input to disable the automatic day-night feature. This allows the driver to see objects in the mirror clearly when backing up, regardless of the rear light sensor status.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

Inside Rearview Mirror Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Component Connector End Views

Description and Operation

Automatic Day-Night Mirror Description and Operation

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

Scan Tool Reference

Control Module References for scan tool information

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Ignition ON, headlamps ON, vehicle in PARK, cover the front light sensor with a towel or other suitable item. Shine a flashlight at the rear light sensor while observing the inside rearview mirror face. The inside rearview mirror face should dim.
  2. Place the transmission in REVERSE. The inside rearview mirror face should transition from dim to bright.

Circuit/System Testing

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the inside rearview mirror.
  2. Test for less than 10 ohms between the ground circuit terminal 8 and ground.
  3. If greater than the specified range, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance.
  4. Ignition ON, Verify that a test lamp illuminates between the ignition circuit terminal 13 and ground.
  5. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the ignition circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance.
  6. Park brake applied, vehicle in REVERSE, verify that a test lamp illuminates between the backup lamp control circuit terminal 9 and ground.
  7. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the control circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, refer to Backup Lamps Malfunction.
  8. If all circuits test normal, test or replace the inside rearview mirror.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.

Inside Rearview Mirror Replacement