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Compass and auto dimming features on rearview mirror not working

Tiny
PAULIE D
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
  • 150,000 MILES
The rearview mirror fell off the windshield. When I re-glued the metal tab, and reattached the mirror, I noticed that the compass and auto dimming were no longer working. The dome light and the light on the passenger side mirror located on the sun visor are both working. I was told by Toyota that those lights are on the same fuse as the mirror, so I believe the fuse is okay. I took the connector off the back of the mirror, turned the car on, and checked for voltage between the only 2 pins in the connector, nothing. Does this mean the wiring is defective, and not the mirror?
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Unless I am reading this wrong, the dome lights and interior lights are on different fuses. I attached the info for the compass. We need to check this fuse because if you have no power to the connector then it could be the wiring but that is unlikely based on what happened. I would think the fuse is the issue before anything else.

Let us know about this and we can go from there. Thanks
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
PAULIE D
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  • 10 POSTS
I checked the IG1 fuse in the Drivers Side Junction Box (Picture #3 of the 3 you sent), and it is still GOOD. I checked all of the fuses in this JB, and I did find a blown fuse. RR WSH. My Rear Window washer now works, which I didn't even know was not working. Shows how much we wash the rear window!
I am not sure what picture #1 is showing. Is that another fuse that I need to check. If so, where do I find this?
On another note, maybe this is something, maybe not, I noticed that the wiring up by the mirror that was "folded into" the plastic piece that covers the wires and attaches to the headliner and then to the mirror support arm (I will have to figure out how to put this "puzzle" back together, once the mirror is working again), has some pretty significant bends in it. I don't see any obvious damage, but is there a way I can check the wire for any breakage in this area?
I really appreciate your support, especially since the shop told me it would cost between $100.00 to $200.00 for them to troubleshoot/repair the wiring!
Anxiously awaiting your response and sage advice.
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 AT 9:55 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. If you checked voltage between the two terminals and had none then you clearly have a power or ground issue. If the fuse is good then the wiring is the issue which may be what you are finding with what you mentioned.

I would check both sides of the fuse for voltage. If you have it then run a wire directly to the connector and then plug in the mirror to see if it works. If not, then you have an issue on the ground wire or both. Then run the other wire directly to ground. This will confirm this is the issue when you plug the mirror in.

The first page that I posted was just the complete circuit for the mirror. It just shows there is one wire to the mirror (power) and ground after the mirror.
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Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
PAULIE D
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I checked both sides of the fuse for voltage, good.
I checked for continuity from the fuse to the power pin of the mirror connector, good.
I checked for continuity from the negative terminal of the battery to the ground pin of the mirror connector, no continuity.
I then ran a wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the ground pin of the mirror connector, then plugged the mirror in and started the car. No light came on the mirror, and no compass direction shown.
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Sunday, October 18th, 2020 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
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So if you now have power and ground and still no lights or compass, I have to assume the mirror is the issue. Does the compass show dashes or is it just blank? Can you get a picture of the mirror and that may help?

If there is nothing happening with the mirror and power and ground is there then it would be the mirror. How hard did it fall when it did?
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Monday, October 19th, 2020 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
PAULIE D
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  • 10 POSTS
Mirror shows nothing, no dashes. What is concerning, the power indicator on the lower right corner of the mirror does not light up. Mirror did not suffer a really hard fall.
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 AT 10:37 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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So just to double check, when you test for voltage now, you have power and the ground is good? If so, I have to think it is the mirror.
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 AT 8:42 PM
Tiny
PAULIE D
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
A friend has an external power supply. If you can tell me what voltage to apply, and what limit I should put on the current, I will try to power up the mirror on a bench. Just to be sure the mirror is not working. Seems odd that I would have a broken ground wire and a defective mirror.
Thank you again for all of your dedicated support.
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Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 AT 8:14 AM
Tiny
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We don't have a diagram of the connector for the mirror side but the connector that plugs into it should have two wires. One yellow and the other white/black. The yellow wire is the power wire and it is a 12 volt circuit. The white/black wire is the ground. Just use the power source on the pin of the mirror that the yellow wire connects too.

I agree but I am wondering if the faulty ground damaged the mirror like it caused it to short out. If that happened, we just need to double check that the ground wire is fixed. Do that by checking for a short. Put the red lead of your meter on the battery positive and the black lead on that ground wire and it should show 12 volts.
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Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
PAULIE D
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  • 10 POSTS
In between my troubleshooting time, I temporarily remounted the mirror so that my wife had a mirror to use while driving. It fell again, and this time the wires did break right where they go into the crimped contacts that snap into the connector, that plugs into the back of the mirror. To be sure I wire it back correctly. The crimped contacts, are still in locations labeled "1" and "2" on the 7 pin connector that plugs into the back of the mirror. Do you know if Power is Pin "1" or "2"?
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Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 10:47 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Looks like the mirror power is on pin 7. Ground is on pin 6. Maybe the terminals were damaged from the last fall and now they just came completely out.
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Monday, October 26th, 2020 AT 6:30 PM
Tiny
PAULIE D
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That is what I thought your image was showing also. However, if you look at the attached picture, you can see that the 2 contacts that never came out of the connector are actually on Pins 1 and 2. If I can get the contacts out, I am thinking that maybe there will still be some of the plastic sheathing on the wires, so I will be able to tell which color wire was on which pin.
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2020 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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I think that is 6 and 7. I think you were looking at it upside down. Clearly there are only 7 pins so those are the last two pins rather then the first two. However, I think you found your issue. Those look like they are damaged and pulled out and I bet it was done when it fell the first time. Can you get a picture of the front side of the connector? If you can remove those terminals then you may be successful in repairing it.
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2020 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
PAULIE D
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  • 10 POSTS
Thank you. I have reattached the picture I previously sent of the backside of the connector, and a picture of the frontside of the connector. Note: I am sorry, but I failed to point out to you that if you enlarge the picture of the backside of the connector, you will notice that each of the pin locations have a number molded into the plastic connector. The two pin locations that have the wire contacts still in them are clearly identified as "1" and "2". Not "6" and "7". Again, thank you for your continued support.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 6:16 AM
Tiny
PAULIE D
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Thank you. I have reattached the picture I previously sent of the backside of the connector, and a picture of the frontside of the connector. Note: I am sorry, but I failed to point out to you that if you enlarge the picture of the backside of the connector, you will notice that each of the pin locations have a number molded into the plastic connector. The two pin locations that have the wire contacts still in them are clearly identified as "1" and "2". Not "6" and "7". Again, thank you for your continued support.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 6:18 AM
Tiny
PAULIE D
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Sorry. Picture of frontside did not send. Here it is:
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 6:19 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Sure does. I am confused though. Did this work before it feel off the first time? The reason I ask, is the mirror may not care if it is in pin 1 and 2 or 6 and 7. It may just need power and ground so the pins are not important. Clearly this would prove out if it was working prior to all this with the wires in those terminals.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 AT 4:49 PM

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