installing dimming mirror on 93 Q.

[Infinitiguy19]

I am not the greatest at reading wirring diagrams I can understand some but this is tough.

I don't need nor care for a flame war but is it worth doing this mod?

I would like to know if its possible of installing the factory rear view mirror from a 1994 Q45 on to my 1993 q45?

If so can some one interpert this wiring diagram?

[qship96]

Mirror could be swapped,not sure it is really worth the hassle of getting power to it unless you really really want the auto dimming feature.

The 4 wires needing connected are positive 12 volts, ground, and 2 to tie into the interior instrument/gauges lighting control{could skip those two with only downside being the indicator lights on mirror showing auto/manual mode would not light up at night}

[jason.sanders4]

lets start from the top: ignition/start switch is self explained. next the fuse, then the BR is the BROWN wire. the 4 i am not quite sure it looks all faded on my screen (but the M19 and the R1 should be explained somewhere in that book.) 1. is coming from the ignition, 2. the R/L (power)is red with a white strip I do believe don't quote me on that. but it look to be going to Illumination (+), as well does the R/B (red and black) most likely neg. one in spot 3 of the auto dazzling mirror. spot 4. the B is black (ground) then hits a box of some sort then goes to a joint connector, then they split off and both go to ground. B/W is black and white. and the GM22 (where the ground is split) should be explained in the book as well. I hope this helps some what its been a while since I looked at a diagram but it looks fairly easy to hook up. just hook the power to power the neg. to the neg. and ground to ground and ign. to ign. the colors might be different between the years so you may have to look at both year diagrams to figure out what goes to what. good luck, let me know how it turned out.

[qsiguy]

Mirror side of 4 pin plug -> car side of plug...

Red -> Brown (BR) = Switched Accessory 12V+Blue -> Red/Blue (R/L) = Park light 12V+Green -> Red/Black (R/B) = DimmerBlack -> Black = Ground

[goody90q45]

Hey Shane- I've also got a spare mirror from a 94Q that I'd like to install in my 90Q. I've verified that the bolt pattern is the same but the wiring has been my hangup (until tonight). It looks like you may have completed this upgrade already. I'm not too good with electrical either but from your post it looks like all the wires are there and you just need to splice in. Is this correct or will I need to run additional wires from some far away location?

[qsiguy]

No, haven't done the upgrade. I have the unit already in my '94 and when I saw this post decided to go out and check the wires with my voltmeter. I needed to tighten up the mirror anyway so it was a good excuse to go play with the Q.

The wiring is a no brainer except for the dimmer. I did not confirm exactly how it works but the dimmer wire was at ground with the parking lights off, at .4 v with the parking lights on and dimmer at full bright, and at ~11-12 volts with the dimmer turned all the way dim. I'm sure I can check out the wiring diagram and figure it out but it's late and I'm tired.

[Infinitiguy19]

Mirror side of 4 pin plug -> car side of plug...

Red -> Brown (BR) = Switched Accessory 12V+Blue -> Red/Blue (R/L) = Park light 12V+Green -> Red/Black (R/B) = DimmerBlack -> Black = Ground

So what if cross the red and the blue wire will it be on at night?

[qsiguy]

By "cross" do you mean connect them both to accessory 12V+ or do you mean mix them up? The way I understand it, the mirror only works at night so it will not do anything without the blue powered up and it uses the red for it's main power. I'm not sure what the mirror will do in the day time, anyone know? I'm also not sure how the dimmer position effects it. I guess I need to test it out more now that I know it's wired to the dimmer.

[Infinitiguy19]

By "cross" do you mean connect them both to accessory 12V+ or do you mean mix them up? The way I understand it, the mirror only works at night so it will not do anything without the blue powered up and it uses the red for it's main power. I'm not sure what the mirror will do in the day time, anyone know? I'm also not sure how the dimmer position effects it. I guess I need to test it out more now that I know it's wired to the dimmer.

Yea I meant connect those 2 wire together to the power source.

[qsiguy]

I don't see any reason it would be a problem. It's the dimmer circuit and I'm not sure what it does.

[maxnix]

I assume the dimmer circuit wither detects the following healights in the rear view mirror and /or actuates the dimming mechanism.

for Moderator.

Now if we could just change the title to

Rear View Mirror Wiring Diagram

so it would be more relelvant.

Questions and pleas in the thread title are not very helpful.


Modified by maxnix at 10:09 AM 9/23/2008

[elwesso]

the dimmer circuit is just for the illumination. Im pretty sure the dimming feature will still work regardless of if it "detects" the lights are on...

all you have to do to test is cover the front light sensor and shine a light on the sensor on the mirror... it should dim.

thread title changed!

[maxnix]

Thank you! I guess I will have to study that further. I thought the detector was in the mirror and an LCD array dimmed the mirror. Can't think of a reason for it to be on the mirror's backside.

The early Lexus ones craoked in the heat in TX and cost several hundred dollars to replace. Same for the dash and radio/cllimate controll display. Easily $1,500 to replace all just in parts.

[elwesso]

I think you misunderstood. Go out to your Q and look at the front of the mirror from outside the car. ON the bottom passenger side corner theres a little sensor that detects sunlight.. If it detects sunlight (I would assume infrared light, similar to the sunload sensor on the dash), then it knows not to dim the mirror...

Likewise, when it DOESNT detect sunlight but DOES DETECT light using the sensor on the actual mirror part, it knows to dim... Youll notice that when its night out but theres no one behind you with their lights on the mirror doesnt dim, but it starts to dim when someone comes up behind you...

[maxnix]

I see your point. Sometimes some yahoos do have their brights on during the day or twilight and I always wondered if the mirror was dimming.

[qsiguy]

I am clear on those aspects of the function, what I'm not sure about is how the dimming function changes based on the setting of the dash light dimmer. Do you think it's just to dim the little LED's in the two buttons?

[elwesso]

im pretty sure the thing that says "day" and "Auto" lights up with the headlights.

[maxnix]

I am clear on those aspects of the function, what I'm not sure about is how the dimming function changes based on the setting of the dash light dimmer. Do you think it's just to dim the little LED's in the two buttons?

Only the "Auto"switch enables the dimming function. Never noticed the indicator lights dimming or brightening.

[qsiguy]

Maybe it effects how dark the dimming function will go based on the instrument light dimmer setting.

[maxnix]

The instrument panel dimmer does affect the Auto and Day illuminated switch labels for the mirror.

[heywier427]

this is a little late, but i hope it helps!

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