Auto tinting rear view mirror not tinting

[Nathan2504]

Any ideas how it works or why it wouldn't tint?

I once saw it tint and everything turned green behind me, it was great, but it turned out that there was condensation on the glass, I wiped this off and it didn't tint until the next time there was internal condensation. It has a sensor but I don't know what it is looking for exactly or if it needs calibration.

Elite model with road sign recognition, lane departure and intelux lights so it has other sensors in the front of the rear view too - everything else is working, just not the auto tinting.

[Hindle1976]

Have a look on the back of it and you'll see the sensor inside usually a square indentation, put some black insulation tape over that and it'll be permanently dimmed, it works a charm


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[lizzard-t]

Shine a light in the glass and see if it dims .
also it should dim the door mirrors as well
you can. Normally tell if you have the falicity because there's a small green bubble at the bottom of the interior mirror glass .thats the sensor.

[Hindle1976]

Shine a light in the glass and see if it dims .
also it should dim the door mirrors as well
you can. Normally tell if you have the falicity because there's a small green bubble at the bottom of the interior mirror glass .thats the sensor.

Or he could show it a pic of my ex mrs, that'll make anyone's mirrors dim… actually maybe not they might shatter and fall off!!


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[Nathan2504]

Cheers guys,
I guess it needs to open it up and check the wiring or replace completely. I covered the ambient light sensor and shone a bright touch at the glare sensor and all I achieved was temporary blindness. I will post some updates after I've checked fuses, wiring and I've opened it up. Might take a while I'm driving it across Europe at the moment and without much in the way of tools.

[Hindle1976]

I always thought those things where a chemical reaction not electrical


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[lizzard-t]

Hoo no there was a mod we used to do on my Saab forum.
You could retro fit a dimming mirror by taking the live feed from the interior light cluster.
Also you used to be able to switch the facility on and off underneath the mirror.
Ooooooo I just thaught see if there's a button under the mirror.
If so press it to see if something happens.

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[Nathan2504]

Update. It is stil not working. I have tried 3 mirrors now (eBay ones) and none of them are working. The wiring to the mirror has 5 wires. there is a 12V, a 5V and GND. Then there are 2 grey ones. I dont know for sure but I think there is another signal that stops the mirror from dimming (could be interior light or reverse gear selected). I am going to have to set on of my spares up on the desk with a power supply and see if I can force it to dim. Everything else on the car is working fine. I have tried covering the ambient light sensor etc. the only other thing to try is to put a signal on these other wires.

Does anyone have the wiring diagrams for these?

[Nathan2504]

Found this diagram. Gonna have a look later.

[Nathan2504]

Try that instead, sorry.

[Nathan2504]

Now I'm confused and annoyed, but here is some information that some of you might find interesting:-

From the drawing above (I took from the workshop manuals and followed all the checks suggested).
pin 2 = live 12V no issues
pin 5 = Ground 0V found resistance to be >10ohms to chassis, so created a new earth-point for testing. Still not working
pin 8 and pin 9 = exist in the mirror but not my woring harness (these go to the wingmirrors if you have fancy dimming wing mirrors - I dont.
pin 1 = 5V normally, put car in reverse and its goes to 12V, so this signal seems to be working.
I tried covering light-sensors, lane/sign camera, on/off interor lights, on/off headlights - still not working
Last thing I did was disconnect pin-1 completely incase the 5V was causing a problem and it WORKED

So with just the Power and GND connected the mirror works (all 3 of them work), but the Reversing signal (circuit 1324) is not connected, I guess I have a signal coming from somewhere else on wire 1 and that will take more investigation that I can frankly be bothered with right now.

This is taken directly from the service manual.
Inside Review Mirror Dimming Inoperative
1. Ignition OFF and all vehicle systems OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the A10 Inside
Rearview Mirror. It may take up to 2 minutes for all vehicle systems to power down.
2. Test for less than 10 Ω between the ground circuit terminal 5 and ground.
If 10 Ω or greater
1. Ignition OFF, remove the test lamp.
2. Test for less than 2 Ω in the ground circuit end to end.
If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
If less than 2 Ω, repair the open/high resistance in the ground connection.
Go to next step: If less than 10 Ω
3. Ignition ON.
4. Verify a test lamp illuminates between the ignition circuit terminal 2 and ground.
If the test lamp does not illuminate and the circuit fuse is good
1. Ignition OFF, remove the test lamp.
2. Test for less than 2 Ω in the ignition circuit end to end.
If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
If less than 2 Ω, verify the fuse is not open and there is voltage at the fuse.
If the test lamp does not illuminate and the circuit fuse is open
1. Ignition OFF, remove the test lamp.
2. Test for infinite resistance between the ignition circuit and ground.
If less than infinite resistance, repair the short to ground on the circuit.
Go to next step: If infinite resistance
3. Test for infinite resistance between the signal circuit and ground.
If less than infinite resistance, repair the short to ground on the circuit.
If infinite resistance, replace the A10 Inside Rearview Mirror
/
Go to next step: If the test lamp illuminates
5. Replace the A10 Inside Rearview Mirror.

Day-Night Disable Malfunction
1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the harness connector at the A10 Inside Rearview Mirror. Ignition ON
2. Connect a test lamp between the control circuit terminal 1 and ground
3. Verify the test lamp turns ON and OFF while commanding the Backup Lamps Active and Inactive
with a scan tool.
If the test lamp is always OFF
1. Ignition OFF, remove the test lamp, disconnect the harness connector at the K9 Body
Control Module.
2. Test for infinite resistance between the control circuit terminal 1 and ground.
If less than infinite resistance, repair the short to ground on the circuit.
Go to next step: If infinite resistance
3. Test for less than 2 Ω in the control circuit end to end.
If 2 Ω or greater, repair the open/high resistance in the circuit.
If less than 2 Ω, refer to Backup Lamps Malfunction .
If the test lamp is always ON
1. Ignition OFF, remove the test lamp, disconnect the harness connector at the K9 Body
Control Module, ignition ON.
2. Test for less than 1 V between the control circuit and ground.
If 1 V or greater, repair the short to voltage on the circuit.
If less than 1 V, refer to Backup Lamps Malfunction
Go to next step: If the test lamp turns ON and OFF
4. Replace the A10 Inside Rearview Mirror.

[lizzard-t]

You can retro fit dimming interior mirrors just by taking feed from interior light cluster.
but good write up there ,Natahan .
electrics now a days are a complete mystery to everyone including the manufacturers.