Mirror, Outside Rearview: Description
Vehicles equipped with the optional power operated outside rear view mirror system are equipped with a power mirror head unit located on the outside of each front door. Each power mirror has a molded plastic housing and bezel that faces rearward and a molded plastic decorative cover or shell that faces forward. The shell may also include openings to accommodate Light Emitting Diode (LED) signal lamps (1) and puddle lamps (2) on vehicles equipped with those optional features.
The housing and shell are secured to a molded plastic arm with an integral, hollow pivot pin that is secured to the mirror mounting bracket. This pivot pin features a spring-loaded detent mechanism that allows the mirror to be manually folded toward the door glass for additional clearance during vehicle shipping or storage. The mirror mounting bracket has three threaded studs that are used to secure the mirror assembly to the flag area at the front of each front door glass opening.
The open rearward-facing side of the housing and bezel unit serves as a seat within which the mirror glass is exposed to the view of the vehicle operator. The mirror glass is mounted within a molded plastic case. In vehicles with the heated mirror option, a glass heating grid locked within a plastic membrane is sandwiched between the back of the mirror glass and the case. A Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) LED indicator lamp unit (1) is also integral to the case in vehicles with that option.
The mirror glass case snaps onto a swivel assembly integral to the mirror articulation mechanism on the arm within the mirror housing. The mirror articulation mechanism includes two small Direct Current (DC) electric motors with gear drives and clutch units that connect them to the swivel assembly. A mirror wire harness is connected to each of the electrical elements within the mirror housing and is routed through the hollow pivot pin and the mounting bracket to the interior of the front door, where it connects the mirror to the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the door wire harness.
The power operated outside rear view mirror housing and bezel, mounting bracket, arm and articulation mechanism cannot be adjusted or repaired. If damaged or ineffective, the entire mirror unit must be replaced. Refer to MIRROR, OUTSIDE REARVIEW, GLASS, REMOVAL . The puddle lamp and the signal lamp are available for separate service replacement. Refer to LAMP, MIRROR, REMOVAL . The mirror shell as well as a mirror glass and case unit with an integral heating grid and BSM indicator lamp are available for separate service replacement. Refer to MIRROR, OUTSIDE REARVIEW, GLASS, REMOVAL .