S80 2001 Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror Repair How To (long)

Astro Bob · Post by **Astro Bob** » 08 Jan 2010, 00:50

I too would like to thank the person who created the instructions for mirror replacement the "down and dirty" method, they saved me a big pile of cash. Thought I'd include some variations on the superb instructions that seemed to work for me.
Instead of opening of the mirror housing from my car first, and in the process possibly scuffing up the plastic and seam, I choose to perfect the process on the housing from the salvage yard- when trying to figure out the pressure points. I didn't have a plastic putty knife handy so I used a metal one instead. I secured an old 1900 watt Conair hair drier to heat up the metal putty knife, allowing it to transfer the heat into the double-sided tape, instead of the glass, board, or components. It helped to wear leather gloves while holding/ working the part. I wanted to expose the parts to the least amount of heat, so I didn't reheat the tape to stick it back together, instead I used small dabs of Elmer's rubber cement. It also peals off nicely if used sparingly, especially with heat.
The soldering was a snap, a few seconds with a standard 140W Weller soldering gun paired with needle-nose pliers to absorb the heat and not burn my fingers. I noticed that the two soldered posts on my board(s) were actually a minute "V" slot that pinched the wire like a "punch-down" style of connection- only further secured with some solder- not sure if they're all like this? The $80 replacment mirror worked perfect first time out- no playing around with the key fob. Best of all, as pointed out before, no programming!
Thanks again, Bob
PS- I also recommend the Rancho Cordova yard, super fast.

jsnider76 · Post by **jsnider76** » 08 Jan 2010, 20:53

Oh my God, are you kidding me? How could this be so complicated? I have the lava lamp problem so I bought a manual dimming mirror from a 2000 S80 off ebay. Well, the keyless entry does not work with the new mirror. Do you know if I could have the dealership reprogram this mirror to work on my car.

jsnider76 · Post by **jsnider76** » 09 Jan 2010, 18:34

Are the mirrors the same on S80/S60/V70 between 2000-2006? I am finding several on e-bay but don't know about compatibility.

Astro Bob · Post by **Astro Bob** » 09 Jan 2010, 22:31

jsnider76 did you just plug in the part you got from Ebay and skip the part about seperating the good mirror from the circuit board that came with it (hooked together with double sided tape from the factory) and teaming it up with the circuit board taken from your car? If you followed those steps to the letter- then I'd try power cycling, followed by activating your key fob at least 3 times.
Because there are only 2 wires (1 hot, 1 ground) that are involved with the actual control of the dimming of the mirror itself, I would surmise that most models of automatic dimming mirrors would be interchangeable (just the mirror itself with the two wires). Even your manual mirror should work if the system is electrical (has 2 wires) and not mechanical- tho a little more difficult with the lining up circuit board to the placement mirror (concerning sensor lineup).

handysmurf59 · Post by **handysmurf59** » 03 Feb 2010, 19:15

Thanks for this post. I just got an 2003 mirror for my 2000 S80 T6 off ebay for $52. Did the replacement just as described and all works great. Mine was the lave lamp before and now its as clear and auto dims just fine. Thanks again!

PS. Just a note, the early model mirrors 1999-2000 have a removable security board. So if you got a replacement the same year then you could just slide the boards apart without having to remove the circuit board from the back of the mirror. Because I got a 03 mirror I performed the replacement as described in this article.

Talbotg · Post by **Talbotg** » 22 Feb 2010, 16:07

I bought a mirror from the company mentioned in this post. Received it in good order. I dismantled my car mirror, then my junkyard mirror. My original mirror looks exactly like all the others in the thread. The exterior of the junkyard mirror looked the same, but the mirror (after disassembly) doesn't have the metal "zipper" around it nor the "post" the wires would attach to on the board. I know it wasn't removed as I was the first to take the used mirror apart. Also, there original mirror looks almost like two mirrors together. The used one looks like one piece and is thick...too thick to attempt to add the zipper.

Any thoughts?

Gordon

Post by **VCA** » 22 Feb 2010, 16:45

Talbotg wrote:I bought a mirror from the company mentioned in this post. Received it in good order. I dismantled my car mirror, then my junkyard mirror. My original mirror looks exactly like all the others in the thread. The exterior of the junkyard mirror looked the same, but the mirror (after disassembly) doesn't have the metal "zipper" around it nor the "post" the wires would attach to on the board. I know it wasn't removed as I was the first to take the used mirror apart. Also, there original mirror looks almost like two mirrors together. The used one looks like one piece and is thick...too thick to attempt to add the zipper.

Any thoughts?

Gordon

It sounds like the mirror you got from the junkyard isn't an auto-dim, but rather a 'manual' mirror; either that or the mirror you have is a Magna Donnelly and the junkyard mirror is a Delphi (not likely). Does it have an up-down tab at the bottom?

What are the P/Ns of both mirrors please?

Talbotg · Post by **Talbotg** » 22 Feb 2010, 17:26

The computer looks almost identical except for the two wire leads and zipper. If it's not auto dim, I wonder what the computer is for? Yes, there is a tab on the bottom of the used one (not on the original one). By P/N do you mean part numbers? Where would I find them on the mirror? OBTW, thanks for you help.

Talbotg · Post by **Talbotg** » 22 Feb 2010, 19:03

OK. I get it...the computer runs the door locks, seat memory, etc. The auto dim is just a small portion of the computer system. I unknowingly was sent the non-auto dim. The seller was glad to make it right, but I'd like to just keep the manual dim. My Volvo has 140K miles and I'd rather not do this again. Question is...if I switch to the manual dim casing, with the manual dim mirror...but keep my original computer...will the rest of the computer be affected if the two wires lead to nowhere and are sealed?

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 23 Feb 2010, 14:03

Talbotg wrote:OK. I get it...the computer runs the door locks, seat memory, etc. The auto dim is just a small portion of the computer system. I unknowingly was sent the non-auto dim. The seller was glad to make it right, but I'd like to just keep the manual dim. My Volvo has 140K miles and I'd rather not do this again. Question is...if I switch to the manual dim casing, with the manual dim mirror...but keep my original computer...will the rest of the computer be affected if the two wires lead to nowhere and are sealed?

Probably not. They just send a current through the mirror material to make it turn dark.

S80 2001 Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror Repair How To (long)

Re: S80 2001 Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror Repair How To (long)