As any graduate of driver's education can tell you, the inside rear-view mirror is one of a vehicle's most important pieces of safety equipment. And if you've ever done any highway night driving, you probably know from experience that night vision and safety are markedly compromised when a driver is tailgating you with halogen headlights aimed precisely into your mirror with high-beam, retina-searing intensity. Auto-dimming safety mirrors help make night driving more pleasant and augment safety by detecting glare from rearward approaching vehicles and automatically switching to a dimmed setting. The model that we install in this demonstration also has an outside sensor and a digital readout that displays temperature outside the vehicle and cautions the driver of potential road-icing conditions when the outside temperature approaches freezing. In addition, it has an LED compass readout. To decrease reflected light and reduce glare, this mirror uses an electrochromic process that utilizes electric current to temporarily darken the reflecting surface of the mirror when a rear-facing sensor detects glare from vehicles behind you. The brighter the light striking the sensor, the more the mirror darkens. Installation of the mirror is simple, but the project also involves installation of a wiring harness and some electrical connections. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and wiring diagrams. Following are the basic steps for installation. Materials: Auto-dimming-mirror installation kit, including wiring harness and probe
Screwdriver, Phillips head
Wire cutter and crimping tool - As with any project that involves the car's electrical system, begin by disconnecting the vehicle's negative battery cable for safety and to avoid damage.
- Remove the old rear-view mirror and clip from the windshield.
- Remove the sun visors using a Phillips screwdriver, and remove the driver-side windowsill trim.
- The plug that controls and supplies power to the mirror hangs from a wire that extends from beneath the headliner (figure A). Run the wiring harness -- which includes the power cable, compass-probe connection, thermostat probe connection and auto-dimming wire -- from the mirror-mounting location, up underneath the headliner and beneath the windowsill trim (figure B).
- Connect the wiring as specified in the manufacturer's instructions. One wire will connect to a ground, another is the power line and connects via the fuse box to the ignition, and a third connects to the backup-lamp circuit for the vehicle. The latter connection serves to automatically disengage the auto-dimming feature when the vehicle is in reverse gear.
- A fourth line will need to run beneath the dash and through a grommet in the firewall. This cable leads to the external temperature and compass probe (figure C) that mounts beneath the vehicle.
- With the cable leading through the firewall, run and secure the outside extension along the side of the engine compartment, through the inner fender well and headlight bezel, and finally down to an area beneath the front bumper. Secure the end of the probe extension to a spot where it doesn't interfere with moving parts, where there will be air flow, and so that the probe is not too close to the radiator. (The heat from the radiator would cause the probe to give a false reading.) Behind an opening in the front air dam may be a good spot.
- Plug the mirror into the connection hanging from the headliner, and install the mirror on its clip (figure D).
- Attach the temperature/compass probe to the end of the extension and clip the probe in place (figure E). A small amount of grease around the flexible gasket of the probe will help weatherproof the probe.
- Reconnect the vehicle battery and test the mirror.
Car Care & Repair safety fact: - Glare causes an after-image to form in your field of vision when excessive light strikes your eye's retina. Depending on the intensity of the light, the after-image may last for as long as several minutes. Research has shown that glare can diminish your reaction time and, at a speed of 60 m.p.h., may increase your stopping distance by as much as 100 feet.
RESOURCES :
Vehicles provided by McNelly-Whaley Ford Lincoln Mercury
750 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: 865-453-2833
Web site: www.ford4u.com
Auto Dimming Mirror by Gentex
Night Vision Safety®
Auto-Dimming Mirror by Gentex
is distributed by
MITO Corporation
54905 County Road 17
P.O. Box 1669
Elkhart, Indiana 46515
Phone: 219-295-2441
Toll Free: 800-433-6486
Fax: 219-522-5480
Web site: www.mitocorp.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
