Heated Mirrors

Hugh R · 01-27-2005, 10:45 AM

Yes I did a search, and didn't find what I'm looking for. My drivers side electric mirror motor works, but doesn't heat, the passenger side does. Is there a heating element that burns out? Can you take the mirror apart to replace it or check it?

Thanks in advance

5speed · 01-27-2005, 11:02 AM

The heated mirrors have a grid glued to the back of the glass, sort of like defogger grids on rear windows. You can remove the mirror glass by carfully prying it away from the metal backing plate. There are three pins that hold it in place, be careful the pins are glued in place and can come off if pried too hard. There will be two wires connected to the heating element. Aside from the element, you have the car wiring and the relay to check.

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

Take a look at this thread.

masraum · 01-27-2005, 02:38 PM

On my '88 the heating element and the mirror glass were integral. The part was $75 at the local dealer. To get the part on/off there is a ring that you have to rotate a little through the bottom of the mirror that holds the thing in place. Once you get the old part off getting the new part on is easy, but it took me 30min to get the old one off.

Everything worked great after replacement. I hadn't realized how nice heated mirrors were until I changed to a car that didn't have them.

Hugh R · 01-27-2005, 03:21 PM

Thanks all, Hey Glasgow the link doesn't work for me.

Superman · 01-27-2005, 04:08 PM

One of my mirror heaters is failing. Tried to repair it with really thin solder wire. Worked for a while. I'd like Glasgow's link to work. I wonder if there is a cheapskate's solution there.

SpeedracerIndy · 01-27-2005, 04:20 PM

How do you know if your 911 has heated mirrors? I suspect mine doesn't since it has no options other than power windows (which I think were standard on all 911's by 81).

Hugh R · 01-27-2005, 06:00 PM

When I turned my defrost on this AM, I don't remember if I turned and pulled the switch or pulled, anyway, the passenger mirror defogged as did the vent window, but the drivers side didn't. If you put your hand on the working one, its warm after a few minutes. Since I had the drivers side door interior off a few months ago, I'll check the mirror adjust control connector switch soon. If I figure it out, I'll post the answer.

Hugh R · 01-27-2005, 06:01 PM

Hey Super

What did you do? Do you just gently yank the mirror off its glued supports and then get to the heating wire?

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

Link fixed. Unfortunatley not a link to a cheap fix however.

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

To see if you have heated mirrors, check for wires going to the 2 pins on the left side of the picture below.

Superman · 01-31-2005, 04:47 PM

Hugh, with my mirror, I also have the two round pins, but there is no plastic over the element. The element is a circuit printed onto a thin plastic membrane and glued to the back of the glass. There was a spot or two where the printed circuit had broken, so I bridged that area with the thin solder. Worked for a while.

The mirror itself is held by three prongs. It just pushes on. To remove, you grab an edge and gently pull it off. Slipping a knife under the mirror might help but be careful. There's a delicate circuit under there. The metal plate you can see just behind the mirror before you remove it, stays in the housing. the mirror is removed from that metal plate.