Mirrors: Description and Operation

Rear View Mirrors

Exterior Mirrors

The main components of the exterior mirrors are:

- Exterior mirror control switch

- Exterior mirror cover

- Exterior mirror glass

- Exterior mirror glass adjustment motor

- Exterior mirror plastic housing

- Puddle lamps (optional)

For information on the puddle lamps, refer to Lighting and Horns.

Heated Exterior Mirrors

The exterior mirrors are equipped with a heated mirror glass feature, which heats the mirror glass to remove frost, snow, ice and condensation. The rear window defrost switch controls the operation of the heated exterior mirrors. The heated exterior mirrors only operate when the rear window defrost is on.

Memory Exterior Mirrors

The memory mirror function recalls the preferred positioning of the LH and RH exterior mirror glass. The Driver Seat Module (DSM) monitors the exterior mirror control switch and controls the movement of the RH and LH exterior mirror motors. The memory mirror function is activated by the door mounted switches or the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. When a memory position is recalled by the operator, the LH and RH exterior mirror glass will automatically adjust to the preferred position that is stored in memory. The DSM (Driver Seat Module) is capable of setting a DTC for the memory mirror system when a system concern exists.

For information on the DSM (Driver Seat Module) and Memory Position Programming, refer to Seats.

Interior Mirror

The interior rear view mirror can be equipped with a compass

Interior Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror

The interior auto-dimming rear view mirror automatically reduces the glare caused by headlamps reflecting in the interior rear view mirror. The interior auto-dimming rear view mirror adjusts the reflectance level of the interior rear view mirror glass to eliminate unwanted glare. The reflectance level of the mirror glass is variable and depends on the amount of rear glare in relation to ambient light conditions in front of the interior mirror. When the forward sensor detects daytime conditions, the rearward sensor is inactive and the interior rear view mirror stays in a high reflectance mode. When the forward sensor detects nighttime conditions, the rearward sensor is active and detects glare from the headlights of vehicles approaching from the rear or other glare-producing light sources. To provide increased visibility when backing up, the interior rear view mirror will automatically return to a high reflectance mode whenever the vehicle is in REVERSE.

The interior rear view mirror is equipped with an integrated compass module. For compass information, calibration or diagnostics, refer to Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators.