My 2001 XLT came with power mirrors that did not have heat or lights. A while ago I found a set of illuminated and heated mirrors, installed them and wired up the turn signals and running lights. I wanted to be able to control my heated mirrors as they come from the factory that they are on all the time when the key is on. This always seemed unnecessary to me. My solutions was to wire them to a timer and control them with a rear defroster switch from an Excursion. Today I finished up this project and am very pleased with the results. I had read numerous articles about trying to wire them up to work in a factory manner but nothing was ever definitive. Here's how I did it if this helps anyone. I bought a new dash panel from ebay, my truck had a power port, no air bag switch, and the hole for the 4x4 switch had to be larger to accommodate for the new 4x4 switch housing. This panel was found to be a tall order to find one in good shape, not cracked and without extra holes drilled into it, but I did find one. Next I bought a 4x4 switch housing that had the ESOF switch and a back up sensor switch and I got a rear defroster switch from an Excursion. I replaced the back up sensor switch with the switch from the rear defroster. Next was the timer which I got mine off of Amazon. It is a programmable timer with a ton of functions. I programmed it so when I pressed the rear defroster switch the mirrors heat and on indicator on the defroster switch would illuminate. The mirrors would heat for 10 minutes then automatically turn off. Also while the mirrors were heating if I pressed the defroster switch a second time it would cancel the timer and turn off the mirror heat/on indicator. Power comes from a 10a fuse and light blue customer accessory wire already installed from factory. I tapped into the dash illumination to light up the rear defroster switch when the headlights are on. While I had everything apart I also removed the cigarette lighter power port. I didn't need two cigarette lighter style outlets in such close proximity to each other. I found a duel terminal USB-A and USB-C from a Ford Mach-E on ebay. This fits perfectly in the opening of the old power port. The locating pin match perfect, it snapped right in without modification and its shallow enough to allow the power port door to close. I wired this up to the existing power port wiring. All in all I am very happy with the results and it brought a bit of modernization to my 23 year old truck. Hopefully this helps someone out looking to do a project like this.

Here is a picture of the results (note the radio display looks like it is screwed up, not sure why it came out this way but I assure you it works just fine lol). I took this during testing, you can see the on indicator glowing orange. The window logo illuminates green like everything else when the head light switch is on.

 

I'm very interested in doing this but I am somewhat "auto electrical challenged". Do you by chance have any additional pictures or information how you wired the defrost switch as well as the timer you purchased and the wiring that it involved?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks...

 

This the timer I used, purchased from Amazon and my crude hand drawn diagram below. The timer is needed because the Excursion defroster switch is just a momentary switch that activates a trigger, therefore the timer will start the count down and supply power to the mirrors for the set period of time (in my case 10 minutes) when the switch is pressed and automatically turn off at the end of the timer, or with a second press of the switch. This switch has a ton of programmable options if you want it to operate in a different fashion. I chose this because it seemed the most "factory" setting. This works perfectly and I've been very happy with the results.

 

That's awesome! Thank you so much!

 

One last question and hopefully you can help me. It appears the switch has 5 spade terminals (1,2,4,6,8). I have attached a picture of the terminals (which is actually the plug which connects to the switch). Since I am not great at wiring, would you be able to update your sketch showing which terminal number corresponds with 1,2,4,6,8?

Also, it appears you only use the red, blue black and yellow wires from the timer, is that correct?

I just want to make sure I don't mess it up.

Thanks so much...

 

I went by the pig tail that I cut for the switch, which corresponds with the diagram I drew. I'm not sure what that is from but it did not match what I had. And that's correct I only used those 4 for the timer, one of them is the programming wire, the other is for a different type of trigger, both are not needed once installed. I will say it is a fairly simple set up. I tested mine by wiring it to a 9v battery on my desk, connecting the wires accordingly and watching for the on indicator to work at it should, as long as the on indicator works then you just hook the mirrors up to the on indicator and it will function. 6 should be the on indicator, and 2 should be hot in run (which also provides power to the timer).

 

I want to say I really appreciate your help. I have never attempted to wire a switch in a vehicle, so I am a bit lost. I think I'll do what you did and wire it up to a battery and mess around w/it. I have not yet purchased mirrors or switches/timer for this, but I really like the way you used an Excursion switch for it-looks super clean and factory.