I recently purchased a 1999 E150 Van for travel and I am Retired/Disabled and people keep bumping my side passenger mirror which is manual set and I am always having to get out and reset.

So I decided to upgrade with replacement power mirrors that also have heat. So I bought the mirrors and switch but of course I do not have the wiring and need to build the harness for them. However, as for the switch my friends have challenged me to make this more of a touch based switch, so I have plenty of Touch Screen pads as well as relays to control.

My problem is the mirrors have 3 wires. I know the mirrors are grounded to the frame through the mounting screws, but I cant find anything on how the 3 wires are access for powering the mirrors or simply applying heat for that matter.

Can anyone provide guidance on how I can simply test/power these mirrors on my bench, or a wiring diagram explaining what the 3 wires do an how they are powered. I would think simply applying power would activate either the heat or motors to move but so far no sequence has resulted in anything.

 

I can't find anything in the wiring diagrams about heated mirrors...

Here's the Factory Service Manual wiring diagram for power mirrors:

 

Perfect!!! Thank you. That was exactly what I needed to see.

Makes sense now. The motors are reversable and the grounding to the vehicle frame is mute as they are changing the 12V/0V on the Blue/Yellow wires for movement. I put this on my test bench and proved it works. So I only need to activate a relay from my ESP32 that cycles those two voltages. I just didn't want to cross those wires till I saw something explaining it, to keep from burning a motor up.

And when I say the negative of the frame is mute. I have not tried all combinations. I still need to determine how to move them only UP/D or L/R if possible, they may only be intended to move diag.. Power on one wire and negative to mirror/frame ground does nothing.

As for the heated part. I am assuming the remaining RED wire when provided 12V will go to the actual mirror/frame ground and provide the heat and with the ESP32 again easy to put on an adjustable timer selectable at will.

Again thanks. I had not seen that diagram and the others made it seem the vehicle frame was the negative, not true for the adjustment just the heater.

Once I get my IR Camera out today I can try the heat and see if the mirror gets hot. I tried before at there was literally no amps moving on my power supply, but it may actually use very little current to heat. It wouldn't need anything over a .5 amp (power supply is digital should have shown that) but the IR Camera will show if it is in fact heating up.

 

And just for info. My van has a 10IN LCD display and 4 cameras mounted under the existing mirrors, will update those to a more streamlined camera like Tesla. But this gives me 4 camera view all around the van in 4K Color even in the dark. So technically I don't need the mirrors but being as old as I am I still like the verification. My 10IN LCD is not mounted yet, it might go in the above console and hang down like the rear view mirror which with a enclosed van (curtains) its pretty much useless anyway.

 

Interesting. In process of fixing up my 98 E-150 conv van, and would like to put bigger mirrors (heated optional, I live in the desert sw) so if you could snap a pic or two of your setup when all is said and done, I'm sure I can't be the only interested person on the thread.

Due to screen size and PO installing a single DIN deck, I went with a deck that has a 5" screen external to the actual frame area but still has a single DIN mounting frame. I figure that way I can still have access to the AC controls, and if I want to install a double DIN later still can. Just need to find one that fits that still has a ****** option and isn't always deeendent on the phone being tethered to it. Will get pics of my install once it shows up. Atoto brand A5L series withe the 5" scrren. I'm going to watch with interest were you can find space for a bigger deck.

Cheers,

Grumpy

 

Yea, I live in Alabama so the heated mirrors are not something I MUST have running, I got them for resale value if that's possible in a 1999 But I am retired and have no reason to get out in weather were I have to scrap ice unless it is to go to the emergency room. Will gladly post a pic of the setup. I am still mulling on the ESP32 use I have the factory switch. The ESP32 would be nice as a retired Designer/Programmer touch but it may be so small make it impractical to use while driving - so testing in order.

On the radio I have a dual DIN radio already semi installed that of course does my radio, and has like a 5IN screen for apps and WAZE/Google maps for GPS. I can get a pic of that. It has a built in wire to trigger to a second backup camera when I put in reverse as well as a quick button that switches to a FRONT camera so I dont ding the front of the VAN I cant see into someone's side.

My 4K 10IN backup monitor - for now is strictly for cameras. It is touch so I can cycle easy through the cameras. But it also has wires for triggering. If I go in reverse, the back up camera goes full screen. Turn on right/left blinker and the appropriate camera can go full screen. So kinda neat installation and it is full color at night, it is meant for RV use so the cameras are huge and bulky.. i.e. ugly.

Will be glad to post updates if there is interest. Just keep an eye, I am Retired/ but due to disability so I move slow sometimes but gotta have a project.

My Large 10IN monitor if you look at this pic of when I bought the VAN a few months ago, will go in the area of the overhead wood console you see. Currently it controls lights, seat belt warnings but plan is to make it larger with the Monitor hanging down. Keeping my eyes up and level while driving is the idea. Right now it is down below the radio and I dont like taking my eyes off the road that much to see it.

Oh one last thing. I get stuff free from Amazon for review. So the radio, backup cameras so far have been free items from Amazon. I will include a before/after of replacing the front lights with LEDs and they include DRL wiring. Again, those were free, just had to order new bezels and adjusting springs.



I am going in a few weeks to talk to a local company to install security, auto-on lights (I have already updated front lights and added Daylight Running) so they may be able to mount my monitor for me. The problem with up high, is that is a massive amount of wires going overhead with 4 camera cables and trigger wires.

 

Almost the same paint as mine, except mine has a lot of crazing/fading on the hood. I had the same console, but replaced it with the later model one, as the door was busted. The conversion had a CRT mounted inbetween the front seats, yanked that out but have a spare switch controlled 12v source under the passenger seat to play with at some point. Still chasing down little problems, and I get the taking it slow. I also keep combing Vine for stuff, and have found interesting non purpose built options for projects.

My rig does have the electric mirrors on both sides, but I do want the larger ones - do you have a pic or link to what you found to replace out with? I think I can see that putting a 10" drop down monitor just to the right of the driver, at an angle (I've got a rocker switch panel on mine there) would be a great backup camera location as well as the option to make it a full mirror replacement - if I ever restore the window blinds in mine would be nice to still have that rear view in the accustomed place.

Cheers!

Grumpy

 

Yea, a few of my blinds are not working. I am going to have the windows with one way film added. Since it is legal to black those back/side windows out in a VAN. I can see out, but they cant see in.


Here is the mirrors I got. Looks like I got the last set

 

I was driving home from a short trip and a song I liked came on, so I rolled up the tunes and it appears less than a minute into the song the old speakers could not handle the new power from the new radio. No surprise, just didn't expect it so soon.

So I went to upgrade the speakers, for now just cheap Walmart speakers in the front doors. After I got the door panels off I found out my van did in fact have the harness for the power windows as I had suspected. They were just taped up way deep inside the door and could not be seen until you took the panels off.

So I installed the new mirrors and they look awesome. Also, they are mis-labeled on Amazon. They are not heated. Which is fine, I don't need heated for my area, over the years only used heated to heat my seats

So will leave the panels off until I have a local place install window tint, Remote Start, GPS tracking, backup warning and side alerts. Will make it easier to hide wiring,

Things left are to still mount a separate panel for side viewing (Radio has 10in backup/front cameras) or skip all together.