It is pretty suprising... HOWEVER, I've got to say. My dad works for a Ford Dealership. I bought the molded mudflaps and he and I installed them last weekend. It took us almost 2-3 hrs to put them on. yeah... to put on MUDFLAPS! Its actually pretty suprising how long it takes to do fairly simple things the RIGHT way sometimes.

If I'd brought them in to have the mechanics put them on I bet they would have gone on in 20min.... and fallen off the first time I hit a bump.

 

Installation of the electrochromatic mirror takes about two hours for an amateur.

First, you remove the "A-pillar trim" which runs along the driver's side of the windshield with a deep socket wrench.

Then, pry off the existing mirror with a flat blade screwdriver. The mirror will "pop" off of the mounting bracket. Then, attach the new mirror using the small allen wrench which is included in the package.

Tuck the wiring harness under the trim around the windshield and down the side of the windshield.

Pop off the trim at the driver's side kick-panel and just run the wire underneath the carpet to the center console.

Remove the plate containing the 110 Volt Outlet and the 12 Volt accessory outlet. This pops off with a screwdriver.

There's a plug on the right side of the shift lever. Attach the 12 volt into the mirror to the yellow/orange wire using a 3M connect-lock splice connecter (available at Radio Shack). Attach the ground wire for the mirror to any convenient screw which goes into the frame of the car.

The temperature sensor fits through a pre-existing hole in the firewall on the driver's side (you do NOT have to drill any holes in the firewall!!!!!!). Then you simply route the wire and clip the sensor on a "shelf" on the passanger side of the radiator accessible from underneath the vehicle.

 

Fred's description is right on target. Anybody who is even slightly mechanically inclined should have no trouble whatever installing one of these mirrors.

I had my Gentek temp/compass mirror installed & working in just about 1/2 hour, but I have TONS of mechanical auto experience(I made a living for 12 years as an auto mechanic some years ago & still have all my Snap-On tools etc)

~John

 

Hi guys, I plan on installing one of those auto-dimming compass/temp/uv/ice mirrors found here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AUTO-...22043895QQrdZ1

But it seems like there are a lot of wires running all over the place. For example, how do I wire the temp sensor wire from inside to outside? Does any of the sensor wires need to be connected to the mirror (which will look ugly)?

The description on this post is great, but I am not mechanically inclined, so does anybody have "photos" of the install process or photos of the final installation so I can pick up some clues? Thanks so much in advance.

 

More specifically, the instruction for the above auto-dimming mirror with compass/temp/uv/ice is here: "As far as wiring goes; you'll need a 12v+ ignition source and chassis ground from the vehicle. The temperature sensor wires will need to be ran into the vehicle and up to the mirror; the most common place to mount the temp sensor is behind the front bumper. If the uv sensor is added, these wires will need to be ran up to the mirror as well. All wires run into a flat connector that is easily tucked up above the headliner or trim; another short harness wrapped in a round black tubing is supplied to drop out of the headliner and plug directly into the rear of the mirror, giving the install a clean, factory-looking, finish. "

I don't quite understand the part where it says the "temp sensor wires will need to run into vehicle and up to the mirror". Doesn't this mean ugly wires running up the windshield window?

 

The wires run through the firewall (at a location where other wires/lines/etc are already routed) up under the trim on the drivers' side pillar, above the headliner, then down from the center of the headliner to the mirror. This two to three-inch space between the headliner and the mirror is usually covered with a plastic spacer to hide the wires. The spacer is sold separately from the mirror.

It's not brain surgery, but if you're not comfortable removing and replacing the trim on your interior and hooking up a new lead to the electrical system, you might be better off letting someone else do the work.

 

Should I expect my dealer to install this (for a fee of course) without them gauging me or threatening that they will void my warranty if I don't get their "certified" mechanics to do it?

 

Another question: checking on ebay and various posts here, it seems like the Gentex mirrors with homelink is about 2x the price of a regular auto-dimming with temp sensor.

How "effective" or "useful" is the homelink feature? I have a garage door so I will totally appreciate the built-in feature. But is it worth the price? Will I encounter problems with it?

An additional question: how does one program the "homelink" button to match the right codes on the garage remote?

 

Just to note, if you are into home automation, Homelink also integrates into X10. So, thru X10, you can turn stuff like lights 'on' and 'off' from your vehicle.

On eBay, search for "GENK50" in descriptions. You should find a few hits.

 

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