Heated Wing Mirrors - quick question

[Pabs]

Hi peeps

In this cold weather decided to put rear windscreen heater on. Passenger mirror cleared very quickly and ice melted nicely. However, drivers side didnt.

Now I know the glass is a b*gger to get off, so thought I would ask you all before messing with it.

Other than checking the voltage across the wires going to the mirror glass, what else can I do?
I assume the heating element is in the glass itself, so it would mean a new wing-mirror glass then?
If there is no voltage to the wires, where do they connect to in the car? I would have thought both mirrors connected to the same place, so I doubt this is the case.

Cheers

 

[mik]

My drivers side has stopped clearing well - the outer edge (blind spot area) does clear, so I assume the rest of it is shorting somewhere.

Not sure how to check it, but the heater element is integral to the glass - which is why a new glass cost something like £45 + VAT

 

[BlackFR]

At least you have them! Damn poverty spec Ibiza FR's....

 

[Pabs]

ahh yes.... I thought the mirrors were only £25 each last time i checked...

Admittedly mine came from ebay, so chances are this is why it was sold.... B*gger.
Anyway, will have a searchy for a cheap one!

 

[funkinmental]

i just bought a my00 leon cupra,

should mine have heated mirrors?

they dont seem too good, but passenger side certainly cleared first!!

 

[Pabs]

AFAIK they are heated... and if your passenger one cleared then i would assume it is?

they turn on with the rear windscreen heater switch. Turn it on and then feel the glass after a few mins. If you dont get a result, then you will need to remove the glass and see if it has wires running to the glass itself..

 

[J@mes]

i always wondered if i had heated mirrors!

for some reason i thought they would have been automatic too! :

 

[stoneyfordNI]

if u can disconnect the plug at the mirror (i take it there is one) and test as u say for 12v across the car side when its switched on, and also a low reading ohmmeter across the conections for the mirror itself could show an open circuit (dodgy heater circuit) make sure mirror is disconnected BTW

 

[Pabs]

thanks for that... Might all be ok, just a loose wire.
If I can get the glass off without breaking it this time I'll stick my multimeter across the wires.

 

[stoneyfordNI]

u might have more than one set of cables in there fella , a set 4 the motors n another 4 the heating , which should only be a 12v and a negaitive , thats wat ur looking 4

 

[Pabs]

no mate, I have had the mirrors off before when I changed the glass for the blue tinted version from the golfs......

Simply two wires with push on connections to the back of the mirror glass. One brown wire and one white. Stupid design as I dont think the wires connected very securely, which makes me think one of them has fallen off.

 

[techie]

If both wires are connected I'd imagine the element is defective, quite common.

 

[Russc]

When I managed to break the glass, stuck it in hot water for a few minutes then peeled the glass of the back (be careful though !!). Chucked a cheap halfords one on and it still works

My mate tried the same and his didn`t though always worth a go though, cheaper than the stealers price !

 

[craigomills]

how do you take off the complete mirror assembly to fit a new one?

 

[Pabs]

there is basically a centre ring and one or two plastic clips that hold it on. I found the best way to remove it is to start at one corner and use a screwdriver to "leaver" it away from the holder. Gently does it as I broke my first one, but have managed to remove/refit these ones a couple of time without breaking......