Found my first fault Doh!

[steveoz32]

Decided to run the car to work today to give her a nice long run as she has been stood since the weekend.

This morning was cold, and whilst the car was in the garage the change in temperature from the garage to -3 outside made the wing mirror glass steam up. I popped the heated screen button on and the mirrors did not clear.

Is there any known cause for the heated mirrors not working and does anyone know the troubleshooting sequence? (Fuse, electrics, glass/elements?).

I'm assuming removing the glass may be the way to go and get a volt meter on the power supply to the mirror? But I'm not sure of the wiring diagram and how it's fed....

Thanks,

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Do you know if the heated rear screen itself was working? If it was, they you are right to check the voltage at the mirrors, as they are all on the same circuit.

If the rear screen was not working, then check the fuse first, and then the relay.

Edit: You can download wiring dIagrams, which also show the fuse and relay assignments for your car from http://www.cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm . They are a bit old, but fine for your '98 car.

 

[steveoz32]

Cheers richard, and yes, rear screen working perfect.

Perhaps a faulty element, or a broken circuit then /i would think.

Edit* they are both not working, therefore it would seem a bit odd that they both failed together, so I think it is probably an issue with the circuit somewhere....

 

[Keggers]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but just wondering if you managed to solve this Steve? I've the same problem with rear screen working but both mirrors suddenly not working. Haven't pulled off a mirror glass to check voltage yet but thought it was worth checking how you got on.

Thanks
Greg

 

[Magic919]

I'd be surprised if it's not the mirror. One of mine ceased working and it had a good feed. I checked the resistance, but had nothing to compare it against. Forty quid later I swapped the mirror and it's perfect. Makes the other one look a bit poor now though.

 

[steveoz32]

Sorry for the late reply - sadly no, I was so busy sorting other things out that this totally slipped my mind!

You've just reminded me of something I need to look at when I get chance My first port of call I think was as mentioned - to check the voltage going to the mirror element to see if it was the supply or the actual unit, but as I mentioned, I never got around to it and it slipped my mind unit you just reminded me.


Cheers,

 

[Keggers]

Thanks for replying Steve.

I actually pulled my mirror glasses of yesterday and found that I do have power to both. Pulled the heated glass of my wife's passat and plugged that in and it immediately heated, so appears that I have two faulty mirror glasses. Might have to fork out for two new ones now!

Greg