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Repairing heated mirrors

ArtAlanche

Full Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
14
I've searched around a bit, but can't come up with anything on troubleshooting/ repairing the heated outside mirrors. I know they should work when the rear defrost is turned on ( it works), but neither mirror will heat up. The fuses are good. Any ideas??
2011 LTZ.
 
Pop off the mirror and test for continuity in the circuit. Then, activate the heating function and test for voltage at the wiring that connects to the mirror/heating-circuit.
The first few minutes of this video show how to remove the mirror, you don't need to remove the whole assembly:
 
Thanks, definitely going to give it a try.
So I ended up taking the mirror apart, and I have voltage going to the terminals on the back of the mirror, but it doesn't heat up, is there something else to check? Is it possible that the heating element is broken? Any way to fix that if it is?
 
You can check the continuity on the heating element.
 
You can check the continuity on the heating element.
They make (@ least Ford does) replacement mirror glass with the heating element installed, just swap the glass.. However it is usually a dealer part and not cheap.. This happened to a friends F150.. 1 piece of heated mirror glass was over $250, a new set of after market mirrors was under $200, so he got new mirrors all the way around.
 
I found a driver side heated mirror glass on RockAuto for my Avalanche.
It was not expensive, and it works great now.
The passenger side mirror does not defrost, but I haven't been too concerned about it - as the glass itself is not broken or cracked.
The glass will detach from the mirror motor assembly by prying on a bunch of tabs that are in a circle, using a thin screwdriver. Tilt the mirror glass all the way in as far as possible, and you will see the circle of tabs. Pry on them gently one at a time while pulling on the mirror glass and it will eventually detach enough to pop right off. Just be careful not to break the tabs on the motor housing. A little tricky to do, but not too bad. Then simply unplug the wires. Of course, check that the wires and connectors are not broken or damaged. Then, test the circuit, as BainMan has outlined.
 
Do I have to take the glass off to do that?
Yes. Then disconnect the wires and test the circuit within the glass itself.

If there is no continuity, the circuit is open and the heating element is shot. Replace glass/mirror.

If you do get continuity, switch the multi-meter to ohms (auto-range if you've got it) and report back the results.

Edit, your post made me test my mirror, it did not clear the morning frost on the driver's side... Looks like I need to test and then replace too... Too many projects going to worry about this one today..
 
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Can I just disconnect the wires attached to the back of the glass and check for continuity across those two terminals?
 
I ordered replacement from ebay. Was a 15 minute swap. Hardest part was getting the plastic ring mount off the old mirror. A small pry tool and it slides down and off. New mirror just snaps into place.
 
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