power folding mirrors (modified drivers mirror) w/video

[bbunkerc397]

Help, does anyone have any instructions on wiring power folding mirrors? Have the switch and both folding mirror mechanisms.

[Daninski]

Ha, you bought them from John?

[bbunkerc397]

That's right

[Mooneggs]

I'm not sure if I ever did a write up of the installation... you could try searching for "power folding" with "mooneggs" as the author...

Find the 2 wires that aren't on the non power folding set, these are the power folding in/out. I ran these direct to the back of the switch, matching the same color wire (combining in a 'y') from each side to one of the pinouts and then did the same with the other wire. Compare the normal switch to the JDM power folding one. The 2 pin outs that aren't on the normal are for the power folding in/out. It doesn't matter which one you put either color wire in as long as you have combined the same color from both sides.

Note: some mx-6 variants have a heating element and you will have 2 additional wires coming from the back of the mirror.

I did not use relays or anything (bad at electronics) however I have never had any issues.

Hope this helps...

Also, I do have some pics of the various variants here: http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=61172

[bbunkerc397]

Thanks mark, I had put the motors in the mirrors yesterday. I got to run the 2 wires from each side today I will take some pictures of what I did. I sort of thought i didn't matter what wire went on the switch just the two reds and two blacks go to the same pin.

[bbunkerc397]

OK got them in and working fine but the drivers mirror doesn't fold all the way in but the passengers does. Can't seem to find out why, maybe their is an adjustment?

[Mooneggs]

Nope, that's the way they are designed. If you look at the thread I linked there are ball bearings that limit the range of the mirror. If you can figure it out let me know how!

[bbunkerc397]

I'm going to take it apart tomorrow and see what is up with it, I'll let you know tomorrow. I think their is a limit stop in the housing where the motor is I'll take it out and see if it corrects it.

The wiring was the biggest pain to solder and heat shrink all the wires and zip tie everything.

[bbunkerc397]

I fixed it... Got it almost like the passenger side, I took the motor out and all the gears. Had to remove the retaining clip to release the aluminum base. In the pictures you see below their are slots that stops the mirror from going beyond that point so I carefully dremeled the slots.



As you can see you have to elongate the slots, I didn't take any pic of the modified base but I got to take it apart once more to do some more dremel work.



Here it is opened


And closed and as you can see it's almost their.


A comparison photo of the passenger side




Both closed


This is a video of the drivers side modified closing & opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHIxqVkEL1s

Here is video of both closing & opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq7WJSB8VH0

[bbunkerc397]

I'm going to do some more work on the drivers mirror it's about 1º off it was 3º out. I will do a full write up with added pictures on this topic to help anyone else that wants make the drivers mirror fold in the same amount as the passengers.

[Mooneggs]

Looking forward to it. I didn't have the technical expertise years ago to figure this out on my own (and I was kind of lazy)...

I will be modding all 3 sets I have

My question is why did Mazda build them this way? I can't think of a logical reason...

[bbunkerc397]

I have no clue but it's not even logical if you think about it. The J-spec RHD is on the wrong side so maybe on coming cars or something, lots of crazy jap drivers have no clue. I'll do some Google work

[Mooneggs]

Well my initial research seemed to indicate that most JDM cars have power folding mirrors due to the amount of foot traffic/bikers/ narrow streets / city activity. But it still doesn't account for one side not going in as far.

The cool thing about the mirror folded all the way in is that it is no wider than any other part of the car because of how the door bows out

[bbunkerc397]

So finally got around to finishing my mirror mod.

So I dremeled the slots a little more to make the mirror fold in closer.


You have to remove the gears to make things easier to do the work.


After the dremel work on the base it's hard aluminum so it was hard to cut.


There was a slot in the housings plastic that you have to dremel as well, but be very careful on how much you take out you don't want your mirror touching the door glass, this was a little trial an error so take your time when doing it. I took a little to much out, so I'll maybe got to add some JP weld to fill a little that I took out. I would suggest re-re the mirror a few times to get the desired gap.


When putting the gears back together I decided to use some white lithium grease to make it a little smother.


Here it is done and it is a little closer then the passenger side until I do some JP weld to make up some plastic that I removed.


Well It is a lot of work not for the faint of heart that's for sure, enjoy.

[Mooneggs]

wow looks great thanks for the pics/write up!