Self dimming mirrors
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CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,533
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From: Austin, TX
Self dimming mirrors
I have 95 Sc4 and every evening I have to hit the auto button on the rear view mirror to tilt the mirror to prevent being blinded. There is a front looking sensor in the back of the rear-view mirror. Can some one educate me on its purpose?
The other later model lexus (non-sc) have a dark spot (bb pallet size non-chrome) which is the night sensor.
Did some year SC transitioned to the auto sensor? Or my mirror is broken?
Salim
The other later model lexus (non-sc) have a dark spot (bb pallet size non-chrome) which is the night sensor.
Did some year SC transitioned to the auto sensor? Or my mirror is broken?
Salim
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,533
Likes: 1,379
From: Austin, TX
Partial answer to my question:
The sensor at the back is the dusk sensor, almost like a master switch. The other sensor (behind the no-chrome mirror face) is the auto-dim sensor ... if equipped.
Still dont know which year the auto-dim sensor got introduced.
Salim
The sensor at the back is the dusk sensor, almost like a master switch. The other sensor (behind the no-chrome mirror face) is the auto-dim sensor ... if equipped.
Still dont know which year the auto-dim sensor got introduced.
Salim
salimshah,
If I recall correctly I believe the auto-dimming rear view mirror was introduced in 1997 models along with the other interim changes. To my knowledge, all 1997-2000 models should have had these. I swapped one from a '97 into my 1993. It bolts right up and plugs in just like the earlier versions.
Note: If you're thinking of installing one, just be careful when breaking loose the screw which holds the mirror to the mount. From the factory your original should be held in with a bit of Loctite on the screw. It can be easy to strip if you don't have the right size phillips bit-- Correction, Torx/star type bit. Also be careful not to apply too much pressure to your windshield there while you get that screw to break loose.
From some notes I have from 2012 when I did mine, I believe these are all the replacement parts for the OEM windshield mounting system for the mirror:
87817-24010 — x1 Mirror Inside Spacer (Metal inside suspension)
87825-24010 — x1 Mirror Inside Spring (Metal "U" Spring)
87808-24010 — x2 "Mirror Inside Holder" or "Holder Sub-Assy" (Ball Bearings in casings)
87853-24020C0 — x1 "Base" (Outside trim piece between mount and glass. Says to order by interior color)
90148-60018 — x1 Screw, Hex Lobular (Rearview mirror screw)
Note: Updated/Corrected P/N's.
Interestingly, but completely irrelevant... one of these innocuous parts ("Holder Sub-Assy" I think) actually cross-references to the Lexus LF-A
If I recall correctly I believe the auto-dimming rear view mirror was introduced in 1997 models along with the other interim changes. To my knowledge, all 1997-2000 models should have had these. I swapped one from a '97 into my 1993. It bolts right up and plugs in just like the earlier versions.
Note: If you're thinking of installing one, just be careful when breaking loose the screw which holds the mirror to the mount. From the factory your original should be held in with a bit of Loctite on the screw. It can be easy to strip if you don't have the right size phillips bit-- Correction, Torx/star type bit. Also be careful not to apply too much pressure to your windshield there while you get that screw to break loose.
From some notes I have from 2012 when I did mine, I believe these are all the replacement parts for the OEM windshield mounting system for the mirror:
87817-24010 — x1 Mirror Inside Spacer (Metal inside suspension)
87825-24010 — x1 Mirror Inside Spring (Metal "U" Spring)
87808-24010 — x2 "Mirror Inside Holder" or "Holder Sub-Assy" (Ball Bearings in casings)
87853-24020C0 — x1 "Base" (Outside trim piece between mount and glass. Says to order by interior color)
90148-60018 — x1 Screw, Hex Lobular (Rearview mirror screw)
Note: Updated/Corrected P/N's.
Interestingly, but completely irrelevant... one of these innocuous parts ("Holder Sub-Assy" I think) actually cross-references to the Lexus LF-A
Last edited by KahnBB6; Jan 24, 2016 at 11:05 PM. Reason: Correction for the screw type. Thanks t2d2! Also double checked part numbers and updated to correct ones.
Note: If you're thinking of installing one, just be careful when breaking loose the screw which holds the mirror to the mount. From the factory your original should be held in with a bit of Loctite on the screw. It can be easy to strip if you don't have the right size phillips bit.
Now you've jogged my memory: Something may have been off with my original mirror because I could swear it was a phillips screw but with Loctite on one end. Something was glued in there in mine which required redoing the entire mounting setup. When I got all my new replacement mounting hardware the screw was indeed a Torx star type bit.
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I don't remember mine having loctite, but one had definitely been tampered with, so who knows. My mirror mount was broken off the windshield and the mirror was hanging by the dimmer wire when I bought the car, otherwise I probably never would have noticed.
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I then ordered the wiring kit for the mirror on eBay and intalled that.
After having that done its s simple as just plugging the wiring harness to the back of the mirror, mounting it, putting loctite on the screw and screwing it in.
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