If you're the type of person who likes to go the extra mile in terms of safety, you might want to consider installing signaling side mirrors. These mirrors display a flashing arrow when you engage your turn signal. In our demonstration, we install the mirrors on a 2000-model Ford Explorer. The project involves installation of a wiring harness and some electrical connections. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and wiring diagrams, and consult your vehicle's service manual for complete information on the factory wiring. Keep in mind that there may be some variation among installations depending on the vehicle. Following are the basic steps for the installation as shown in our demonstration. Since this project involves some wiring and installation of electrical connections, disconnect the vehicle's negative battery cable before you begin Materials: Screwdriver
Pry tool
Electrical test-light
Vehicle service manual
- To begin with the driver-side door, remove the screws holding the door panel in place. Use a pry tool to help in removing the door panel. Remove the plastic trim from behind the door handle, unsnap the panel-clips and gently lift the door panel off the door (figure A).
- Disconnect the window control panel and the wires controlling the mirror assembly.
- With the door panel removed, remove the screws holding the stereo speaker in place in the door, and disconnect the speaker. You'll need to access the wiring harness and power plug for the mirror control that's located behind the speaker.
- Remove the nuts holding the existing mirror assembly in place (figure B).
- With the speaker removed, unplug the harness (figure C).
- With the retaining nuts removed and the harness unplugged, remove the mirror housing assembly from the door (figure D).
- Once the mirror assembly is removed, the old mirror can be replaced with the new one. The mirror is attached to the housing by a ball socket (figure E), and controlled with small drive pins on the back side. Use a small pry tool to carefully dislodge the pins, then lift the old mirror off the ball socket. You'll need to remove the drive pins from the old mirror and transfer them to the new one. Use a small pry tool to carefully insert the pins in place on the new mirror (figure F).
- Feed the new wiring for the mirror through the housing and install the new mirror in the housing according to the manufacturer's instructions. Reinstall the housing, with the new mirror, back onto the door. Thread the wiring harness down through the door and into the passenger compartment.
- Remove the plastic door threshold to access the factory wiring underneath. Locate the color-coded signal wire by checking your vehicle's service manual. Check to make certain you've got the correct wire, using an electrical test light (figure G).
Note: To test, you'll need to temporarily reconnect the vehicle's battery and turn on the left signal. Once you're certain you've located the correct wire, splice the wire with the corresponding one in the new harness using wire connectors (figure H). Connect the power wire as well. With all of the wiring properly installed, test the new mirror. Reinstall the door panel and threshold molding.
Disconnect the negative battery cable and repeat the steps on the passenger side to install the right mirror.
RESOURCES :
Vehicles provided by McNelly-Whaley Ford Lincoln Mercury
750 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: 865-453-2833
Web site: www.ford4u.com
Turn-Signal Mirror
Signal® Mirror
distributed by
MITO Corporation
54905 County Road 17
P.O. Box 1669
Elkhart, Indiana 46515
Phone: 219-295-2441
Toll Free: 800-433-6486
Fax: 219-522-5480
Web site: www.mitocorp.com
Turn-Signal Mirror (Muth Mirror Systems)
Signal Mirror
available from
Muth Mirror Systems
PO Box 418
Sheboygan, WI 53082-0418
Phone: 920-451-2000
Toll-free: 800-844-6616
Fax: 920-451-2001
Web site: www.kwmuth.com
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WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO
