kaizenno

When I bought my car, the cigarette lighter fuse was blown. I replaced that fuse and got it working but the power mirrors do not work. I've looked at the schematics and see that they are linked to the same 10A fuse.

Would the best option be to pull a mirror and connect it with the multimeter to see if the buttons are sending any type of power to the mirrors? Are there any other strange connections I could be missing between the button and the mirrors?

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

Check the power mirror switch.

kaizenno

I think my issue was getting to it since it's on the same side as the choke. Know of a good trick to pull it without having to disconnect the entire choke and that side panel?

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

You could either just remove the connector that goes to the power mirror switch and check voltages or remove the door panel and remove the mirror power connector. Removing the chock is just a set screw and collar nut from the outside.

kaizenno

Thanks. I was able to get it by removing that collar nut and taking off the front panel just enough to push a screwdriver on the plastic retention pins and pop it out. Then I reconnected everything so I can just plug this or a new one in.

Tested it with a multimeter and continuity was all over the place. I had a few pins that would show resistance even without pressing anything and some of the left and right ones wouldn't even register at all when pressed. I think I have a faulty switch and I wonder if that's why the fuse blew at one point.

kaizenno

So i've received a new button, multimeter shows that it tests correctly but it's still not working. I pulled the mirror and there is no power getting to the mirrors through the wires. I've also pulled the cigarette lighter and checked the fuse but nothing looks out of place. The only thing I see disconnected underneath is a 4 prong plug connector with 6 green wires but I don't think thats related. Looking through Haynes manual for 84-85 models it looks like the mirror switch is going through one of the fusable links and not through the fuse box (EDIT: This is incorrect, I was either looking at power windows or an older model) . I've already replaced all the fusable links with the FC style fuses and the switch already shows it's getting power when I press the buttons so i'm not sure where to check next.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

The next step is to half-split to the power source. You start at that fusible link and move toward the mirrors.

kaizenno

Looks like I was wrong. I'm not sure what I was looking at but I think it was the 81-83 model. I did find the 84-85 schematic and it says the button shares the 10A cigarette lighter fuse. The cigarette lighter is confirmed working and the fuse is intact.

Also, the door 2 connection (passenger i'm assuming) is actually connected to the cigarette lighter and the driver side is connected to the switch, then the switch is connected to the other side of the cigarette lighter. I've spent most of my time near the switch and driver side but haven't investigated the passenger side much so I will check that now and see if that's where my break in the connection is.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

1984/1985 Factory Wiring Diagram

kaizenno

Still not finding the issue. Took apart the gauge cluster this last week and traced all the wires behind there and they looked fine with everything connected. All wires are connected as far as I can tell, the mirrors just don't move.

Is there a way to send a signal directly to the mirrors? Would this require a 12v connection connected to the pins on the mirrors?

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

Yes - you can do that. Have you taken off the door panels? If not take them off and there is a door harness that plugs in to each mirror. The gauge cluster would not have anything that I can tell with this circuit.

kaizenno

Yeah the door panels have both come off at some point. Is there a door harness between the cabin and the mirror? I was under the impression it was just one cable that goes from the mirror to the cabin. I am able to get to the plug by just unscrewing the mirror and pulling the cable end out. When I removed the gauge cluster to clean behind the plastic, I took a look at the wires going from the switch to the cigarette lighter just to check for any damaged wires.

kaizenno

Got it. I took apart my passenger mirror and tested continuity between the disconnected plug at the mirror and the disconnected plug directly inside the cabin. I got full connection between the wires except for one of the pins that was greenish where the metal should be touching. I took a standard screwdriver and just scraped it all off and cleaned it up. Reconnected everything and now the switch controls the passenger mirror in every direction. Driver side still doesn't work but i'm going to guess that plug right inside the cabin that connects from the door jamb is corroded on the power pin as well.

So for anyone else out there with this issue, going from easiest to hardest:

1. Check the cigarette lighter fuse
2. Check for corrosion on the connectors
3. Check/replace the switch unit
4. Check/replace mirror motors

In my case both mirrors didn't work so it was unlikely that they both failed at the same time.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

You can take just the mirror out. It can be a pain if those phillips (JIS version) screws are rusty or the end messed up. You could check for 12V and also try to move the mirrors with 12V. The power mirror wiring is part of the door harness.

"JIS, or Japanese Industry Standard screws are just different enough in shape that Phillips drivers will not fit well and slip/strip them."

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

I bought some screwdrivers manufactured to the JIS standard a couple years ago for that very reason. A good investment IMO. The right tools make things much nicer and are worth the savings in aggravation.