Adding auto dimming mirror

you can buy one many places on line. i don't think the wiring is already there. use caution, they can run down your battery.

 

You can get them from your local dealership. Or if you're going to do it yourself, you can find instructions here:
Electrochromatic Mirror with Homelink at Sparks Toyota-Scion, Myrtle Beach, SC
Top right corner for the instructions.

 

Do a search for this on this forum. Several of us have done this with no problem. the unswitched hot wire is easy I tapped off the wire leading to the passenger's light under the visor. the swichted hot I had to run a wire in the headliner to the forward pillar and down to the underside of the dashboard under the dashboard light dimmer. It requires that you pull the weatherstripping off from the headliner to the bottom of the dash. It is really simple to do and reinstall. I belive I tapped into the flesh colored wire in the harness under the dash. As long as you tap into the correct wires for each power lead you won't drain the battery. If you hook it up and when you turn off the car the compass stays on, you have tapped into the incorrect wire. the ground is simple - black to black.
I just saw the post above mine - must have been posting at the same time. I think they go overboard on their instructions, but they are a dealer and have to give all the safety stuff.

 

I wrote the Gentex people about controlling the autodim feature with the headlight circuit. They wrote back that it wasn't possible with their unit. Too bad as I had pre-wired a area with a line from the lower glove box light which only comes on with the headlights.

You need:
1) "always hot" line (for the garage opener)
2) accessory line (for auto-dim and compass)
3) ground line (you might even be able to use a bolt that ties into the roof panel)

I downloaded the pdf and the instructions Gentex gives are pretty good. I decided against doing the mod though.

 

don't waste your money


i had them on 5 Subaru's and they only work 80% of the time, at best.

if the sensor is in shadow it doesn't flip


it's much better to manually switch it

 

+1 to SlowTurd's suggestion. If you have heavy tinting on your rear windows (comes standard in the SW), you hardly need the autodim. Add to that, the Gentex unit is about $300. I'm working on a way to put a factory-looking illuminated switch on the dash to control my aftermarket garage door opener. That way, I can hide the opener and still have factory-looking switch.

 

i was so desparate for one on my 2000 taurus, i paid the dealer $400. i have never been so disappointed with a products claim vs performance. then, it came standard on my first prius and my wifes hycam. i just feel it doesn't dim as well as manual, but i have sensitive eyes.

 

I never liked auto-dim mirrors, but wanted the homelink, so I installed it. I might go back to the regular mirror and install a set of homelink buttons on the visor or the panel behind the map lights