HOW TO DIY: JDM Folding Mirrors with Signals

I know, it's embarrassing, but I spent all my money on the mirrors! No more pictures until spring.

 

Sorry for the late reply. Too much going on....
I bought the complete kit from MIT Accessories. Again, a HUGE thanks to sfv41901 and others for their directions and tips. If I could do it again, and could find them, I would try just the motors, but until you see what you have to do and see an actual motor, I don't think I would have known what to do with them. However, if you know a patient wrecking yard, I am sure you could find a late-model Sienna, Tacoma, Lexus Rx350 or LS450 that uses the same motor mount. Might be costly to experiment, though.

I clamped my Wish mirrors to the bench, and wired everything up to see how the module worked - and it didn't - it would not fold or unfold with correct, double checked wiring with the supplied Wish mirror switch. I then noticed the different connector on the Wish OEM switch and that it did not have any night lighting. So thinking about the night lighting, re-wiring a connector and negotiating with MIT (who are very nice people, but in Taiwan), I decided to build my own.

I didn't include the module design because it is flawed and in fact it has stopped working correctly. In haste I used a simple relay on the Dome circuit and that is not workable. The Dome circuit uses a variable current drain to brighten and dim the lights slowly. This causes the relay to chatter, greatly shortening it's life (mine has frozen). I am back to mirrors controlled by the ignition only!

I have 2 new designs on the way. Both will require some soldering skills. I just finished a micro-controller module. Parts probably under $20. I did this because I was amazed that you could buy a micro-controller for $3.50! It works perfectly on the bench but it is cold here and I won't be able to try it on the car until the holidays. The 3rd design is done but untested. It uses a few transistors to replace one relay and to time-delay the second one. This might be a bigger module because of the discrete components.

I should be able to post parts, circuit design, a code file and pictures before the New Year.

 

will the module allow for easy install ?

Will you be heading down the west anytime soon ?

haha, I wanna get this folding mirror installed too

 

The module would not be any more difficult to install than the standard module - just one more pin for the Dome lights. If you've done the signal mirrors, the folding motor is do-able. I don't get to the wet coast much any more but I've got some air points if you need a hand! I will try and get close to pin-compatible with the JDM unit. I want to add a secondary relay that reacts to the Dome signal. I have more goodies I want to try that need a good dome current source.

By the way, the standard module works fine (at least I am the only one complaining about an inop module). I think the 2012 uses the same unlit switch and connector as the Wish set, so your installation is more plug-and-play than mine would have been.

 

that would we awesome

 

Sorry, I meant the 2010 that ucsmfu has. Yes, my 2012 also has a lit switch and one reason I did not want to retro it to the Wish switch. I tried to put some very small LEDs behind the Wish switch in the housing to at least light the perimeter of the 4-way switch but it was not pretty!

 

That video says it all. Amazing job. Looks better than some of the luxury cars.

 

Just had to say that I installed these today and these instructions helped ALOT!!

 

Just the mirrors.. Wish I purchased the folding mirrors.. Saving money for other mods though

 

But without these tutorials it would have been a nightmare to find the wires!!

I used almost every location you used for your wires.. Only ones I didn't use were the puddle light locations.. I used the blue wire in the a pillar and the red wire for the foot well lighting on the driver side.. I also didnt have the ground on the driver side so I just found a bolt that looked good and grounded my wires.

But instructions to take everything apart helped too! Thanks again!!

 

I just purchased new Prius III(CHEVAE4), added two seat heating and indoor LED light. Quite interesting with JDM or other folding mirrors(it's said prius use same mirror as reiz or mark-x). Any new KIT can DIY without break Toyota warranty(3Y/100KM)?
Thanks again, ready for seat heating Q&A

 

Hey Sean, so with the 2010 models, is there something we have to do differently ? or are the steps all the same. I'm thinking of getting a friend install it for me or attempt it myself. Also what are the differences with using the extra accessories you bought as to not using those accessories ?

thanks