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Rear view mirror too low?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by syncmacd, Jun 11, 2009.

  1. syncmacd

    syncmacd Waxing is Relaxing

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    Although I'm relatively short (5'9") I find that the rear view mirror partially obstructs my view to the right. There appear to be a few inches between the rear view mirror and the top of the windshield. I wonder why the rear view mirror wasn't mounted a little higher. Perhaps aftermarket it can be remounted higher.

    Has anyone else felt that the rear view mirror was too low?
     
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    In the GENII Prius the mirror is double-jointed I believe so you can push the mirror up higher and out of the way. I am not sure if the GenIII works this way. I forgot to look last time I was in one. You could run out to the car and check. :)
     
  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I did check when I sat in a 2010, and it is double-jointed. And I need it too.
     
  4. CAR4TWO

    CAR4TWO New Member

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    You might try adjusting your seat so your eyes look out the window down 1/3rd on the glass. Eyes down 1/3rd allows you to easily see signs overhead as easily as you see pebbles in the road. That should put the mirror right where it should be unless it is double jointed and down to far.

    Dan
     
  5. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

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    When Toyota Marketing brought their 2010's up here to San Francisco a couple of months ago and gave a bunch of us the opportunity to drive the pre-release version of the 2010 Prius, I specifically investigated this very item. When I got in the driver's seat the second thing I did (the first was to adjust the seat) was to adjust the inside rear view mirror. I explained to the Toyota representative that if I could not adjust the rear view mirror to eliminate the massive blind spot to the forward right side of the vehicle, that I absolutely would NOT buy a 2010 Prius. Fortunately, the inside mirror on the car that I drove was (as F8L says) "double-jointed". This allowed me to move the mirror up about 1.5" and eliminate the blind spot. (Note that I'm 6' 2".) I did not examine the rear view mirror on all of the 2010's but if they all are "double-jointed, you should not have a problem.

    Good Luck,

    Keith
     
  6. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I've found I need to raise the mirror up (in both Gen II and Gen III) just to get the headlight glare to shine onto the electro-chromatic sensor. Otherwise, the auto-dimming feature just doesn't work properly.

    Others have rotated their mirror 180° to compensate for the same problem.
     
  7. syncmacd

    syncmacd Waxing is Relaxing

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    Checking the rear view mirror I found it is already at the highest position possible. I do have a long torso, though, so I usually sit higher in a car than many taller people.

    Luckily the rear view mirror is relatively small, so the obstruction is not too bad. I'll consider it a small price to pay for 50 mpg! (Though I certainly won't be installing a larger rear view mirror...)
     
  8. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    I don't have a problem with the mirror, but anyone doing this on a V with AT would have to confirm it didn't interfere with camera angles for the LKA. I doubt it, but I'll have to look. I've already decided there probably isn't a problem with putting an electronic EZ tag up below the mirror, left of center. Instead of the usual 5 inches of polka dot tint all the way behind the mirror, it stops at the centerline on my car - in other words, there's a cutout for LKA camera visibility.
     
  9. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    The 2010 Prius rearview mirror is double jointed.

    Any Prius can make 'vertical visibility' with top of windshield and rearview mirror a challenge because the windshield is so steeply swept back for great aerodynamics.

    I have the 2009 with large Homelink rearview mirror. I fought the blind spot issue for a while without aid of a seat height adjuster (lower).

    I finally won the battle by inverting the rear view, being careful not to damage the wires behind.
     
  10. jamesmaya

    jamesmaya Junior Member

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    Hi.....I'm the owner of a 2010 (base model, purchased used). I made the double-joint adjustment to my rear view mirror and I till think it hangs too low. Below is a pic of my mirror (basic model). Note the location of the base mount on the windshield; it is bisected by the lower edge of the black-dotted area. I've noticed other same-year Prius vehicles in which the base is mounted higher up on the glass, well within the dotted area. This surprises me. Isn't the mounting location a "factory spec" that should be the same across all 2010 Gen III models? Where is your mirror mounted?

    [​IMG]
     
  11. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    The mounting point on my Canadian 2010 appears to be about the same location as yours but my mirror is different (rear view camera display, 3 garage door openers, and auto dimming) The arm connecting it to the mounting point may also be different.

    I would like it to be higher too but I'm not sure how much higher it could go without the top of the rear window obstructing the view.
     
  12. FiddlerSteve

    FiddlerSteve Junior Member

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    Hey, thanks for this info! I just had a replacement windshield put in my Gen 3 model 2 and I initially thought they mounted the mirror too low. Forgot about this articulating mount!
     
  13. Dominic Fong

    Dominic Fong Junior Member

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    Interior rear view mirror is too low no matter what vehicle you hop into these days: sedan, hatchback, and minivan. The Prius C is no exception. Been troubled by it ever since switching from a Subaru Impreza, finally decided to replace it with a generic rear view mirror complete with base mounting plate from a local autoparts store(Canadian Tire). To my surprise the oem windshield mounting plate works with it. Attached it and the rear view mirror NO LONGER blocks the frontal view. Hope it helps the rest of you. BTW I am only 5 foot 8 but always gotten used to an upright driving position as I have the seat adjusted to the highest setting.
     
  14. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I rotated the mirror upside down, which allows the mirror (non homelink) to sit higher, closer to the headliner. ;)

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.