Heated Mirrors

1142 Views 14 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Mr Edd, Sep 21, 2010

daveb57

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2010

Hi all,

With the damp mornings with us once again and I'm sure the frost won't be too far away, i was wondering how effective your heated mirrors are?

To be honest, mine are not much cop. They do clear 'in a fashion' but they seem to take one hell of a long time doing so. When i first had the car, at one point i thought that they were broken, but a check of the fuse confirmed that all was well. On frosty mornings, they do not clear at all. I would point out that i do clear them manually before i leave home but the edges never defrost completely. Even when i have started the car on the drive to defrost before i move off, there is no indication of them doing anything at all.

I would like them to do the same as the ones on my truck do but i think a pair of DAF mirrors would look a bit odd on the Zed!!

Does anybody know if there is a fix for the problem that i have with these or all of them the same?

Regards,

Dave.

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Mr Edd

· #2 · Sep 21, 2010

Check all the connections. Pull them off and spray with electrical spray cleaner.

Also do the same with the switches. Take them out and clean and spray. If still no joy try a battery reset. Disconnect the battery for about 30 minutes. Make sure you have the radio code and the SatNav as been shut down properly.

Edd

Carl

· #3 · Sep 21, 2010

ours on both the ZT ans ZS are great they are the same element unit , I assume the elements can burn out if its only one thats poor

Mr Edd

· #4 · Sep 21, 2010

Just remembered ... My daughter had one break on her R25 and we got a new one off eBay for about £12 I think. Came with all the required stuff on the back... just needed plugging in.

New ones maybe cheaper than you think.

Edd

OhNoItsD

· #5 · Sep 21, 2010

How far are you travelling Dave, because as i understand it, they're supposed to be on all the time when the car is running.

daveb57

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 21, 2010

Mr Edd said:
Check all the connections. Pull them off and spray with electrical spray cleaner.

Also do the same with the switches. Take them out and clean and spray. If still no joy try a battery reset. Disconnect the battery for about 30 minutes. Make sure you have the radio code and the SatNav as been shut down properly.

Edd

Hi Edd, Carl, thanks for your input, much appreciated. Please don't think i have ignored your replies, have been out dog walking!!

Edd, you have mentioned switches. Which switches would you be referring to? I was under the impression that the heating elements are continuously on when the ignition / engine are running. Do you know how to get into the mirror to access the electrical connections by any chance. Keep promising myself a Haynes manual!!!

Carl, both mirrors are affected with the problem. As you suggested perhaps the elements are burnt out. If so they burnt out very early in their life as i have had the car when it was 30 months old and it is now just over 8!! Have had this problem since i have owned her.

Thanks,

Dave.

daveb57

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 21, 2010

OhNoItsD said:
How far are you traveling Dave, because as i understand it, they're supposed to be on all the time when the car is running.

Hi Damien, your post got crossed with my reply to Edd and Carl above.

I travel about 7 miles to work so i would have thought they would have done what they are supposed to do by then.

As i said in my original post, even in the worst of the weather last year when the car was ticking over on the drive, they did not clear at all. As i have just mentioned to Edd, i thought the same as you that they are 'live' all the time which does seem a bit strange to me. They managed to get the HRW to come at 9c, so why not do the same with the mirrors as well?

Still that was MGR i suppose!!

Dave

Mr Edd

· #8 · Sep 21, 2010 (Edited)

daveb57 said:
Hi Edd, Carl, thanks for your input, much appreciated. Please don't think i have ignored your replies, have been out dog walking!!

Edd, you have mentioned switches. Which switches would you be referring to? I was under the impression that the heating elements are continuously on when the ignition / engine are running. Do you know how to get into the mirror to access the electrical connections by any chance. Keep promising myself a Haynes manual!!!

Thanks,

Dave.

Sorry I wasn't very clear... I meant to check the connections behind the mirrors... Also the connections in the switches in the arms. This is a different common problem but as we are talking about mirrors I thought I would mention it.

My daughter had her heated mirror on her R25 stolen a few months back and to get the new one on was a bit of a fiddle... If the 75 is the same you have to push the mirror back toward the car and at the same time lever it forward on the outer edge. Or it maybe the other way round, sorry I can't remember exactly. Hopefully someone will confirm shortly.

Edd

daveb57

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 21, 2010

Mr Edd said:
Sorry I wasn't very clear... I meant to check the connections behind the mirrors... Also the connections in the switches in the arms. This is a different common problem but as we are talking about mirrors I thought I would mention it.

Edd

Thanks for the clarification mate, a little job for the weekend then i think.

By the way, have been looking at your thread for the cup holder. What have you done to your thumb?

Dave.

Mr Edd

· #10 · Sep 21, 2010

daveb57 said:
By the way, have been looking at your thread for the cup holder. What have you done to your thumb?

Dave.

A slight altercation between me and Stanley... I have just put a new central heating radiator in using these new fangled plastic pipes that have to be cut with a sharp implement. But the instructions don't tell you to remove your digits out of the way.

Edd

daveb57

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 21, 2010

Mr Edd said:
A slight altercation between me and Stanley... I have just put a new central heating radiator in using these new fangled plastic pipes that have to be cut with a sharp implement. But the instructions don't tell you to remove your digits out of the way.

Edd

Lol, hope it gets better soon.

Dave.

Phil

· #12 · Sep 21, 2010

Mine take about 2-3 mins from the full on heavy dew look (completly soaked) to being dry. On cold mornings, they steam off.

OhNoItsD

· #13 · Sep 21, 2010

Mr Edd said:
new central heating radiator in using these new fangled plastic pipes

Edd

What have we learned about using plastic where the water system is concerened. Thermostat housing ring a bell Edd ?!?!?!?

daveb57

Discussion Starter · #14 · Sep 21, 2010

Phil said:
Mine take about 2-3 mins from the full on heavy dew look (completely soaked) to being dry. On cold mornings, they steam off.

Hi Phil,

If only!!! As i said in a reply to Edd, a little job for the weekend. Just assumed that for all these years that i have had the car that they were naff at doing what they are supposed to do!

I hope that after the weekend i can report back and say that mine are doing the same as yours.

Dave.

Mr Edd

· #15 · Sep 21, 2010

OhNoItsD said:
What have we learned about using plastic where the water system is concerened. Thermostat housing ring a bell Edd ?!?!?!?

I have the metal thermostat... No worries mate not for me anymore. :drunk4:

Edd

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