Electric Mirror Fault......

[Wychall]

Has anyone experience of electric mirrors failing to adjust vertically? I thought the problem was down to the switch so have sourced a replacement but still end up with the same problem. I believe that the vertical adjustment is achieved via an electrical clutch which circuit testing shows is getting a feed. Would appear to be a failed clutch but, strangely, both sides are the same.

Thinking along the road of getting a replacement motor, I am sure that I have heard that the BMW 5 series used the same motor. Can anyone corroborate this as Ebay prices for 5 series mirrors is considerably less than T3, get one for a tenner!

[tonytech]

I cant help much, but
http://www.pbase.com/tonytech/image/84681016
Might help

T

[Wychall]

Tonytech, thanks for replying but I have already ascertained that the electrical supplies are correct, both to the motor and to the clutch. It is more knowledge as to the operation of the clutch that I am after.

Or source for a replacement...............

[Aidan]

are you getting any noise at all when trying to allign them vertically ?
Be odd that both sides would fail in same mode, what happens if you manually adjust them a few degrees up and down then try them again electrically ? I find if I don't adjust them for a year they can get reluctant but with a little persuasion they are all good in all planes again
clutches are integral part of motor plates so I doubt a bmw one would be useable but if they are so cheap then I'd buy one and compare, chances are some of it will be the same, all made by VDO but maybe not swapable
ours are £60 plus vat each new and are common to other VWs from the 80s and 90s inc T4

[Titus A Duxass]

You can use some BMW ones but you need to fiddle/swap over some of the gears around.
I can't remember which ones I bought but I do remember the price - 8,90€.

Can you hear the "clutch" solenoid when you try to move them.

It should go "clunk" in both mirrors.

Here is a good wiring diagram.


The mirrors have one motor and one solenoid each.
The motor alone provides horizontal movement, the moment and the solenoid together provide vertical movement.

It is highly unlikely that both solenoids have failed.
There is a single feed from the switch that goes to both solenoids.
I would strip the switch and clean the tracks of the internal PCB.

[Wychall]

Both vertical and horizontal selections result in horizontal adjustment. The noise of the motor masks any possible clunk from the clutch. I have stripped and cleaned both the original and the replacement switches so doubt that that is the problem. Also, I get a 12v feed to the white wire at the mirror end so I'm back to suspecting the clutches. Has anyone managed to strip one down? It rebuffed my attempts yesterday.

[Titus A Duxass]

Try putting 12v on to the clutch feed (white) you should hear the solenoid ackle.

[Aidan]

cheers for this thread made me check out the spare ones in the draw
clever, so basically blue and black are + or - 12V and you reverse polarity and the mirror moving left or right with the solenoid not switched but if you also make brown earth and white +12v then the mirror will go up or down again by swapping the polarity of blue and black
if you make white + and brown - you will hear the solenoid switch clearly
if you unscrew the motor from the plate and do it on the bench with a couple of Y test wires and a battery it's easy to test, if the motor's ok then it's a switch or loom issue
Made by iku in Holland I've emailed them see if they have any old stock

[Wychall]

I'll do another diagnosis session when i finish work but have come up with a bit more info in case new motors are required. It appears that it may be a widely used part.........

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ic+mirrors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wychall]

OK, so another session with the good old multimeter showed a questionable feed to the white wire. I therefore stripped the switch and polished the pcb with 1500 grit. The little dumbells received similar treatment then greased with anti corrosive. Re-assembled and now a reliable 12v to the white wire. Not that it made any difference. Mirrors still not working.

Removed motor assembly and bench checked as suggested by Titus and Aidan. No action when feed applied across white and brown. Spray with electrical cleaner and apply 12v feed. Nothing..... Ask nicely and tap with end of big screwdriver whilst 12v applied and "kerlunk". Apply this technique several times and all is well. Refitted to bus and bingo, it works.

Removed the other side and repeated the process and now that works as well.

This says to me that if you have electric mirrors, make sure that you cycle them occasionally to keep them happy.

Thanks to those that provided guidance. Where would we be without this Forum!

[Titus A Duxass]