Cheap auto-dimming, homelink mirror

[Dad]

I will be sending them back. I printed the return shipping label but I keep forgetting it at work. They will be going back some time this week. They actually sent 10 mirrors not 7. I thought it was 7 from what was written on the outside of the box.

So refreshing to see honest people out there. You're a great example.

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[Dad]

What is a puddle light?

A puddle light is a small light that illuminates downward towards where one would enter the vehicle. It's to help light up where one might step in a puddle before entering.

 

[Dad]

OK, I was able to install the Kia Mirror and tap into the wiring harness for the Dome lights. I watched a video on YouTube, and in the video, I watch the person telling which wires to use... Complete success. Had to make a run to O'Riely's to get wire connectors.

There are three "clips" holding the black cover on.

The second photo shows there is a "tether" connector that holds the panel (I couldn't figure out how to undo it)

We also took the cover/panel for the Dome light (I have a sunroof) down and disconnected the wires. I tapped into the wires for the dome light. The video I found did the same thing on another Ford vehicle and the same wires were there...

The black wire is your ground, the Purple wire is your (switch power) Yellow/green (last write on your right) wire is your constant power.

I used about a foot of the wire that came with the mirror, it was over kill but when everything is tucked back in place there is plenty of space.

In this photo you can see the green light is on the mirror, so the mirror is getting power. VERY simple and easy... Truly I could do this in about 25 minutes from start to finish.

Completely put back together looks factory.

Took a picture once the Mirror was calibrated to show the compass. Now, I need to program the homelink.

Can't believe how inexpensive this was from Kia.....

This is what I used to connect with the wiring harness.....

@Dad

Ok, finally got the time and courage to install the mirror. I also have the moonroof setup. I was able to dislodge the covers well enough, but I don't know how the hell you were able to disengage the wiring harnesses. Looks like the holding tabs are on the sides but very tough to get my fingers are any small tool to the tabs in order to press inwards. The dome light harness wiring is glued down onto the bay area so very little tail to work with. Taking a break right now before I have a breakdown.

 

[Wawesson]

Ok, finally got the time and courage to install the mirror. I also have the moonroof setup. I was able to dislodge the covers well enough, but I don't know how the hell you were able to disengage the wiring harnesses. Looks like the holding tabs are on the sides but very tough to get my fingers are any small tool to the tabs in order to press inwards. The dome light harness wiring is glued down onto the bay area so very little tail to work with. Taking a break right now before I have a breakdown.
[/QUOT

 

[Wawesson]

I have same setup. You can disconnect the plug to sunroof switch and use the black (ground) and purple (hot) wires.
See picture. Good luck.

 

[Wawesson]

I have same setup. You can disconnect the plug to sunroof switch and use the black (ground) and purple (hot) wires.
See picture. Good luck.

 

[Dad]

I have same setup. You can disconnect the plug to sunroof switch and use the black (ground) and purple (hot) wires.
See picture. Good luck.

Ok. Figured it out. Trying to find the clip that holds the harness was a major pain. Thought it was on the sides of the black harness... nope, in the middle. I had to remove the black cover over the circuit board to give me any type of eye sight to how the wiring harness clipped in. Now I can re-route the wiring bundle to give me more access to the individual wires. Hopefully, I can put all back together without any issues. Truly, MTC is the only place to vent our frustrations and celebrate our victories. Recently rewired my LED bed light strips to the factory switch located in the bed. Much better than adding a second switch. Somehow the wife didn't see this as a cause for celebration.

Additional thoughts and suggestions:
My mirror came with an attached harness plus an extended wiring harness. The extended wires are important in that they will clue you as to which wires on the mirror are ground, power on/off, and constant power. The wire with the round grommet on the end is ground. The grommet is one you would use to attach to a grounding station such as a bolt or screw. One of the other wires is colored black & white. I guessed this is the on/off wire. The third wire is all black and since we already established the grommet is for ground, this would probably be for constant power.

Last update: Installed and working! Very gratifying. Earlier had it installed and not working. Checked and doubled checked my wire taps. Did I guess wrongly on the correct functions of the mirror wires? Not likely. Finally I replaced the ground tap with a smaller gauge. That was the problem. Not properly grounded.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I hope any information I can share might help anyone who runs into the same problems I did.

 

[Eagle11]

Ok. Figured it out. Trying to find the clip that holds the harness was a major pain. Thought it was on the sides of the black harness... nope, in the middle. I had to remove the black cover over the circuit board to give me any type of eye sight to how the wiring harness clipped in. Now I can re-route the wiring bundle to give me more access to the individual wires. Hopefully, I can put all back together without any issues. Truly, MTC is the only place to vent our frustrations and celebrate our victories. Recently rewired my LED bed light strips to the factory switch located in the bed. Much better than adding a second switch. Somehow the wife didn't see this as a cause for celebration.

Additional thoughts and suggestions:
My mirror came with an attached harness plus an extended wiring harness. The extended wires are important in that they will clue you as to which wires on the mirror are ground, power on/off, and constant power. The wire with the round grommet on the end is ground. The grommet is one you would use to attach to a grounding station such as a bolt or screw. One of the other wires is colored black & white. I guessed this is the on/off wire. The third wire is all black and since we already established the grommet is for ground, this would probably be for constant power.

Last update: Installed and working! Very gratifying. Earlier had it installed and not working. Checked and doubled checked my wire taps. Did I guess wrongly on the correct functions of the mirror wires? Not likely. Finally I replaced the ground tap with a smaller gauge. That was the problem. Not properly grounded.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I hope any information I can share might help anyone who runs into the same problems I did.

Congrats Dad! I knew you could do it.

 

[Dad]

Congrats Dad! I knew you could do it.

Thanks, Eagle. Your encouragement is much appreciated!

Side note: I discovered that I didn't need to disassemble the circuit board to get to the wiring harness. But having done so, in re-assembling the board and its black cover I noticed a small spring with a chrome like bullet point on one end. No idea where it went. Put back the sunroof/light console cover anyway only to discover the light rocker switch would not stay on. Great. After several hours of on/off contemplation finally saw a small tunnel hole behind the tab that protrudes from the light switch up into the inside of the cover. That's where the bullet spring goes. You have to take off the circuit board's black cover and hold the spring in its hole while putting the cover back on.
Bottom line here is I created more work for myself than was needed for wiring up the mirror to the cab lights. But, I'm kind of proud of myself for figuring it out and correcting my mistakes. Very happy with the mirror. It's the little things, right?

 

[Eagle11]

Thanks, Eagle. Your encouragement is much appreciated!

Side note: I discovered that I didn't need to disassemble the circuit board to get to the wiring harness. But having done so, in re-assembling the board and its black cover I noticed a small spring with a chrome like bullet point on one end. No idea where it went. Put back the sunroof/light console cover anyway only to discover the light rocker switch would not stay on. Great. After several hours of on/off contemplation finally saw a small tunnel hole behind the tab that protrudes from the light switch up into the inside of the cover. That's where the bullet spring goes. You have to take off the circuit board's black cover and hold the spring in its hole while putting the cover back on.
Bottom line here is I created more work for myself than was needed for wiring up the mirror to the cab lights. But, I'm kind of proud of myself for figuring it out and correcting my mistakes. Very happy with the mirror. It's the little things, right?

LOL, yes at times the little things in life bring the biggest smile. In fact, last night I had a big smile on my face as a friend of mine just picked up his maverick and was envious of my mirror... His gets installed Saturday.

 

[jons]

Congrats Dad! I knew you could do it.

Hey Buddy I hope you find your Dad

 

[Eagle11]

Hey Buddy I hope you find your Dad

??

 

[Dad]

LOL, yes at times the little things in life bring the biggest smile. In fact, last night I had a big smile on my face as a friend of mine just picked up his maverick and was envious of my mirror... His gets installed Saturday.

I suppose now we will be the go-to's for mirror installation! LOL.

 

[Eagle11]

I suppose now we will be the go-to's for mirror installation! LOL.

LOL, I'm sure of that.

 

[Barracuda340]

I figured there was going to be a hot and a ground up in the roof. Just wasnt sure if there was going to be an ignition switched hot lead up there. Easy enough to find with an ohm meter and a couple test leads.

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