How Power Mirrors Work

Here's an in depth look at what's inside your car's power side view mirrors and how they work.
The outside rear view mirrors allow the driver to see what's beside and behind their vehicle. Modern vehicles allow the driver to adjust them at the touch of a button. This video takes a look at what goes on behind that button, and what it takes to get the mirror to set to the exact spot for the driver.
The mirror a hard plastic frame that is housed within the aerodynamic shell. Inside is the motor mechanism, that allows for adjustability horizontally and vertically. The mirror is secured to the motor housing through a ball joint, which it pivots about. There are two actuators that are orthogonal to this ball joint. Each actuator is powered by a DC motor with a spiral gear reduction, and connects to the mirror with a ball joint.
The power mirror switch is purely a self contained electronic switch, with multiple layers forming its circuitry. There are no computers or micro-controllers between it and the mirror wiring. The switch allows control of the left, right, up and down as well as selection of driver or passenger side mirror with the turn of the joystick. A discussion on the wiring schematic diagram follows with an example of how power flows to the motors.
The mirror disassembled in this video was from a 2004 Infiniti G35.
Get your side view mirror replacements here:
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Tools used in this video include:
Toothbrush:
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amzn.to/3dCRPor (Canada)
Screwdriver:
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This is the Camera I use:
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[@workingtheworld68]

My condolences on the loss of your (brother's) toothbrush. It will be remembered

[@speedkar99]

It sure will 😦

[@bobvincent5921]

Amen

[@JahanzebmughalVLogs]

@@bobvincent5921 I wish he gets new one before it comes into the notice of his brother....but it got broken for our learning...this is good.

[@SWAGgrass]

Thank you so much for giving us this info, most people wouldnt bother with this stuff but for those that do find it interesting your a god send!

[@speedkar99]

Agreed! These things really intrigue me

[@fxm5715]

Great stuff. It's more or less how I vaguely imagined it was all controlled, but now I feel like a small corner of my ignorance has been vanquished. Thank you!

[@AK-Star007]

now that was really interesting and now i know what that cracking sound when i manually adjust mirror 😶

[@speedkar99]

Thanks, yep you are forcing the threads

[@xHadesStamps]

Only one of our cars will actually do that. The other two are purely a friction fit, and the mechanisms are still in good condition because of it. The other car...

[@karthick86c]

Thank you so much for the teardown video. Was very helpful!

[@speedkar99]

No problem

[@fryreartechnology7611]

You crack it... 7 more years of KZbin! That how I stay on my job

[@speedkar99]

That would be great

[@facereader99]

Great. You know these well. Thank you for the quick free but very valuable course on how side mirrors work. I had a good laugh at "my brother's toothbrush". I am sure it was not your own car's mirror. I suspect that it was only the mirror breaking that led to the Dislikes. I too was stunned for a moment but continued to watch :) Thank you again :)

[@52rustyshack]

Great breakdown of the electrical and motor control, but laughed my ass off on the disassembly and the COLGATE tool! 👍🏾🤣

[@speedkar99]

Thanks. The teach-brush does it again

[@iaov]

Great videos... 😊 thanks!!

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome

[@panzerwaffen2873]

@@speedkar99 where are you located brother ?

[@TwskiTV]

If every KZbin video were as detailed and straight to the point like this, humanity would already have colonized Mars

[@speedkar99]

I wish. Haha. Thanks

[@tomasmargelis8083]

Thanks! Hellped to gain more information!👍

[@speedkar99]

Glad it helped!

[@amarabdelli487]

Thanks for sharing

[@macktick]

Brother You are very good with this subject.

[@speedkar99]

Thanks brother

[@satagamery9951]

Bro great work

[@speedkar99]

Thanks

[@satagamery9951]

@@speedkar99 Can you share with me where you get these diagrams from?

[@user-gh6cu6wf2h]

شكرا على المعلومه

[@AnkitLekhwarprasad]

Man i love your videos , requested you to please make video on Ball joint lubrication

[@BoomBrush]

holy frick the concept of using threads to make the plunger go up and down i literally would of never thought of that. literally a "OHHHH" moment for me

[@speedkar99]

Yeah I was quite surprised

[@xHadesStamps]

Yeah. It's a crappy mechanism...but it works if you're willing to get it replaced every few years. Gearless is where it's at.

[@midhun-007]

1:03 Finally something else than your brother's toothbrush! 😅👍

[@speedkar99]

Lol

[@Kntryhart]

Good stuff! Thanks for posting.

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome

[@johncooper7242]

excellent explanation thanks

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome

[@ziyad.h26]

Nice vid

[@speedkar99]

Thanks!

[@zawlinhtun1380]

Thanks you very much

[@thesatnambajwa]

Thanks to make a video its really helpful 🙂

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome

[@owenwalters3967]

Love it! Good looking

[@muzakkifuad]

awesome switch. awesome engineering tricks

[@dingus8265]

Great video

[@speedkar99]

Thanks

[@tnamen1307]

Very interesting part of car!!!! How windows roll up automatically!!!

[@speedkar99]

I have another video on that

[@panzerwaffen2873]

I don't know why but I will subscribe to this channel

[@anaventura2437]

Excellent, thanks.

[@miguelare3]

Your videos are awesome like always speedkar99!

[@speedkar99]

Thanks I'm glad you appreciate them.

[@GoldSrc_]

Oh nice, those small motors are Mabuchi, good stuff.

[@surajdharmavira3614]

Nice content.thanks Need to understand further about auto closing mirror's & heating element was not shown

[@speedkar99]

Yeah I skipped the heating element , it's simply a thin wire that runs behind the mirror glass to warm it up when it gets voltage. This mirror wasn't power folding

[@fernandoanatomia]

At last something in a modern car that does not need a computer to work.

[@speedkar99]

I wouldn't call an 04 G35 modern but ok

[@paramveer7769]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting

[@teachkhmerbinary]

it's a good video

[@speedkar99]

Thanks.

[@muhammadfalakshair2109]

Great Sir

[@speedkar99]

Thanks sir

[@Electronicrepair_generator]

Amazing thank you so much sir

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome

[@MuhammadSajid-mi7ux]

My hyundai veloster side mirror actuators are damaged by washing centre. Can I replace the actuators and will it work? Any idea if I can order the actuators online?

[@speedkar99]

Yes. Get a used mirror

[@pastst]

Love this thank you!

[@indiaasphalt2757]

Thanks for video finaly i knaw what in side (what kind of quality) after market orvm

[@francistham9928]

I’m replacing the mirror glass that has two wire connectors. Does it matter which wire is connected to the new mirror backing?

[@speedkar99]

Usually the heater should be interchangeable since it's basically a coil.

[@MiHwAr2149]

Bro, you broke that Shit into Atoms, WOW , that was really good stuff👍

[@speedkar99]

Yep that's what my channel is about

[@dee1380]

thanks..

[@speedkar99]

Welcome

[@mohamedelhamzaoui87]

You make a wonderfull videos

[@viniciusnoyoutube]

Very cool!

[@geekelectronics1369]

Great video. could you explain how the gears attached to the motor shaft inside the mirror is helping to perform the up, down and left, right movement

[@speedkar99]

Watch my memory mirror video

[@henrygarciga]

Replacing a side mirror used to be a couple screws, bolts . Now they have blinkers with dimming, heating elements and L or R sideways & up.down movement. Plastic clips and machined trim that fits slots without screws are so easy to break. Auto body skills come in handy disassembling door panels and trim. I definitely need to keep my fingers and hands very clean to prevent grease marks everywhere. New cars still feel and look new, until my grubby, grabbing smears show up on every fixture I touch .If you do this for a lady, keep it clean as they notice. I feel confident doing it---until I see the wires, removed from the plastic cube housing it sits in . Oh man, I better have my back-up ready .This video helped me see how more complex a simple side mirror swap out becomes , I'm practically removing the door . I decided to 'pass' . This video taught me how many ways I can screw it up, which makes the entire #30,000 car feel like a construction zone with panels off .Better to keep the friendship amicable .A mechanic is just as challenged approaching this task with finesse rather than torque .

[@coloradostrong]

I have searched all over for the lowdown on how these things operate. My passenger mirror was working fine as I pointed it down, then it slowed and just stopped altogether. It goes L-R but not Up-Down. The left mirror is fine. So that should mean no fuses are blown, the L-R switch is operating and it is probably the motor that has worn out brushes or a burned out winding. The car is 19 years old. Thanks.

[@shc9066]

Excellent illustration! Thank you so much! Do you mind to share what car model and year of the unit presented in this video?

[@chefsafi981]

Hi From Guyana 🇬🇾

[@speedkar99]

Hi from Canada

[@Ckcdillpickle]

Could you take apart a window switch (assembly) ? I've always been interested how you pull up to raise and push down to lower the windows and couldn't find any information on a switch like that

[@speedkar99]

Hmm that would have been a good addition to this video

[@mohammadjafariyan1022]

thanks , teeth brush is broken :))))))

[@speedkar99]

It works better

[@xHadesStamps]

Crunch, crunch. That's a crappy worm gear driven one that if it dies, you're outta luck. IMO, all power mirrors should have slippable friction drive mechanisms.

[@condor5635]

Great job once again! Glad my cars don't have those stupid retracting motorized side mirrors. I think those are a complete waste. 40 years of driving and I have never had a single incident of having a mirror broken or knocked off. Probably cost a fortune to replace as well. Thanks for posting!

[@speedkar99]

Yeah retracting mirrors are more complex

[@mianarshed]

Hi SpeedKar. Your videos are good. But plz also teach to fix the things back too rather than tearing them apart only. thanks.

[@speedkar99]

Thanks. I'll consider that for future planned videos. My cars aren't breaking (yet) so I don't have much maintenance content

[@AgsCgs]

Nice pry tool 😉

[@speedkar99]

I love it. Except when it snaps!

[@rubenvor]

How does the headlights washer works?

[@ganimohammed1717]

Thank you

[@tylermcgall9770]

Omg just saw your video chopping up the es😭🤣🤣 saw that Ontario plate! Need to meet you!!!!🤣👌🏻 I'll bring a care package of some of the best glass removal/universal tools😉🤣🤣

[@speedkar99]

Sure...maybe for the next convertible

[@vasilleamilsom8862]

Hi, I was wondering what those white sockets are called? Are the unique for each model or can I buy a standard pair to fit my Toyota Yaris ? Thanks!

[@bobvincent5921]

Thanks,this almost defines Smoke and Mirrors. My door switch is too fiddley so I have a spare hand to use on the mirror at the other side of the drivers window.

[@speedkar99]

Change it!

[@ooscgt]

My passenger mirror won’t go up or down. Only left and right. I am thinking it is the motor. Would you recommend trying to replace just the motor or should I replace the hole mirror. It is a bit pricey since it has blind spot, turn signal and heated. It is for a 2017 Elantra. Thanks

[@vijayboomi]

U missed the details on the folding mechanism...That too has a motor plus gears...Would b happy to see that dissected

[@ahmedmagdyelmonshed704]

Please look up for the folding one. It hanged one time on and kept humming. And they replaced the whole motor under warranty.

[@speedkar99]

I see. Is the motor in the housing or in the base?

[@dominicfong6341]

Wondering how those mirror with reverse gear tilt works. Suppose it must be driven by sophisticated control circuitry?

[@Gychen888]

awesome

[@ahmedmagdyelmonshed704]

when you ripped the glass part you broke that center ball socket which is welded to actuator, (that was for your video purpose) but mine broke when i was just cleaning. and the glass part fall of on ground. i glued it back again, but i feel it might fall off again by it self. cause the glass part is on hold only by that center point.

[@speedkar99]

Time for a new mirror.

[@user-hb6gr7iu9n]

Great !! I'm wondering how tilt mirror in reverse. My driver's side mirror doesn't tilt in reverse even though passenger's mirror works. I don't think it is motor problem. is there any problem of other parts such as electric problem?

[@951rcguy]

So you showed us how to break a mirror. How about a video on how to repair ones that no longer work? My 4th gen Camaro mirrors need repair and KZbin has nothing on it.

[@axelparis9896]

Hi i have a kia forte ex sedan 2013 and I want to install this type of mirror the actual mirrors on my forte are manual, there is a way that I can get installed

[@Cheneyvox]

Watch it in 0.25X speed !!! It’s a master class !

[@hax0rz100]

Hey man maybe you could help me out. I have a 2000 lexus es300 and both by power mirrors do not work. What could be the problem? My handy man washes my car and I think when washing with a rag, I pushed on the side mirrors to hard when scrubbing them. I do not hear a motor wining sound when I try to adjust them. What could be the problem?

[@johnvest2710]

Did you get your brother a new tooth brush ?

[@speedkar99]

Gave him back the old

[@xdfactory8566]

where can we buy the pins/sockets that are on the mirror?

[@speedkar99]

Hmm you might just chop one off at the junkyard

[@xdfactory8566]

@@speedkar99 Thanks

[@mugiraharjo6270]

So how to dissambly safely ?

[@netzonone]

do these motors have built-in limit switches that will prevent from overloading from too much press on left or right?

[@speedkar99]

No

[@veejaymiguel2930]

Is it safe accidentally manual unfold the power folding side mirrors? Thank you.

[@MrJOHNY347]

Hey there ,did you go to automotive school for experience ?

[@speedkar99]

Nope. I learned by opening things up and seeing for myself. Repair manuals are a good resource as well

[@dondominic7404]

So you can get two 12V motors from a broken car mirror

[@speedkar99]

Yep. And make an RC car with it

[@lewise2012]

my mirror start clicking and not turning further to the outer side, what can i do?

[@theusedblink]

Breaks the mirror to get it off, yet takes the time to de-pin the plug instead of just cutting it.

[@speedkar99]

Good catch

[@narasimhamurthy1636]

How to make repair swift car mirror automatic folding motor

[@user-lu6zv7iy5b]

Merci

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome

[@raymondb5757]

Just wondering why this mirror also looks exactly like a mirror for a Toyota Corolla...even the actuators and connectors are the same.

[@Tony32]

I tried to disassemble a 1999 Honda crv side mirror and failed, I didn't know you had to heat it up, maybe I'll give it another try.

[@speedkar99]

Most mirrors you gotta heat it to get the residue soft to pull off the glass mirror from the backing

[@nasedo3129]

If they had an awards ceremony for KZbin videos speedkar99 would win the Technical Achievement Award every year. This is what all KZbin videos should look like, quick and to the point.

[@speedkar99]

Thanks for the kind recommendation

[@john-r-edge]

Great video. There is another KZbinr who explains how to fix washing machines - but he uses his wife's toothbrush.

[@mancaveproductions00]

So simple but complicated..

[@speedkar99]

Quite so

[@egafx]

no electric folding?

[@speedkar99]

Not on this G35 mirror

[@christojoseph2476]

Great info however I wish it had auto folding mechanism too.

[@bassam_salim]

My car was rhd and now it's lhd The mirror looks wromg cause it was made so the driver sets on the right seat Is it possible to fix it by switching the wires that control the mirror side motion?

[@speedkar99]

Yes if you want the L and R switched around

[@bassam_salim]

@@speedkar99 the switch works fine, but the mirror doesn't show the side view, it was meant for the driver to sit on the right seat

[@sinmithy]

@@bassam_salim order mirrors for a lhd? Assuming your car was also made lhd

[@rohitmeinia2580]

RIP TOOTHBRUSH

[@speedkar99]

RIP me if my brother finds out

[@ep2653]

Orthanigal? Dam! You're a dentist too?

[@speedkar99]

Just an engineer

[@panzerwaffen2873]

Brothers gonna be really mad

[@bentnickel7487]

So you could use a 12v power source and a car mirror motor to remote aim a pistol. :-(

[@Drummer52895]

I've noticed that too about gloves making us stronger lmao

[@speedkar99]

Yes me too. It allows you to put more pressure on things without fear of getting hurt

[@William1866]

I just replaced one after a deer knocked it off. Luckily he stopped in time before going through my window.

[@speedkar99]

Whoa!

[@muhammadmursaleenkhalid8380]

hello sir can we use your video for our youtube channel because we can convert English language into Urdu

[@speedkar99]

No I don't want my videos used elsewhere

[@muhammadmursaleenkhalid8380]

@@speedkar99 ok thanks for reply

[@robertbrandywine]

Slow down! And when you jump forward leave a little deadspace before starting the new segment.

[@oby-1607]

All this complexities so I can adjust my mirror after my wife has driven it.

[@speedkar99]

Get a car with memory mirrors next time