R230 Drivers side mirror not folding in

[Robjit]

So my 2003 SL has powerfold mirrors... The passenger side works perfectly... But the drivers side doesn't. It never folds in and all it will do is send the mirror glass tilting upwards(wierd)
If I push and fold the whole assembly in manually, it will very, very slowly unfold when I press the button sometimes, but gets stuck.

Ive tried to lubricate it but no joy, so thought I'd try a complete mirror unit as a replacement... But the replacement does the same thing with just the mirror tilt!!!

Have I got a duff 2nd hand mirror unit or is there something else I need to look at here??

 

[EmilysDad]

Damaged wireing to the mirror?

 

[Robjit]

Damaged wireing to the mirror?

I haven't taken the entire mirror apart yet... That's the next port of call.... But why did the replacement mirror pretty much do the same??

 

[EmilysDad]

I haven't taken the entire mirror apart yet... That's the next port of call.... But why did the replacement mirror pretty much do the same??

just a guess that damaged loom to the mirror might be common to both mirrors ???

 

[Blobcat]

Wiring breaking in the hinge is common, they’re very small and very tight. Take it apart and the broken wires are usually easily locatable. Take your time and do one at a time - they’re usually all grey…

Also lubricate the hinge mechanism to make it easier for the motor

 

[Robjit]

OK so I have taken apart my mirror and could not find any broken wires.

Do this is where things get interesting... I got hold of another mirror to try and non of the folding functions worked. Then managed to get hold of a second mirror which folded in once, then didn't fold out. Then some of the up down left right functions started to play up.

I took the plugs out and cleaned the contacts which didn't seemed to make any difference..

Is it possible that the large black module that everything plugs into maybe faulty? Or is it all an issue with wire breakage inside the mirror??

 

[Blobcat]

OK so I have taken apart my mirror and could not find any broken wires.

Do this is where things get interesting... I got hold of another mirror to try and non of the folding functions worked. Then managed to get hold of a second mirror which folded in once, then didn't fold out. Then some of the up down left right functions started to play up.

I took the plugs out and cleaned the contacts which didn't seemed to make any difference..

Is it possible that the large black module that everything plugs into maybe faulty? Or is it all an issue with wire breakage inside the mirror??

The wires can still look good on the outside (the insulation rarely breaks) - you need to move them around a bit and feel if the copper wires inside have snapped

 

[Robjit]

The wires can still look good on the outside (the insulation rarely breaks) - you need to move them around a bit and feel if the copper wires inside have snapped

Is the breaking point where the go into the pivot? Or elsewhere? Would I be best to pull the entire wiring out of the assembly to check it properly?

 

[Blobcat]

Is the breaking point where the go into the pivot? Or elsewhere? Would I be best to pull the entire wiring out of the assembly to check it properly?

It can be in the hinge pivot or anywhere else as they can be a bit too tight

 

[Robjit]

It can be in the hinge pivot or anywhere else as they can be a bit too tight

Thanks blobcat... Il take the whole lot out and see what I can find..

 

[Robjit]

Just to close up this thread as this is now fixed!....

The mirror was not the issue - it was the drivers side module which had some comms errors. I reset the system with a scan tool whilst I was trying to fix my rear led light issue and once it was reset, my original mirror is now working perfectly...even the slowness when adjusting the swivel and tilt on the mirror has gone!!

I was wondering why that I had tried two other mirrors and they were doing the same thing even though all 3 had so signs of wire breakage!!

 

[gramey]

Just to close up this thread as this is now fixed!....

The mirror was not the issue - it was the drivers side module which had some comms errors. I reset the system with a scan tool whilst I was trying to fix my rear led light issue and once it was reset, my original mirror is now working perfectly...even the slowness when adjusting the swivel and tilt on the mirror has gone!!

I was wondering why that I had tried two other mirrors and they were doing the same thing even though all 3 had so signs of wire breakage!!

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but which scan tool did you use to identify and reset this module please, I have what appears to be the saem issue with my nearside passenger door mirror but my iCarsoft scanner doesn't sem to go into that depth

 

[brandwooddixon]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but which scan tool did you use to identify and reset this module please, I have what appears to be the saem issue with my nearside passenger door mirror but my iCarsoft scanner doesn't sem to go into that depth

Not sure if you'll get a response from OP as hasn't been seen since 2022.

 

[gramey]

Not sure if you'll get a response from OP as hasn't been seen since 2022.

Thanks for that