One thing that I really hate

ViperGeorge · Nov 7, 2012

Ok, I think the SRT guys have done an awesome job on the new car. Looks good inside and out. Also drives like it is still a Viper. However, one thing they did (and I've already complained to every engineer I've met including one that I would call a friend) is that they put an auto dimming mirror in the car. AND it has no button or switch to turn off the auto dimming feature. I have an auto dimming mirror in my Jeep and I immediately turn the darn thing off when I get in. Maybe it is because I'm older and my old eyes need more light but I really hate those things. Even on my Jeep, the stupid feature resets whenever you start the car. Why can't you turn it off and have it stay off until you turn it back on? GM does this with at least some of their cars. To not even have an switch to deactivate the feature makes me crazy. Now to my SRT friend's credit he did test what would happen if you disconnect the wires to the mirror. It turns the feature off permantently but also kills the reading lights.

How many of you think that the mirror should at least have a switch to deactivate the auto dimming feature? Is this too much to ask?

Paul Hawker · Nov 7, 2012

Put a tiny piece of tape over the sensor?

ViperGeorge · Nov 7, 2012

Paul Hawker said:
Put a tiny piece of tape over the sensor?

That's what I love about this site. Great advice and quick too. I'll see if I can find out where it is on my Jeep and ask my friend about the Gen 5

SADVIPER · Nov 8, 2012

Even Ralph himself wasn't sure when asked about the LED day lights till his engineers sais there is a switch for them. I don't know about this Auto dimming thing I have to try it first!

I also hate the rear black aplique thing on the GTS it looks mandatory option with no body paint color. and dont even get me started on the hoods

Detlef · Nov 8, 2012

Pfftttt. Old guys :smirk:

Nambo · Nov 8, 2012

SADVIPER said:
Even Ralph himself wasn't sure when asked about the LED day lights till his engineers sais there is a switch for them. I don't know about this Auto dimming thing I have to try it first!

I also hate the rear black aplique thing on the GTS it looks mandatory option with no body paint color. and dont even get me started on the hoods

The sales brochure indicates that a body color rear appliqué is an available option on the GTS. So maybe a solution to this issue.

Malu59RT · Nov 8, 2012

Another feature about auto-dimming mirrors that **** is when they get old and start to leak, the fluid damages whatever trim it touches. In my Gallardo, I replaced it with a $20 VW mirror as soon as I got it. Too many people have had the fluid leak on their thousand dollar climate control, shifter surround, etc.

eucharistos · Nov 8, 2012

Malu59RT said:
Another feature about auto-dimming mirrors that **** is when they get old and start to leak, the fluid damages whatever trim it touches. In my Gallardo, I replaced it with a $20 VW mirror as soon as I got it. Too many people have had the fluid leak on their thousand dollar climate control, shifter surround, etc.

wow, that would stink

Jance GTS · Nov 8, 2012

Aftermarket mirrors might be a future purchase, or just replace it with the chevy mirror that you like. Mirrors are a dime a dozen. shouldn't be a huge issue I wouldn't think.

Jay M · Nov 8, 2012

I actually added an auto dimming mirror to my '68 Corvette. The only reason I got it was because I wanted the map lights that it had. After having it for about 9 years, I really liked the auto dimming feature. I miss it on the Viper.

The lever on the viper is usually either too dark or too bright, I think the auto dimming mirror had something in the middle.

I did however, have an older Grand Cherokee with auto dimming side mirrors. I never did get used to that.

~Jay

SADVIPER · Nov 9, 2012

Nambo said:
The sales brochure indicates that a body color rear appliqué is an available option on the GTS. So maybe a solution to this issue.

Didn't know that, thx.

ViperGeorge · Nov 9, 2012

My Cherokee is a 2012. Side mirrors dim too. They **** as well. At least on the Jeep I can turn them off by pressing the button on the mirror, no such feature on the Gen 5.

Vic · Nov 10, 2012

Paul Hawker said:
Put a tiny piece of tape over the sensor?

Paul, if the sensor is covered, it will sense "darkness" outside, and auto-dim the mirror. If I understand the OP right, this is the opposite of what he wants.

Maybe a nice little micro switch could be drilled into the mirror housing, maybe on top or behind where it is not visible, and this switch would disable the voltage to the auto-dimming mirror. When you wan t the map lights to work, you just hit the switch.

slysnake · Nov 10, 2012

Paul, if the sensor is covered, it will sense "darkness" outside, and auto-dim the mirror.

I thought the mirrors dimmed when they sense the headlights of another car?

ViperGeorge · Nov 11, 2012

Vic said:
Paul, if the sensor is covered, it will sense "darkness" outside, and auto-dim the mirror. If I understand the OP right, this is the opposite of what he wants.

Maybe a nice little micro switch could be drilled into the mirror housing, maybe on top or behind where it is not visible, and this switch would disable the voltage to the auto-dimming mirror. When you wan t the map lights to work, you just hit the switch.

Yea, that's right. I stupidly thought, "yea, tape will work". Actually it won't it will make the mirror think it is dark and hence it will go into auto dim mode. Back to the drawing board.

Vic · Nov 12, 2012

slysnake said:
I thought the mirrors dimmed when they sense the headlights of another car?

Well, then sunlight would also make them dim, then, because sunlight is bright, just like car headlights. And auto-dimming mirrors don't go dim in the daylight. Headlights wouldn't dim the mirror, unless they have dual sensors, and a comparative program for relative darkness, which is highly doubtful. Much more likely, it's a single sensor, with a simple function, that being, "when it's dark out, dim the mirror". (headlights notwithstanding) But I'm not aware of everybody's designs, so maybe you're right. I'm gonna go look at the wife's car, (it's dark out now) and try a few things- blocking the sensor, shining a light on it, and then try it all again in a bright garage.

If I was going to take the mirror housing apart to install a "push-on, push-off" micro switch, I would try to separate the power going to the maplights, from the power going to the auto-dimming mirror, and only interrupt the mirror power. That way, the map lights would work normally at all times, regardless if the auto-dim mirror was disabled with the micro-switch.

But auto-dimming doesn't bother me, so it's not likely a project for me.

kdaviper · Nov 12, 2012

Solution: go to a salvage yard and choose from hundreds of different mirror replacements for a reasonable cost, sell your auto-dimmer to somebody who wants one.

AJ usmc · Nov 13, 2012

id go with vic's response. find which wire does what. if they're on sepret or parallel circuits, you can just disable the mirror (cut the autodim wire or put a switch in the wire(two channel switch on/off)). if its a series circuit you'd have to jump or bypass the mirror (cut the wire and run another wire from where you cut to the other side or to ground. it depends). if it's a series and you want a switch it would be a 3 channel. on/off/other-on, or in this case dimmer+map/all off/map only.
**note only do if you know what your doing** i dont know if this helps or if you could use it... if its readable to anyone. sorry for mis-spellings. it makes sense to me but i dont know if it comes across to yall.

One thing that I really hate

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