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Retrofitting a '01 Interior Electrochromic Mirror to 1997-2000 C5

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Purpose

This page shows you how to install a '01 electrochromic mirror into your '00 or earlier C5.

Tools Required

The following tools were used to make the modification.

• Torx screwdriver
• Soldering Iron
• Wire cutters / strippers

Materials Required

• Small length of heat shrink tubing (or black vinyl insulating tape)
• Solder

Let's Get Started

Note: It is highly reccommended that you disconnect the vehicle battery before undertaking this or any other electrical job on your car. If you elect not to do so you must use extreme caution - do not let any bare wires come into contact with each other.

1. Remove the existing Mirror from its Windshield mount:
1.1. Loosen the Torx screw in the center of the mounting block, then slide the mirror assembly up and off the mounting block that is permanently affixed to the windshield.

1.2. Remove the old plug from the old mirror. You need a small screwdriver to release the plug's locking tab whilst gently pulling on the plug, to get it out.

Note that the old plug WAS positioned as follows:
---------------
| Blk | Org1 |
---------------(Looking at the plug as if you were looking at it "through the mirror"
| Brn | Org2|- before removal.)
---------------

1.3. Now, put the old mirror aside, you won't need it again.

2. Prepare the new plug:
2.1. Remove all (all 7) of the wires from the NEW plug. Use a small screwdriver or similar, to gently depress the spring retainer on each connector, whilst gently pulling it directly back out of the connector block. Ensure you bend the retaining spring on each connector back up, after removal, to ensure it will snap snugly into place later, when you will be inserting the new wires into the new plug.

2.2. Take four (4) of the new wires you just removed from the new plug and cut the wire to one inch long including the metal connector. Strip the insulation back 1/4" and tin with solder. You won't need the other three wires, keep these for spares!

3. Exchange the old plug for the new plug:
3.1. Cut the wire "Org1" (this is the orange wire that was on the top row of the old plug - before you removed it) as close as you can to the back of the old connector. Strip the insulation back 1/4" and tin with solder.

3.2. Slide 1/2" heat shrink tube over the orange wire, then solder one of the new wires to it. Slide the heat shrink tube over the solder join and heat-shrink it to fix the insulation in place. Insert the new connector into the new plug in position 7 according to the diagram below:

|-------------|
---------------------------------------------------
| Org1 | Org2 | x | x | x | Blk | Brn |
---------------------------------------------------
7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Again, view the connector as if you were looking right through the mirror, when in its final position. The orange wire will be inserted in position 7 from behind, pushing it towards you if you have it oriented correctly as in the above diagram.

(After installation, pin 7 will be the endmost pin on the DRIVER side; pin 1 will be the endmost pin on the PASSENGER side. All clear? I hope!!)

3.3. Cut the wire "Org2" (this is the orange wire that was on the bottom row of the old plug - before you removed it) as close as you can to the back of the old connector. Strip the insulation back 1/4" and tin with solder.

3.4. Slide 1/2" heat shrink tube over the orange wire, then solder one of the new wires to it. Slide the heat shrink tube over the solder join and heat-shrink it to fix the insulation in place. Insert the new connector into the new plug in position 6 according to the diagram above.

3.5. Cut the wire "Brn" (this is the brown wire that was on the bottom row of the old plug - before you removed it) as close as you can to the back of the old connector. Strip the insulation back 1/4" and tin with solder.

3.6. Slide 1/2" heat shrink tube over the brown wire, then solder one of the new wires to it. Slide the heat shrink tube over the solder join and heat-shrink it to fix the insulation in place. Insert the new connector into the new plug in position 1 according to the diagram above.

3.7. Cut the wire "Blk" (this is the black wire that was on the bottom row of the old plug - before you removed it) as close as you can to the back of the old connector. Strip the insulation back 1/4" and tin with solder.

3.8. Slide 1/2" heat shrink tube over the black wire, then solder one of the new wires to it. Slide the heat shrink tube over the solder join and heat-shrink it to fix the insulation in place. Insert the new connector into the new plug in position 2 according to the diagram above.

Note: in all the above steps, if you do not have heat shrink tubing available, use insulating tape to insulate your solder connections, before you insert the new wire into the new plug.

4. Mount the NEW mirror!
4.1. Insert the new plug into the new mirror; ensure the wiring harness is emerging neatly from the trim through the opening provided.

4.2. Mount the new mirror to the metal block on the windshield. Note the new mirror does not have a retaining screw, as did the old one. Push the new mirror firmly over and on to the mounting block.

5. Test the new system:
5.1. Ensure that the courtesy lights on the new mirror come on, when you open either door - and that they also come on when you switch them on at the mirror switches.

5.2. Ensure the Orange "Flood" light comes on when you turn on the vehicle lights (turning the light switch to parking lights is enough)

5.3. With the vehicle lights still on, ensure that the green "Active" lamp illuminates on the new mirror.

5.4. Should these tests not work quite right (for example, if the mirror lights will only come on at the mirror switches when the vehicle lights are on; or if the orange "flood" light only comes on when you open a door), remove the mirror and swap the positions of the two orange wires - this is the most likely mistake you might have made.

6. Go for a night drive - and enjoy your new mirror!

You are DONE!