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.



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