GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

The memory outside the rear view mirror comprises the following system components:

    • Drivers side mirror (which may have a heat option)
    • Passenger side mirror (which may have a heat option)
    • Power door lock switch
    • Driver door module (DDM)
    • Passenger door module (PDM)
    • Simple bus interface (SBI)
    • Class 2 bus

Outside Power Mirrors

Each mirror is controlled by a pair of permanent magnet motors:

    • Vertical motor
    • Horizontal motor

The vertical motor moves the mirror up and down, and the horizontal motor moves it left and right. The direction the motors turn depends on the supply voltage polarity sent to the motors. Each motor has an associated position sensor when the memory option is installed. These sensors are potentiometers which are linked to each motor. As the motor rotates, the potentiometer resistance is varied.

LH Front Power Window switch

The LH front power window switch contains the mirror control switches:

    • Up
    • Down
    • Left
    • Right
    • Mirror select

The mirror selection (left or right) and the movement (up-down or left-right) is controlled by operating the mirror controls on the power door lock switch. The motors are directly controlled by the door modules. The driver's door module (DDM) controls the driver's side outside power mirror and the passenger door module (PDM) controls the passenger's side outside power mirror. The LH front power window switch furnishes mirror switch positions to the driver door module (DDM). The DDM decodes the switch information and directly controls the drivers mirror motors to move that mirror. If the DDM receives switch information to reposition the passenger's mirror, the DDM sends the information to the passenger's door module (PDM). The PDM then drives the motors to reposition the mirror. Mirror X and Y position information is provided from the scan tool.

Door Modules

Each front door contains a door module. Both of the door modules contain logic to control the mirror motors and memory to retain the mirror position information. DDM also contains circuitry to communicate over the class 2 bus. The mirror positions are determined by the voltage levels sent to the respective door module by the position sensors. The door modules monitor the voltage drop across these sensors and store those values in memory, whenever a memory switch is held to the set position. The values are called from memory and are used to reposition the mirrors when a memory recall is selected.

Simple Bus Interface (SBI)

There are two simple bus interface (SBI) segments. One segment is used to transmit messages containing switch information between the LH front power window switch and the DDM. A second SBI segment is used for serial communications between the DDM, the PDM and the rear door module (RDM). The PDM does not communicate directly with the LH front power window switch.

Class 2 Bus

The class 2 bus is a vehicle-wide communications link. This class 2 link is mandated by the federal government for use on on-board-power mirror diagnostics (OBD) of the powertrain control module (PCM). The use of this bus has been expanded to include most of the modules on this vehicle. The mirror system utilizes the class 2 bus for messages between the remote function actuator (RFA) and the DDM. A class 2 bus message is also used to relay the transmission gear position for memory recall use. The RFA is the receiving device for keyless entry. The RFA keyless entry transmitters broadcast codes to identify which keyless entry transmitter, or driver, has unlocked the vehicle. The driver identity message is sent over the class 2 bus to the DDM, and other modules, to reposition all personalized vehicle features for that driver.

Memory Operation

Operation of the memory mirrors is similar to that of the memory seats. There are two modes of control:

    • Local switch
    • Class 2 bus message

Memory recall can be done either through a keyless entry transmitter or by momentarily depressing one of the driver's door memory switches:

    • MEMORY 1
    • MEMORY 2
    • EXIT (no effect on mirrors)

Local Memory Control

The door modules will automatically drive the mirrors to the position stored in memory whenever a mirror memory switch is pressed momentarily (recall).

Remote Memory Control

The door module swill automatically drive the mirrors to the position stored in memory whenever a keyless entry transmitter is operated to unlock the vehicle. The keyless entry transmitters have individual transmission codes to identify the driver.

Setting Memory

The mirror motor position sensors are used to "remember" the mirror positions. These sensors are potentiometers contained in the mirror's drive unit. As the mirror motors turn, the potentiometer resistance is varied. The mirror position is determined by the sensor voltage level for the existing mirror position seen by the associated door module. If one of the memory buttons is pushed and held for at least three seconds, the sensor voltage level is stored to "remember" the mirror positions for that switch (DRIVER 1/2).

Heated Mirrors

The mirror heat function is linked to the rear window defogger. When the rear defogger is active, a class 2 bus message is sent from the HVAC control module (HCM) to the driver door module (DDM). the DDM activates the driver's side outside rear view mirror heating element to clear the mirror of mist or frost. The DDM sends a simple bus interface (SBI) message to the passenger door module (PDM) to heat the passenger side outside rear view mirror. The mirror heating element will not de-ice a mirror except at temperatures just below freezing. The mirror heat status is provided from the scan tool.

Parallel Park Assist Mirror

If the vehicle is equipped with memory mirrors, it is equipped with the park aid mirror system. This is to assist in parallel parking situations.

In this system the powertrain control module (PCM) sends a Class 2 message to the DDM indicating the Reverse position of the transmission selector. The DDM sends a SBI message to the PDM which powers the vertical mirror motor to tilt the passenger mirror down. When the PCM detects the transmission is no longer in Reverse, it sends the message to the DDM. The DDM sends a message to the PDM and the PDM powers the circuit to return the mirror to thr original position.