GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Power Mirror System Components

The power mirror system consists of the following components:

    • Outside Rearview Mirror Switch in the driver door.
    • Outside Rearview Mirror in each door.
    • PWR ACCY Fuse 7 15A.

Power Mirror System Controls

Each outside rearview mirror can be controlled by the outside rearview mirror switch. The outside rearview mirror switch can control both outside rearview mirrors.

Chevrolet

Each outside rearview mirror has 2 reversible motors. One motor adjusts the mirror up and down. The other motor adjusts the mirror left and right. The motors are controlled by the outside rearview mirror switch. The outside rearview mirror switch consists of 2 different switches:

    • The mirror select switch is used to select the mirror to be adjusted; left or right.
    • The mirror position switch controls the movement of the selected mirror. Each position activates a triplet of contacts that are open until pressed.

The power mirror system has battery positive voltage applied by the PWR ACCY Fuse 7 through the battery positive voltage circuit to the outside rearview mirror switch. When the mirror position switch is moved to the up position, voltage is applied through the Left Mirror Motor Up and the Right Mirror Motor Up Control circuits to the up/down motor of the left and right mirrors, respectively. Simultaneously, the circuit ground is applied to the mirror select switch providing the ground path for the selected mirror through the Left Mirror Motor Left/Down Control circuit, or the Right Mirror Motor Left/Down Control circuit, as determined by the mirror select switch position. When the mirror position switch is moved to the down position, the polarity is reversed, and the selected mirror motor will travel in the opposite direction. Left/Right movement works by the same process, applying power and ground simultaneously to the motor selected, and reversing the polarity to change direction, with the mirror select switch completing the circuit for only 1 mirror at a time.

Each mirror motor contains an internal electronic circuit breaker. If a mirror position switch is held in the up/down position or the left/right position after the mirror movement stops, the circuit breaker opens to protect the motor. The circuit breaker also opens to stop the motor if the mirror becomes obstructed during operation. The circuit breaker resets when the voltage to the motor is interrupted.

Pontiac

Each outside rearview mirror has 2 reversible motors. One motor adjusts the mirror up and down. The other motor adjusts the mirror left and right. The motors are controlled by the outside rearview mirror switch. The outside rearview mirror switch consists of 2 different switches:

    • The mirror select switch is used to select the mirror to be adjusted; left, none, or right.
    • The mirror position switch controls the movement of the selected mirror. Each position activates an independent contact that is grounded until pressed.

The power mirror system has battery positive voltage applied by the PWR ACCY Fuse 7 through the battery positive voltage circuit to the outside rearview mirror switch. When the up position on the mirror position switch is selected, voltage is applied through the Up switch to the Mirror Motor Up Control circuits to the up/down motor of the left and right mirrors. The circuit ground is applied to the mirror select switch through the Down switch providing the ground path for the selected mirror to the Mirror Motor Down Control circuit, as determined by the mirror select switch position. When the down position on the mirror position switch is selected, voltage is applied to the mirror select switch through the Down switch providing the voltage path for the selected mirror to the Mirror Motor Down Control circuit, as determined by the mirror select switch position. The circuit ground is applied through the Up switch to the Mirror Motor Up Control circuits to the up/down motor of the left and right mirrors. Left and right movement works by the same process, reversing the polarity to change direction, with the mirror select switch completing the circuit for only 1 mirror at a time. When the outside rearview mirror switch is idle, all mirror motor control circuits are grounded unless no mirror is selected.

Each mirror motor contains an internal electronic circuit breaker. If a mirror position switch is held in the up/down position or the left/right position after the mirror movement stops, the circuit breaker opens to protect the motor. The circuit breaker will also open to stop the motor if the mirror becomes obstructed during operation. The circuit breaker will reset when the voltage to the motor is interrupted.