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2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Instructions for power/heated tow mirror swap, click here..

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2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Almost burned my truck up last night

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Ok, here it is... ... .....



You need to have the base's from an 2nd gen. tow mirror equipped truck. Then purchase a set of Power/heated tow mirrors from a 3rd gen truck, you can get them in a kit (which is both mirrors, you will still need to buy a switch, knob and nut)



Once you have all four mirrors, you must disassemble them. For that you'll need to tack them off the truck(3 nuts behind door panel). On the bottom of the base, you'll see a round plastic cover, remove this. Inside you'll see a nut/fastener, this must be removed. Take a small flat screwdriver and pry away the teeth that are in the groove, they are spring steel, so its not simple, but they will move.



Once all the teeth are outta the grove the retainer will "pop" out, there is a compressed spring under it. Then the base will seperate from the head. Do this to all 4 mirrors.



Start assembly on the passegerside mirror (it does not require any modifcations to assemble)

Fish the power wires through the "new" base, then the spring, for the spring to fit, it must be compressed, to do this instert the spring in a vise, compress fully, apply mechanics wire to both sides of spring(to hold it compressed when released), then remove spring from the vise.



Instert spring into the assembly, then the retainer (which you mangled, so you'll need to reposition the teeth at a 45* angle, via hammer and chisel) Install the retainer and tap (hammer/chisel) into the groove, then remove the wire from the spring by gently wackin' it with the hammer/chisel combo.



Now the wires, you'll havta cut the socket off the wires, (as its differant than the one in your truck, and wont fit through the base anywhooo) then fish the wires through the base (they will probobly need to be extended) and out, so there will be enough to wire to the truck's harness.



Install the nessesarry foam (between all the mirrors you'll have enough) and install on the truck. Passengerside complete, on to the drivers side.



What I said above applies to the drivers side as well, except for some minor modifications. The first being, on the base of the drives mirror, you'll see an alluminum "tit", roughly 1. 5"Lx1/8" thick, remove this with a pair of pliers(wiggle back-n-forth, till it braks off clean) The second mod, on the head of the new mirror, flip upside down so you see where the base meets it, the round section of alluminum has a additional 1/4"x1. 5" casting protuding from the side, this needs to be removed,via file/grinder. Then assemble per the passenger side instructions.



Wiring, I was lucky and had the factory harness behind the door panel, If you don't you on your own form here, sorry. If you do have the harness behind the door, you'll need to clip the conector from the wires on the harness, then you'll have 5 wires from the mirror assembly(the 2 black ones are for the heat) and the same from the harness.



This is where I oooopsed, and didn't write down the which wire goes to which wire, however, it's not that hard to figure out. Connect the black wires, black/black and black/black, then the 3 other wires are for the power(you'll need to conect the switch at this time) you have to connect all 3 wires from the mirror to all 3 wires from the harness, in order to get any responce from the switch. Then its trial and error, dont worry about blowin' fuses cause if they're connected wrong, the mirror will just opperate backwards. Simply connect till the mirror opperates correctly.



If you want the factory heat switch, you'll need to puchase the heat/AC assembly form DC, as you can't just buy THE switch(its $153 BTW) so I opted to go another route.



I bought a $2 lighted rocker switch, and installed it directly below the power mirror switch(in the door panel, on the horizontal surface) Thats it, you are done now. If I missed anything, or you have anymore questions, please ask. Good Luck!!





PS, this is one of the best mods yet, I did on my truck, I love 'em.





Later, Rob
 
Anyone know of a good source for the donor '01 trailer tow mirrors. I definately do not want to purchase two sets of mirrors new.
 
Rob, I have a bunch of ???? I have the power and heated option, how will that work on my truck?? Will they just plug in?? Also where did you get the mirrors and how much?? I think thoes mirrors are I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER hot. They look a he!! of a lot better than the after market stuff I've looked at. TIA



Jim
 
Jim,



No, you cant just plug them in, the connectors are differant, and of course, the wires are differant colors, between the 2nd and 3rd gen trucks, you didn't think DC would make this easy did you? LOL However, your heat switch will work. I got the mirrors from the dealer $374+ tax for the kit, you may fine them cheaper from another Dodge parts site, I was just to lazy to look myself. Remember you need the base's from a 2nd gen truck, with the tow mirror option, not the ones you have, those are different. Maybee a scrap yard for the bases, cause I'm sure you dont wanna buy 4 mirror's from DC.



Mundgyver,



Unfortunatly, I didn't take any pics of the conversion process, I wish I did tho. I do have the old mirrors still in pieces, when I get my next roll of film developed, I'll post them, at least you'll have an idea what to expect to see.



Later, Rob
 
Jim, the bases are the part of the mirror assembly, that attaches to the door, from the outside. You have the swivel part, and then the base, that doesn't move.



Later, Rob
 
I just happen to know this fella from Alberta who has done this very same conversion and wrote the wire codes down in his service manual. I'm sure if someone jars his memory tomorrow so he can remember to bring his manuals in he'll be good enough to post the appropriate colors. :p



Jason
 
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