2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Towing Mirrors....pwr/heated!

[BEiselstein]

I found the kool vue power/heated folding tow mirrios on ebay brand new i dont know how to attach it but here is the item number 260213239694

 

[BPINE]

I e mailed them to see what years they fit, the add says 02 but that can't be must be 2nd gen I hope. Did you see in the auction they said it won't ship untill 3-10.

I found the kool vue power/heated folding tow mirrios on ebay brand new i dont know how to attach it but here is the item number 260213239694

 

[C_Power]

I have had the worst luck with autopartswarehouse.com!! Do not order anything from these guys. I ordered a set mirrors on 2/21 after calling to verify that the items were in stock. I got my tracking information on the 26th. I thought everything was working out great until I noticed the shipping weight of 3. 6lbs. Then on the 27th got an email from CC saying I have been credited back $176, the price of one mirror. So the phone calls started.



1st call - "Sir, you will be receiving order on the 29th" thats it. Could not tell me if I going to receive one or two, but I forgot I was talking to someone from America. After I restated the question "Am I receiving uno or dos mirrors?" I found out I only getting one. Be frustrated ended the call.



2nd call - "Sir, Your right mirror did not pass pre-shipping inspection" And basically it was the last one left on the planet. But I was directed to call be next Tues. to find out they were going to receive anymore this year. Could not get answer of why they credited back my CC and not put it on back order then just ship it out when they received them. Now I have to call daily to check their stock and reorder. ????



3rd call - Now being a little upset with customer service. I did some searching for a number for Kool-Vue. Talked to a very nice lady (in English), she explained to me that the next shipment coming off the boat is expected in the middle of March.



Now that it is Friday, my ONE mirror arrives via UPS. The box says DG49EL thats a good sign but it awful small. I open the box and it the same freakin' mirror I have on my truck now. Wow these are best towing mirrors I've seen!!



4th call - Long story short and a few nasty words. I was informed Kool-Vue is no longer making the P/H folding mirror for our body style. They are giving me a RMA# after 48hrs, they could give one over the phone. And I have to pay the return shipping for their error. Most places I have dealt with the customer is taken care of #1. not this place. So please be warned and for the ones who have had good luck, I'm happy for you.



5th call - Called Kool-Vue and informed the same nice lady about my disappointment in one of their vendors. Explain that they informed me that Kool-Vue was no longer manufacturing the mirror. She assured they have not discontinued the mirror. And the boat was still coming.



I hope I did not rant too much, just a little#@$%!#@$%!#@$%!



Thanks for listening



Todd



Below are pics of the mirror I received...

 

[JLandry]

AutoPartsWarehouse

I have had the worst luck with autopartswarehouse.com!!

Todd,



Sorry to hear about your troubles. Hang in there!



I placed an order online with AutoPartsWarehouse for the tow mirrors on 2-15-08, and on 2-20-08 they were delivered. Thankfully they were the correct ones, although in two diffwerent sized boxes which had me scared at first. Installed the same day and they're absolutely wonderful. I guess I got lucky.



What I did was check the following page on the Kool-Vue's web site daily, and when the stock status of the DG49EL and DG49ER changed from "PLS CALL FOR AVAILABILITY" to "AVAILABLE," I started checking online retailer web sites (like AutoPartsWarehouse.com), and found they had been added back. Then I placed my order.



http://www.kool-vue.com/lookup_details_new.aspx



While you wait in the mean time, remember you'll need the door reinforecement plates from Dodge and new nuts for the studs on the new tow mirrors. I believe the studs might require M5 x 0. 80 metric nuts, but I forgot to note the size and they could be M6 x 1. 0.



I had to unscrew and turn around the mounting studs on the Kool-Vue tow mirrors in order to get enough thread to start the nuts on inside the truck. I was working alone and I couldn't seem to compress the outside gasket enough (with one hand holding the mirror) while trying to start the nuts and keep the reinforcement plates in the right sopt all at the same time. This might not be a problem if you have a helper pushngi on the tow mirror from the outside the truck (to force the stud futher through the reinforcement plate) while you start the nuts inside the truck. You'll see what I mean when you finally get a set.



FYI: The new tow mirrors are rock solid when folded down, but the mirror glass does wiggle a little while driving when flipped up to the up (out) position. Not sure if this same phenomenon happens on OEM tow mirrors, but the Kool-Vue's are still quite usable in the up position.



Also, the heat function works perfectly and so does the power adjustment feature. Oh... and the power adjustment stays coordinated when the mirrors are flipped up (out) just like the OEM tow mirrors do. Very nice.



Good luck,



John L.

 

[Ram4Sam]

C power, If you read the whole thread, I went through the same thing about a month ago. Your first and second calls, I heard exactly the same thing from them. They only shipped the left side because the last right side they had wouldn't pass inspection, blah, blah, blah! At least the one I got was the correct one, but who needs one only. This company really sucks.



FYI, autopartswarehouse also has websites called car-stuff.com and partstrain.com so buyers beware!



John, I have the stock non power tow mirrors, they are rock steady in both positions and no buzz/fuzzy image in them at all.



Sam

 

[MVieira]

So far I'm real happy with my Kool-view mirrors. They are working perfectly and I just towed my 5th wheel a couple of weeks ago to Dillon's beach and it was a pleasure using them. I got lucky getting mine allot earlier than the rest of you guys but my heart goes out to you, I hate looking forward to something and then only get frustrated with the run around. I wish one of our vendors like Geno's or Source Automotive(Rip Rook), would look into maybe picking up these mirrors as one of their stock items. At least we could get an honest & caring person behind the phone that would tell us if they are in stock, out of stock, or estimated ship date.
Regards, Mike.

 

[FLynes]

My 2005 Power Tow Mirrors didn't wiggle, per se, but they definitely weren't as rock-solid as my 2001 non-power tow mirrors.



My question is this... . I have the power wires in my door for the mirrors, but I don't have the heated button on my thermostatic controls... . I'm assuming I need that in order to work the heated portion of the mirrors... . where can I pick up a unit with the mirror heater button?

 

[DuaneOlson]

Has anyone tried the power vision mirrors that extend electrically as well as heated and adjusting?

 

[JLandry]

My question is this... . I have the power wires in my door for the mirrors, but I don't have the heated button on my thermostatic controls... . I'm assuming I need that in order to work the heated portion of the mirrors... . where can I pick up a unit with the mirror heater button?

Fred,



Assuming all the wires needed are indeed present in your existing wiring harness, then all you would need is one of the following Dash Control Units from Dodge:



5015736AA - With A/C - $139. 25

5015737AA - Without A/C - $111. 10



Prices listed are from MoparPartsAmerica (I've had good service ordering from them).



It would be a good idea to review the OEM wiring diagram in the service manual to see if you would also need a fuse and/or relay.



Regards,



John L.

 

[FLynes]

John,



Thanks for the info. I have the entire Mopar parts catalog for my 2001, so I'll take a look at the breakdown and see if I do need a fuse/relay.

 

[pgleavitt]

I did the Power/heated tow mirror conversion on my truck and had to install the toggle switch and heat switch located on the HVAC control panel. I was kinda surprised that all I had to do was plug in the switches and they worked. My truck did not previously have electric mirrors. You can usually find the HVAC heat switch on ebay for under $50.

 

[JLandry]

John,



Thanks for the info. I have the entire Mopar parts catalog for my 2001, so I'll take a look at the breakdown and see if I do need a fuse/relay.

Fred,



I just checked the wiring diagrams in my 2001 Dodge shop manual, and it looks like the mirror heater switch receives its power from the same circuit as the heater blower motor and a few other items. Obviously you would have the heater blower motor circuit (what truck doesn't come with a heater?). This circuit is protected by a 10A fuse. So it appears you're good to go there.



The wiring diagrams also show a relay for the mirror heater switch, but the good news is it's built into the dash control unit, so if you buy one of those, you shouldn't need anything else.



Good luck,



John L.

 

[C_Power]

While you wait in the mean time, remember you'll need the door reinforecement plates from Dodge

John,thanks for the encouragement! But I think I'm done messing around with this company. I was ready for this install. I had the reinforcement brackets on hand. I to wish somebody like Geno's would stock this product. At least they are a vendor that really cares about the products that they sell and the people they are selling too. I'm sure there are more out there who are the same way.



Thanks



Todd

 

[tazzen]

Hey I was talking to a friend that is a small vender, and he checked into the mirrors. Story is he would need atleast 25 sets of mirrors to place the order. The price would be about the same maybe a few bucks cheaper. I have checked into a few weeks ago. Just wasnt sure if we could get that many interested and i would get stuck handling it. You know taking orders, shipping . I dont know, you all tell me. Basically it would end up being my deal.



Ed

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

I would be interested in a set.

 

[Highfinance97]

Count me in!!!!!!!!!!!!


Michael

 

[Highfinance97]

P. S.

I still have those 3rd gen Power/heated towing ones for sale:-laf

Michael

 

[Hammer]

I'd be interested in a set for my 2nd gen... . Andy

 

[PVanderlugt]

Yep, me too, send me a PM if you are trying to get something together
Pete

 

[CJ Johansson]

I'm seriously considering them, was ready to pull the trigger and then all the stuff about being unavailable showed up.



I've still got some doubts about the quality, but it doesn't seem like there's anything else out there other than the modification route.