Rear View Mirror Won't Light

[steddy]

I know, this sounds pretty simple. I saw a couple things on LED lighting for the interior and found a few LEDs that were the "barrel" type that would just plug and go. They fit a little loose, so I just spot soldered them so they won't rattle around. In order to do this, I disconnected the electrical lead and removed the mirror from the windshield. Ok, I get the LEDs put in, I check them with a used motorcycle battery I have to make sure that they light. HUGE light! All's going well. I put the connector back on the mirror. No lights. I take it back off again and put a meter to the electrical lead. Shows 12.7 - 13.2 volts (should be plenty). Now, I know the lights light up with 12v put to them directly at the pins where the connector goes and I know that there's 12v at the connector, but when I put the connector on the mirror, no lights. Anybody have any ideas out there before I send the mirror through the windshield? :mad:

[96firebird311]

Re: Rear View Mirror Won't Light

The only time I've seen issues like this is usually in higher-end cars. They can sense the load place on certain wires. If you tap onto them, it just shuts it down. Doesn't blow a fuse..... just doesn't send power to it.

I seriously doubt this is the issue with the f-body..... but there is no other reason if the info you have given us is correct.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Rear View Mirror Won't Light

Do you know that you're getting 12v at the right connector? I assume you know LEDs only work with the current moving one direction?

[steddy]

Re: Rear View Mirror Won't Light

Yeah, got home yesterday and hurriedly started getting going on the project. At the point where I was yesterday, I didn't realize that maybe I had put them in backwards (reverse polarity). When I walked away and wrote the thread, I was just at that point, without realizing that maybe through all the twists and turns and removing the mirror and soldering this and tightening that, I may have screwed the polarity up. Anyway, walked away, sat and watched tv, had a beer, then realized, I may have turned them both around, so off the mirror came again. I turned them, re-soldered and bam! There they are. My apologies for the mometary lapse of reason and great thanks to 96firebird311 and thegr8schlotzky for the help and replies. You guys :rock:

[96firebird311]

Re: Rear View Mirror Won't Light

Jeez. lol Glad we could help.

[Kleenax]

Re: Rear View Mirror Won't Light

hows the finished project look?