Mirror with compass

[Ranger850]

What all do I need? Just the mirror? Is the compass in the mirror or just displayed there. Some one mentioned they swI pediatric one from the JY and threw it in. Is that all there is to it? I know it's got to get power from somewhere and I would assume constant power for memory? Sorry for all the ???s

 

[adsm08]

I haven't done the compass mirror (Because I haven't found one) but I think that's all it takes, is the mirror and the compass unit. The compass plugs right into the mirror, and the mirror isn't networked to anything else. It gets a power, ground, and a 12V signal from the reverse light circuit. Takes me about 20 minutes to put and auto dimmer in.

 

[Curious Hound]

There are different models, of course. You want the one with the compass module that snaps onto the mirror base and has its wires going directly into the mirror. Then you just have three wires as mentioned above. You can even skip the reverse wire. All it does is turn off the auto dimming feature when you are backing up at night so you have a clearer view. The wiring diagrams are available with a quick Google search. I just printed one out a few hours ago. On many of the gentex models, I think pin 7 is power with key in run or accessory positions (like power to your radio). Pin 6 is ground and pin 5 is reverse. Pins 1&2 are for outside temperature if you have that sensor. I haven't done the temperature part yet. I usually get the mirror and the wiring harness all the way down the a-pillar from my junkyard for about $10-$15. Hardest part is getting the mirror off the windshield. I haven't figured out the perfect tool for that yet.

 

[adsm08]

Hardest part is getting the mirror off the windshield. I haven't figured out the perfect tool for that yet.

Ford Mirror Removal Tool | OTC Tools

www.otctools.com

Although I usually steal them from Explorers, you can pop a squeeze clip off and then the mirror lifts off the button, once the compass is unclipped.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What vintage Explorer?

Compass and temp would be neat.

 

[adsm08]

What vintage Explorer?

Compass and temp would be neat.

I've been getting them from 02-05 Explorers, which have the compass display in the dash, not the mirror, which is why I don't have one. Most of the Fords that had it on the mirror were F-150s of a later vintage.

Although at this point both my Ranger and my BII if I ran across a compass mirror all I would need to do to install it is put it on the windshield and plug it in. I've run all the wire already.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Later ‘150’s had both compass and temp in the mirror?

 

[Ranger850]

My 08 Sport Trac had a compass but no temp in the mirror. I figured the compass was in the ECU or somewhere and only display was on the mirror. Your saying the compass is attached to the mirror and can easily be transferred from a donor to another vehicle.

 

[Curious Hound]

Y

My 08 Sport Trac had a compass but no temp in the mirror. I figured the compass was in the ECU or somewhere and only display was on the mirror. Your saying the compass is attached to the mirror and can easily be transferred from a donor to another vehicle.

Yes. Make sure you get the one with the little display window and compass directly wired to the mirror. If the compass wires run to a remote display in a console or the dash, then the only functionality you really get is the auto dimming unless you have the remote display window for it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My F-150 has the compass and temp in the OHC. The original died and when I replaced it the thing it took while to figure out where north which I guess is normal... aka I think it is fairly stand alone.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have the calibration procedure printed out somewhere. There is a button on the compass module

 

[adsm08]

My F-150 has the compass and temp in the OHC. The original died and when I replaced it the thing it took while to figure out where north which I guess is normal... aka I think it is fairly stand alone.

I can't think of anything that had both off the top of my head, maybe a high optioned Mark LT. I can think of vehicles that had one or the other in a small LCD screen in the corner. They may have had a button to switch back and forth and I just never noticed.

My 08 Sport Trac had a compass but no temp in the mirror. I figured the compass was in the ECU or somewhere and only display was on the mirror. Your saying the compass is attached to the mirror and can easily be transferred from a donor to another vehicle.

The black dangly thing is actually the compass. It clips the bottom of the mirror and helps keep it stable.

 

[Curious Hound]

Here is the calibration procedure PDF.
See attachment

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I can't think of anything that had both off the top of my head, maybe a high optioned Mark LT. I can think of vehicles that had one or the other in a small LCD screen in the corner. They may have had a button to switch back and forth and I just never noticed.

I don't know, Eric mentioned the thermometer thing. I see new ones on Amazon with both, I did find a blurb that Buick's had both and one company pretty much makes all of them.

Here is the calibration procedure link.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjADegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw0aT0d8KvYoksbVV9ZCE8Ym

[/URL]

I can't get your link to work.

 

[adsm08]

I don't know, Eric mentioned the thermometer thing. I see new ones on Amazon with both, I did find a blurb that Buick's had both and one company pretty much makes all of them.

Most of the ones that I ran across looking for that picture of the compass module that had both on the display were GM mirrors. It was pretty obvious because they had a huge BigBrother Star button.

I can't get your link to work.

I couldn't get it to work either. The compass for the in-mirror unit should have a small button on it that you hold and the display will say "CAL" and then you drive slowly in a circle until the directions come back.

I don't think any of mine have the button on the module because they came from vehicles where the display was in the dash, and the calibration was accessed through the setup menu.