Ok, I did the install and here is the procedure I used for
CIPA 36100 Wedge Base Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror : Amazon.com : Automotive
1) Remove the existing mirror. It didn't have a spring in it, just stick a flathead screw driver in there and wiggle the mirror side to side as you push up parallel to the windshield. After a lot of wiggling it eventually started sliding up and off.
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2) Attach new mirror. This was ridiculously simple... Slide on from the top, tighten with T20 Torx bit.
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3) Plug in the connector to the back of the mirror and then run up to the headliner.
4) Take the wires and just use a finger to push them back up under the headliner where it meets the windshield. It went in there pretty easily and stayed in place. Once over to the A pillar, I just pushed it under the lip and then ran the wires behind the rubber door seal rather than trying to screw with the plastic A pillar cover. This worked really well.
5) Remove the driver side triangular shaped panel. It took an almost scary amount of force to pry it off (crazy snap connectors). Start at the point that is out by the headlight switch and get your fingernails (hope you didn't trim them yesterday) up under the lip and pull. The whole thing rotates out toward the door.
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6) Now this is where I might have screwed up. I always thought that red wires were switched ignition and yellow wires were always on. So I found a red wire going to the headlight control switch. I disconnected the switch which requires an awkward wrist position, but there is a spring clip on the far side that you pinch and remove. I also wiggled out the wiring clamp that holds it back a few inches to organize the wires to get enough slack to pull the connector out the side.
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7) Throw out the stupid knife edge clampy connector they give you. I tried getting it to make a reliable connection for about an hour before I gave up, stripped the wire, wrapped the power connector wire around the now bare red wire, and wire glued it all together. (
wire glue is much more convenient than soldering).
8) Take the ground wire, and remove one of the 8mm bolts in that side panel, put the bolt through the hole on the ground, and tighten it back up.
9) This is where you can see that I may have screwed up. The green light on my mirror is on, and thus it is powered without the car being on. The instructions say it will drain the battery, but there is a power switch on the mirror, so I may just have to turn the mirror power on manually at night. Small sacrifice to be made. If someone else wants to try one of the other wires attaching to the OBD port, be my guest... I wasn't that brave. The headlight switch and the OBD were the only wires reasonably accessible back there.
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10) Now that you've tested your connection, electrical tape up the tapped wire, making sure to reinforce the connection as well as you can and cover up anything exposed.
11) Plug the headlight switch back in ensuring that you don't bend your new connection too much. If you used solder, you are probably fine... If you used wire glue like me, make sure you wait for it to dry. If you used the included tap connector, you will repeatedly get it to work, only to have it lose contact once the connector snaps in to place. Trust me, don't use that POS.
12) Test out the headlight switch making sure everything still works.
13) Zip tie up the remaining slack (the zip ties are even included!)
14) Reattach the triangular panel. It helps if you pull some of the rubber door seal away and rotate it back toward the door and then turn it into place. Once you have the clips lined up, push it into the dashboard until it snaps back in.
15) Clean the windshield and the new mirror because you likely got fingerprints all over everything.
That's about it. Final results look good, the mirror works great. Only thing is having the turn the power on and off, but that is still less work than flipping the button to dim the mirror. And it's got a bright green LED on the mirror to remind you if you left it on. I also can't imagine it draws that much power so unless you leave your car sitting for a week, it probably won't drain your battery. But of course you have an emergency kit in the trunk with jumper cables right?
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