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Adding heated mirrors

8511 Views 19 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  JayShawver
I am wondering what it would take to add in heated mirrors. The dodos that ordered this van didn't get heated mirrors and our drivers here need them. Too often they are driving and a change in altitude or a sudden change in temperature will cause the mirrors to fog or freeze. Not a good thing.
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If yours are short arm I'll gladly sell you mine for a fair price
I think the wiring is the issue....I checked after I ordered mine...they wanted 800 each, and then they said they didn't know if they would wire in correctly.


Matt
I'm on a mission to add heat to my mirrors of my Transit 350hd. It was ordered as a low roof cab and chassis than a cargo box was added. So far I've found heated glass can be added very cheaply to the regular mirrors, unfortunately the 2 needed wires are missing from the mirror head harness to the plug in the door. A seperate connector with the two wires seems simpler than replacing the harness. If you replace the whole head, you'll not have this problem. I have the OEM switch to put in the dash in place of a blank just to the right of the instrument panel. I've yet to see if the harness plug is in place behind the panel. There are a few fuses and relays in the aux junction box who's presence need to be confirmed. I'm working with a full OEM wiring diagram book and will list what I find as I go. It seems the heated mirrors work of the rear window defroster( if equipped) which shares the power from the optional AC inverter circuit. One other issue is the CAN bus system that monitors everything. I will let you all know if that needs a reprogramming, it might. My transit had some different wiring options because it was produced in May of 2015, so newer vehicles will most likely have more extra wiring factory installed .
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I'm on a mission to add heat to my mirrors of my Transit 350hd. It was ordered as a low roof cab and chassis than a cargo box was added. So far I've found heated glass can be added very cheaply to the regular mirrors, unfortunately the 2 needed wires are missing from the mirror head harness to the plug in the door. A seperate connector with the two wires seems simpler than replacing the harness. If you replace the whole head, you'll not have this problem. I have the OEM switch to put in the dash in place of a blank just to the right of the instrument panel. I've yet to see if the harness plug is in place behind the panel. There are a few fuses and relays in the aux junction box who's presence need to be confirmed. I'm working with a full OEM wiring diagram book and will list what I find as I go. It seems the heated mirrors work of the rear window defroster( if equipped) which shares the power from the optional AC inverter circuit. One other issue is the CAN bus system that monitors everything. I will let you all know if that needs a reprogramming, it might. My transit had some different wiring options because it was produced in May of 2015, so newer vehicles will most likely have more extra wiring factory installed .
https://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/m hey digger337, did you ever have any luck getting the heated mirrors? I am looking to purchase a 2020 250 Mid Roof Cargo for my work van and it does not have heat or turn signals. I am looking to add both. I do t have the van yet, so am looking at what I need to do these upgrades myself, since Ford wants ridiculous money to do this now.
I got a pair similar to this from Amazon and ran the positive wire to the dash, but haven't taken the time to connect them to a switch yet:
141754
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I got a pair similar to this from Amazon and ran the positive wire to the dash, but haven't taken the time to connect them to a switch yet:
View attachment 141754
Thanks asdrew. I believe we chatted on FB about the turn signals, which led me to join here. Thanks! I saw these in my search for the turn signal parts and made me want them as well. I don’t have my van yet, but was wondering if the 2020 harness may have the wires I need already in the door. I am not sure what activates them though. I saw a few posts say the rear defrost turns them on. I don’t know if this van will have the switch, since it does not have any glass in the back. Do you have a good link or source to look up for a wiring diagram? Thanks so much.
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Yes, that was me. If I get ambitious, I will pull a mirror off my 2018 which has the factory heat and see what triggers power to it.
Lol, that prompted me to get ambitious so I went outside and pulled off the mirror and connected it to a voltmeter.
On a 2018 XLT wagon with rear defrost, that button turns on the mirror heat but the AC defrost setting does not.
Not sure how it turns on in a van without rear defrost though.

Wifey when I came back in the house: Just what are you doing to my van NOW? 🤓
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Hahaha. Thank you for doing that. I wish I could find a parts guide. The salesman and a parts guy, on the phone, do not seem motivated to help. After seeing the aftermarket heated mirror, I would assume there is an actual plug that would attach as part of a harness extension that would plug into the door. I would just buy the mirror harnesses for each door, with the additional blinker and heated mirror wires included, if I could find the correct part number. That should include the OEM socket for the blinkers also, I would assume.
Not sure how it turns on in a van without rear defrost though.
Following this with interest, I'd love to add heat to the heatless mirrors I have. I do not have rear defrost though, do you think it would be feasible to run power to the mirrors using a totally aftermarket switch, say one of Hein's made to fit in the upper dash area around the gauges, and simply turn on and off manually? What sort or current draw do these mirrors have?
Following this with interest, I'd love to add heat to the heatless mirrors I have. I do not have rear defrost though, do you think it would be feasible to run power to the mirrors using a totally aftermarket switch, say one of Hein's made to fit in the upper dash area around the gauges, and simply turn on and off manually? What sort or current draw do these mirrors have?
It is very feasible to run to an aftermarket switch. I would think the wires are in the factory harness in the door. I don’t have a van to verify that, but can’t imagine it is cost efficient to have multiple wiring harnesses across so many vehicles. Worse case if I can’t find the wires in the doors, I will run to an upfitter switch that the van I am getting has installed. Check out Amazon for the mirrors. The ones I saw was like $27.99 for the RH and less for the LH (for some odd reason). If I get the van and get into it, I will post back what I find.
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The problem with using the factory plug and harness is that if your van has no way to power the heat, they won't work. So my wires will be hooked up to one of Hein's switches which have been in place for a while, yet still aren't hooked up. Here in Florida we only need mirror heat for morning condensation, so it's not a priority. :cool:
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Here in Florida we only need mirror heat for morning condensation, so it's not a priority.
Same up north here in Mississippi. Plenty of other things to work on. Keep us posted if you do finish it up sometime.
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Same up north here in Mississippi. Plenty of other things to work on. Keep us posted if you do finish it up sometime.
I am in MS myself near Jackson. I was interested in doing both at the same time, because while I am in there, why not do it now?! Lol. We do have more icy mornings than FL, where I am from originally.
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https://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/m hey digger337, did you ever have any luck getting the heated mirrors? I am looking to purchase a 2020 250 Mid Roof Cargo for my work van and it does not have heat or turn signals. I am looking to add both. I do t have the van yet, so am looking at what I need to do these upgrades myself, since Ford wants ridiculous money to do this now.
I replaced the glass with heated glass replacement panels and too apart the arm covering to install the wires that were needed to connect to the factory harness. I didn't use the ford repinning in the mirror to door harness, I cut the wires and went around the plug with insulated bayonet connectors. Polarity is of no concern of the mirror heater, so keeping track of which is which is not needed. I made sure all needed fuses were in there respective slots and all relays were preasent.
The next step is to tear apart the dash and add the oem heated mirror switch but that's as far as I got ,other priorities have me occupied.
I'm hoping I don't need to program and reflash the bcm but I'm set up to do it with Ford etis and a 3 yr access license. Will post when I finish.
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I replaced the glass with heated glass replacement panels and too apart the arm covering to install the wires that were needed to connect to the factory harness. I didn't use the ford repinning in the mirror to door harness, I cut the wires and went around the plug with insulated bayonet connectors. Polarity is of no concern of the mirror heater, so keeping track of which is which is not needed. I made sure all needed fuses were in there respective slots and all relays were preasent.
The next step is to tear apart the dash and add the oem heated mirror switch but that's as far as I got ,other priorities have me occupied.
I'm hoping I don't need to program and reflash the bcm but I'm set up to do it with Ford etis and a 3 yr access license. Will post when I finish.
Is the OEM switch a rear defrost switch? Do you happen to know the part number you purchased. My van is supposed to be delivered next Wed, so I want to start ordering parts ASAP. Thanks for your insight.
Is the OEM switch a rear defrost switch? Do you happen to know the part number you purchased. My van is supposed to be delivered next Wed, so I want to start ordering parts ASAP. Thanks for your insight.
Also how did you attach your wires to the mirror glass. I would imagine Ford has a plug that attaches to it, but looks like maybe flag terminals would work. I just am not sure if water intrusion from around the mirror would be an issue.
Also how did you attach your wires to the mirror glass. I would imagine Ford has a plug that attaches to it, but looks like maybe flag terminals would work. I just am not sure if water intrusion from around the mirror would be an issue.
I don't recall the exact connectors I used, but something like this will work to push onto the pins. As long as you don't have just bare wires on there you should be fine.
141874
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I don't recall the exact connectors I used, but something like this will work to push onto the pins. As long as you don't have just bare wires on there you should be fine.
View attachment 141874
Thanks asdrew! I will be getting my van in a few days and then I will be really investigating everything! Thanks!
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