How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car?

4726 Views 80 Replies 45 Participants Last post by Jason_R, Dec 15, 2001

landrumdh

Discussion Starter · Dec 1, 2001

Ok, here's the deal. I'm starting this because there have been lots of arguing about how you turn on your heated mirrors. Please select your year and how you turn on the heated mirrors.
Sorry GLer's you guys don't have power mirrors do you don't have the mirror control on the drivers door with the 3 position switch. I gave you an option on the bottom some I'm not accused of discrimation against ya.
If you've never used them don't post until you try them. Because I'm trying to clear up the myths of how they turn on.

For some of them you'll see GLS/GLS I ment GLS/GLX but I can't figure out how to edit the poll. And there are a ton of typo's. This is why I can't type anything without spell check.

[Modified by landrumdh, 3:43 PM 12-1-2001]

[Modified by landrumdh, 6:30 PM 12-1-2001]

1 - 20 of 81 Posts

audiphile

· #2 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (landrumdh)

dont you put the switch in between right and left mirror...? (199.5)

[Modified by audiphile, 11:52 AM 12-1-2001]

prsbirds

· #3 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (landrumdh)

I just tried it, and the best I could tell was through the switch in the center AND the knob being set on the defrost side... Have to do more tests on a colder day, though, because it is 70 degrees here right now so...

landrumdh

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (audiphile)

quote:[HR][/HR]dont you put the switch in between right and left mirror...? (199.5)

[Modified by audiphile, 11:52 AM 12-1-2001][HR][/HR]

This is what we are arguing about. I put mine in the middle positions using the 3 position switch on door, but some people say they use the dash switch. So I'm trying to figure it out.

haunted reality

· #5 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (landrumdh)

I don't think mine works. I leave it in the defrost position on the knob on the door and put my defroster on. It doesn't appear to be doing anything. We had a cold snap here so it was frosted.

breaker

· #6 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (landrumdh)

Well, I voted "I'm out" 'cause I have a GL, but I've gotta' tell you, when I turn on my rear defrost, snow/ice melts off the side view mirrors. I know what the manual says, I don't have heated mirrors, but this was actually brought to my attention by my car pool buddy a couple of winters ago when I got the car. He noticed the mirrors clearing themselves. Since then, I've observed it every single time in icy conditions.
I have no explanantion. With VW, who knows, probably a loose wire feeding current straight to the frame (don't touch the mirror, you'll get a shock.") Or maybe telekinesis.

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landrumdh

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (breaker)

quote:[HR][/HR]Well, I voted "I'm out" 'cause I have a GL, but I've gotta' tell you, when I turn on my rear defrost, snow/ice melts off the side view mirrors. I know what the manual says, I don't have heated mirrors, but this was actually brought to my attention by my car pool buddy a couple of winters ago when I got the car. He noticed the mirrors clearing themselves. Since then, I've observed it every single time in icy conditions.
I have no explanantion. With VW, who knows, probably a loose wire feeding current straight to the frame (don't touch the mirror, you'll get a shock.") Or maybe telekinesis.

[HR][/HR]

I think you have heated mirrors. But I said leave you out because you have to use the defroster button.

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flanders

· #8 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (landrumdh)

if the 'mirror heaters' are activated by putting the switch in the middle position, then they're always on, aren't they? Isn't that middle position supposed to be the 'neutral' position? I had the understanding that it had to be in the middle position, AND the rear defroster had to be on.
I'll figure this out the next time it snows here...

phatplat

· #9 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (flanders)

no, the dash switch is for rear defroster, the mirror is turned on in the the middle position where the squiggely lines are, meaning heat

landrumdh

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (phatplat)

quote:[HR][/HR]no, the dash switch is for rear defroster, the mirror is turned on in the the middle position where the squiggely lines are, meaning heat[HR][/HR]

That's what I think. But others say I'm dead wrong. So this poll is to find the answer.
Let the majority rule!!

weissguy

· #11 · Dec 1, 2001

Spaghettibrains

2 things to consider:
1) GL models all used the heater switch. Makes sense, no? GLS models used the stupid door switch.
2) After 2000, ALL of them used the defrost switch, like previous models of VW. Like they should be.
That is also what these numbers above bear out. And that's it! Stick a fork in this one!

landrumdh

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Spaghettibrains (weissguy)

quote:[HR][/HR]2 things to consider:
1) GL models all used the heater switch. Makes sense, no? GLS models used the stupid door switch.
2) After 2000, ALL of them used the defrost switch, like previous models of VW. Like they should be.
That is also what these numbers above bear out. And that's it! Stick a fork in this one![HR][/HR]

I agree.

Gongshow

· #13 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Spaghettibrains (landrumdh)

Guys.. Turn the door switch knob to centre position. Wait a few minutes then put your hand on the mirror. It'll be warm.

Skidmark

· #14 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Spaghettibrains (Gongshow)

Gongshow is correct. I got in the car on a cold night - the fog on the mirrors instantly cleared up when I put the knob (3 position switch) to the middle setting.

landrumdh

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Spaghettibrains (Fly-GTI)

quote:[HR][/HR]Gongshow is correct. I got in the car on a cold night - the fog on the mirrors instantly cleared up when I put the knob (3 position switch) to the middle setting.[HR][/HR]

Yes I agree. But alot of people don't. Hence the reason I started this thread.

weissguy

· #16 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Spaghettibrains (Gongshow)

Internet is cool. You never have to actually do anything anymore, ever. You can just ask. Even if it's a zero-dollar no-risk-to-your-sleep idea, just ask.

quote:[HR][/HR]Guys.. Turn the door switch knob to centre position. Wait a few minutes then put your hand on the mirror. It'll be warm.[HR][/HR]

jfost

· #17 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Spaghettibrains (weissguy)

Quote:
"if the 'mirror heaters' are activated by putting the switch in the middle position, then they're always on, aren't they?"
This is what the delivery tech said when I was getting the car... That if you leave it in the middle position, the heated mirrors kick on for 15min. and shut off automatically. It hasn't been cold enough to check this out yet!!!

4DR Turbo

· #18 · Dec 2, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (haunted reality)

You have to have the 3 pos switch on the door in the middle, has a pic of defrost symbol, now whenever you activate the rear def from dash the side mirrors are now activated. That's for me 01 Golf GLS 1.8T

reeston

· #19 · Dec 2, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (Silver GLS 1.8T)

That's the way I understood it. Most cars I've been in, the mirrors only heat when the def button is pressed with the mirror adjuster in the middle or nuetral position.

landrumdh

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 2, 2001

Re: How do you turn on your heated mirrors and what year is your car? (reeston)

but see mine is different.
As soon as I put my switch in the center the mirrors heat up I don't need to use the rear defroster and I often don't.

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