Side view mirrors on a 2001 SE

[km2002]

A couple questions regarding side view mirrors on a 2001 SE:

1. It would seem simple enough to replace non-folding mirrors with folding ones; however, that's by no means a given. However, can you replace non-heated mirrors with heated ones (that is, is the wiring already in place)?

2. Do you really have to remove the whole door panel to remove the mirror? I see one reference from seven months ago to the wiring (even the motor control wiring) being behind the panel. If that's so, how difficult is it to get that panel off -- and more to the point, back on securely so it doesn't rattle?

Thank you very much,

KM

[TaurusKing]

Why do you need folding mirrors??? If the wiring is present, it's just a matter of snapping off the mirror glass and replacing it with the heated pieces, they're not cheap... I think the door panel does have to come off to access the mirror mounts, I'll stand corrected if otherwise,,, I've removed countless door panels on cars for various reasons, as long as you take care with the pushpins, rattles will not be an issue, it'll go back together like new... there is a tool you can buy to get under the pins to pry them out..

[TaurusKing]

I'm not sure if the wiring is present and hooked up if heated mirrors weren't ordered,,, it could be there though... I'm sure the wire harnesses contain most of the circuit wires even if they're not used, again I'll stand corrected if need be....

[km2002]

TaurusKing:

If the drive-thru pharmacy hadn't put a pole so far out into the driveway, or if the car had folding mirrors in the first place, I wouldn't now have to replace a non-folding mirror that is currently held on with about three miles of duct tape. Since I had to replace a mirror anyway, I was considering replacing the non-folding mirrors with folding ones (that would collapse if another drive-thru put a pole too far out into the driveway) and, to combat the fogging with which I frequently have to content, non-heated mirrors with heated ones. That last, however, is only worth the effort and expense if the wiring already exists. Followed a link I found here to downloadable Ford manuals, and even they don't show the wiring to the heated mirrors (which, IIRC, comes off the rear defroster circuit, whose diagram shows nothing about heated mirrors).

[Millermagic]

There are no folding mirrors for any Gen III / IV that I know of.

2001 Taurus SEL and SES had the option of heated mirror - SEL and SES are wired for heated mirror, however, LX and SE are not.

If the wiring is there (might be), all you would have to do is take heated mirrors from a Gen III or Gen IV taurus to put in your door.

And yes, you have to remove the door panel to get to the door.

[km2002]

Millermagic:

What are Gen III/IV? Never heard of them. I see numerous listings for folding mirrors, heated mirrors, and heated folding mirrors that say they fit all 2001 Taurus models; I presume there's something they're not telling me? And I have an SE model; it would appear from your statement that the vehicle would lack the heated mirror wiring.

[Millermagic]

Gen III is 96 - 99 or the Oval Taurus. Gen IV is like mine, 00-07. They both used the same doors and they pretty much are the same exact car.

I'm not sure about the folding mirrors, just I've never seen them before.

[km2002]

Ah, the oval Taurus. The one that everyone said "looked like a Tylenol."

[km2002]

Back again. Yes, had to remove the door panel to get to the mirror mounts (that was a trip). Has anyone out there actually worked on both heated and non-heated mirrors on these cars? From pictures I've seen on line, it appears that the wiring connector on the heated mirror may differ from that on the non-heated one, but I can't be sure. But it also appears that the only way I'm going to get a folding mirror is to pay for a heated one, and if I can't plug it into the existing wiring, I won't even have the power mirror, much less the heated one. The price difference is about $14 per (if I'm going to put a heated mirror on one side of the car, I may as well put one on the other side).

Thanks,

KM

[Willyum]

Stop being a lazy loafer and quit using drive thrus.