what's this "sensor"?

[mtm81]

picked up my 996 02 cabby on Sat and have noticed that auto dimming rear view mirror looks like it could be missing it's outer cowling, and therefore there is a sensor of sorts hanging down.
the part itself looks like a small square circuit board with an orange LED on it and some kind of very small nozzle of sorts..
any ideas what it is?

[MrTickle]

I believe it is exactly what you said, the auto dimming sensor. Pick up dazzle from the rear of the car and dims mirror accordingly.

[MadMark911]

Has it had a new windscreen?

[mtm81]

not to my knowledge why?

[MadMark911]

I've heard that sometimes these can get damaged or dislogdged when the windscreen is changed ....

[mtm81]

many thanks for the replies - now comes the part where I try to fix it without breaking it further... not easy with my sausage fingers..

[NBTBRV8]

That would be the rain sensor. The auto dim is in the mirror itself.