Electric mirror conundrum

[teamlines]

I wonder if anyone can help with this and prevent me from tearing all my remaining hair out!....

I've been trying to fix the dodgy electric mirrors on my S3. They weren't working at all for some time so i decided to replace the rocker switch, the joystick and relay, as well as all the connectors. I've tested the mirrors themselves using a spare battery and the motors work fine and the wiring from the centre console is ok. The driver's side mirror now works exactly as it should but the passenger side mirror isn't behaving. Here are the symptoms:

1. When operating the drivers mirror I can hear one of the passenger side motors operating when the joystick is moved. It doesn't do it in every direction, just when adjusting in/out.
2. When the rocker switch is in the middle position and the joystick is moved, one of the motors in the passenger mirror again operates (obviously there shouldn't be any movement in either mirror)
3. When the rocker switch is in the passenger side position all works ok, but the mirror won't move to the out position.

At first I thought it was another dodgy rocker switch but I've bypassed it and the same problems occur. I'm thinking there's a dodgy earth somewhere but I'm blowed if I can work it out. Anyone experienced anything similar or got any ideas?

Cheers
Will

[Oldred_V8S]

It sounds like you have some of the wires crossed especially if operating one mirror sends a signal to operate the other. It may be better to remove the lot and check it out and refit with the wiring diagram.

Edited by Oldred_V8S on Sunday 7th April 11:22

[teamlines]

Ok, so after lots of fiddling, fettling and swearing this morning I've made some progress with this. I've managed to get everything wired up and working correctly, however, it only works when I supply an external live and earth to the joystick. When I do that it all works a treat. However, as soon as I reconnect the earth and live from the car it all goes t*ts up again. I thought it was just an issue with the wires going to the joystick so I've experimented with live and earth feeds from various other parts of the vehicle, including from the battery itself. No matter what I try I still get the symptom described in my first post. Am on the verge of giving up now! It must be an earthing problem but locating it looks like a very laborious exercise. Anyone got any other thoughts?

[Oldred_V8S]

teamlines said:

Ok, so after lots of fiddling, fettling and swearing this morning I've made some progress with this. I've managed to get everything wired up and working correctly, however, it only works when I supply an external live and earth to the joystick. When I do that it all works a treat. However, as soon as I reconnect the earth and live from the car it all goes t*ts up again. I thought it was just an issue with the wires going to the joystick so I've experimented with live and earth feeds from various other parts of the vehicle, including from the battery itself. No matter what I try I still get the symptom described in my first post. Am on the verge of giving up now! It must be an earthing problem but locating it looks like a very laborious exercise. Anyone got any other thoughts?

I would try one item at a time, different earth and original live and then vice-versa. Find out which has failed and then either trouble shoot the faulty one or splice in a new one.