Was driving down the highway last night trying to figure out if my auto-dimming rear-view mirror was actually working. Things seem awful bright, even when there's a car right behind me with the lights on. I didn't notice any change whatsoever when turning the auto-dim on and off, and on my CL, when I block the light sensor, the diference is like night and day (sorry...).

Whaddaya think? Does it sound like mine's broke?

 

it works... the sensor is on the side facing the front of the car. when it's really dark, it dims the mirror to a green color. If you have bright lights on it a lot, it will not dim much.

 

at first i didnt think mine worked either, but i held a flashlight right at the sensor and it did dim. But it doesnt matter because my windows tinted

 

So it sounds like there are two sensors - one facing fore for ambient light, and one facing rearward to pick up headlights from behind. I'll try a flashlight and see if I notice any change.

 

if i cover the sensor facing outwards, the mirror darkens to the darkest setting.

 

Mine works wonderfully. I had a butthead in a SUV riding me with his brights on. It didn't bother me when looking through my auto-dim rear view mirror, but I could see how bright the lights actually were when looking through my side mirrors.

 

i think that was your queue to yield to faster traffic.

However, I believe most of us with mirror problems has a spoiler which may block some of the lights.

 

Make sure you don't get any cleaning solution on the sensors because it will destroy them. At the dealership they told me that they can't replace the sensor so it would mean a whole new mirror. You want to put the cleaning solution (I use Sprayway glass cleaner) on the rag and then wipe the mirror down. Don't spray it on the mirror or it may get on the sensor.

 

Aha... I've got the spoiler. Would make sense.

 

Yielding to faster traffic?

Not when I'm going 10mph over the 55 limit on a two-lane road.

 

Don't hang out in front of me then... I don't take kindly to stragglers.

 

Mine used to dim rather easily (turned green when dimmed) but after I got it tinted only something really bright will activate it.

 

I have a new RX-8, no tinting, no spoiler, green light's on, but the auto-dim doesn't work worth a rip. I'll try to get it replaced - otherwise it's a safety hazard.

BTW, does anybody know if it's possible to reposition the mirror higher? It seems too low to me, yet it looks the same as on other RX-8's.

 

I have my windows tinted and it works fine. Light shade of green.

 

Mine dims enough at night to make anything but headlights hard to make out. Works great.

Paul_in_DC, the mirror's double jointed. Look behind it and you'll see how can move it higher.

 

No trouble with my mirror. Works just fine. I'm very happy with it. Sometimes I think it even dims too much!

 

you wouldnt want it to dim during the day so theres a sensor on the front, light from both sides=sunlight to the car...light only coming from the back, it will dim, try it out by covering the sensors, they dim very well.

 

the mirror darkens so slightly that if you were staring at it, you might not notice. The way you can tell is by the lights starting to get a green tint to them. In daylight, you should be able to get it to activate by blocking the light detectors (there is one on the front and one on the back). Also, there is an on/off switch on the auto dimming mirrors, make sure yours isn't turned off.

 

No spoiler or tint here, but mine doesn't dim as much as I'd like it to. It's not much darker than the view from the side mirror.

 

Yeah mine does not work as well as I would like it to but I've gotten used to it.

 

The mirror has an articulating support (both ends of the support pivot) so you can push it up using the pivot at the windscreen end of the support and use the pivot at the mirror end of the support to adjust the angle.

 

G-ReX - Thanks for the tip on the double-jointed mirror. (Duh, why didn't I try that before...)

 

Thanks - better now.

 

I wish the two exterior side view mirrors were also auto dimming.

 

sideview mirrors don't need to dim. if they are properly aimed, you don't see the side of your car, and thus no traffic behind you will have lights shining in your face.