Galaxy 05 1.9 Diesel Auto - Problem rear view mirror auto dim

[markwpalmer]

Please can someone advise. It appears that my auto dim rear view mirror is always dim and is difficult to see what's behind day or night. Have searched but cannot see anything on this. I take it this is not normal?

[insanitybeard]

I believe the autodimming mirrors work in a similar fashion to the autodarkening LCD type welding masks, which automatically darken down when a bright light source is detected. If the mirror is permanently dark then I would suspect the mirror unit itself has failed internally, although you could try disconnecting and then reconnecting the electrical feed into the mirror to see if that makes any difference. If not then ebay usually has a few on sale......

[Mirez]

Is it dimmed but uniformly? Weird fault if so as they need power to dim!

There is normally a switch on the underside that turns the dim function off - if that works then I would check on the backside, find the sensor hole and check nothings obstructing it. My last Golf developed a similar problem which turned out to be a dead spider in said hole

[markwpalmer]

Thanks both for your advice. There is no switch on the mirror but it does have a sensor on the back and the front. I have cleaned both with cotton buds but it has made no difference. The  handbook states that even when dimmed it should revert back when you put the car in reverse but this makes no difference either. Thought about the fuse to see if that helps but I can't even get the plastic cover off the fuses at the bottom! Stuck true and hard!

[Chrispb]

Hello markwpalmer 

Can you just clarify which your car is MK1 = 1995>2000  MK2 = 2000>2006 as in your profile you have an 05 MK1