GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Cadillac 🢒 2001 🢒 Catera 🢒 Body and Accessories 🢒 Stationary Windows 🢒 Automatic Day-Night Mirrors Inoperative

Diagnostic Aids

The automatic day-night feature of the inside rearview mirror may not operate properly or become inoperative due to an intermittent short to battery positive voltage in the backup lamp supply voltage circuit:

Step

Action

Value(s)

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Inside Rearview Mirror Schematics

1

Did you review the operation of the automatic day-night feature of the inside rearview and perform the necessary inspections?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Symptoms - Stationary Windows

2

Important: Make sure all doors are closed on the vehicle. With the doors open, the automatic day-night feature will be disabled by the illuminated entry feature on the vehicle.

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Cover the sensor on the inside rearview mirror back (facing the front window).
  3. Shine a bright light into the sensor on the he inside rearview mirror face (facing the rear window).

Does the inside rearview mirror darken?

--

Go to Diagnostic Aids

Go to Step 3

3
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the harness connector of the inside rearview mirror.
  3. Measure the resistance between the ground circuit of the inside rearview mirror and a good ground.

Is the resistance less than the specified value?

3 ohms

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 9

4
  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Measure the voltage between the Ignition 1 voltage circuit of the inside rearview mirror and the ground circuit of the inside rearview mirror.

Is the voltage within the specified range?

B+

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 10

5
  1. Place the transmission in PARK.
  2. Measure the voltage between the reverse input circuit of the inside rearview mirror and the ground circuit of the inside rearview mirror.

Is the voltage less than the specified value?

0.5 V

Go to Step 6

Go to Backup Lamps Always On in Lighting Systems

6
  1. Place the transmission in REVERSE.
  2. Measure the voltage between the reverse input circuit of the inside rearview mirror and the ground circuit of the inside rearview mirror.

Is the voltage within the specified range?

B+

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 7

7

Test the backup lamp supply voltage circuit of the inside rearview mirror for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 12

Go to Backup Lamps Inoperative in Lighting Systems

8

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the inside rearview mirror. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 11

9

Repair an open or high resistance in the ground circuit of the inside rearview mirror. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 12

--

10

Repair an open or short to ground in the Ignition 1 voltage circuit of the inside rearview mirror. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 12

--

11

Replace the inside rearview mirror. Refer to Inside Rearview Mirror Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 12

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12

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

--

System OK

Go to Step 2