2G Power Mirrors Moving at Random Times

[RallyEclipse98]

I searched and couldn't find any info.

My power door mirrors only work part of the time. I bought the car this way.

Either nothing happens when I press the switch, the mirrors move fine, or I hear the motors turning but the mirrors themselves don't budget. Most of the time, the motors run but the mirrors stay still.

I don't know if the switch is the problem or both mirror motors are to blame. Has anyone had a similar experience?

 

[DSTSI]

I would think its the mechanical connection between the motors and the mirror itself if you can here the motors running and no movement.

 

[RallyEclipse98]

I would think its the mechanical connection between the motors and the mirror itself if you can here the motors running and no movement.

Thanks for the fast response.

That makes sense. But I also can't help but think it's odd that both mirrors would have the exact same problem. And sometimes the motors don't activate at all. So I would think the switch is at least part of the problem. I would swap out with a junk yard part and test but I'm living in the boondocks right now and there aren't any 2gs.

 

[91-GS]

Could give power directly to the motors to test them, but you'd have to find the wiring diagram first.

 

[fabian95tsi]

Switch could be corroded and causing a bad contact.

 

[luv2rallye]

These mirror switches are notoriously bad (when nothing happens at mirror). Try pushing down the edge of the switch snuggly at different angular positions. My right mirror only goes when I press the upper right corner many times. And mirrors stick often. I make them go full each way twice a year to keep it loosened up. Of course if you hear the motor but nothing moves, that's in the mirror mechanism, not the switch.

 

[RallyEclipse98]

These mirror switches are notoriously bad (when nothing happens at mirror). Try pushing down the edge of the switch snuggly at different angular positions. My right mirror only goes when I press the upper right corner many times. And mirrors stick often. I make them go full each way twice a year to keep it loosened up. Of course if you hear the motor but nothing moves, that's in the mirror mechanism, not the switch.

I like your tip about moving them around a few times a year to keep everything loosened up. I run all accessories at least once a month to make sure they don't stop working. It seems like things really start to break if you don't use them.

Unfortunately the mirrors were broken when I got the car. Your switch sounds like mine. If I press on the button at weird angles for a long enough time, I can get the motors to move on both mirrors. However, as mentioned, they mostly just make noise and don't move. It sounds like the switch may be corroded plus the mirrors motors are bad. My white mirrors aren't in the greatest shape anyway (a few rock chips, one scrap) so I guess I'll junk try to snag a new pair and hope they work.

Has cleaning the switch ever helped you?

I should have bought an RS .

 

[luv2rallye]

Cleaning the switch never made much of a difference for me. It's like cleaning tv remotes (same type of contact switch against a circuit board) - it just made it work another 2 weeks and then the same thing. I finally got one from a junk yard - still has the weird angular positions but at least it works (if you press it enough times and hard enough).

 

[blanxx]

Best guess is you got something going on with polarity on Te wires or the button is simply sticking

 

[RallyEclipse98]

Cleaning the switch never made much of a difference for me. It's like cleaning tv remotes (same type of contact switch against a circuit board) - it just made it work another 2 weeks and then the same thing. I finally got one from a junk yard - still has the weird angular positions but at least it works (if you press it enough times and hard enough).

Thanks for the info, luv2rallye. I appreciate it. I took out the switch today and cleaned the circuit board with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. The switch is now working perfectly. And the passenger side mirror is moving exactly as it should. The drivers side mirror now responds to the switch in all directions but the motor still moves with nothing happening to the mirror. I'm going to pull it off now and investigate.