Signal mirror w/ Running light and Turn Signal Relay Setup

I picked up some used mirrors with the turn signal in on them for a steel. These mirrors came stock on the 12-15 TRDsport, but my truck is a SR5 prerunner so I did not have them. Now I know there are lot of prerunner haters out there, but I love my truck lol so “Dont be hatin”. I had been wanting the signal mirrors for a while, but never pulled the trigger, because they are about 500 bucks brand new. I just wasnt willing to pay that. Browsing around ebay one day, which I do regularly. I came across a seller that was selling a pair of the mirrors for 100 bucks. I think the guy was just really in need of the money. It was a hell of a deal that I could not pass up. All I had to do was order the Super white mirror covers from the dealership to mach my truck which cost about 90 bucks. All in all I was ecstatic because I saved like 300 bucks on the mirrors and the truck looks great with the signal mirrors and the matching mirror covers. Anyway. I digress, because this thread isnt about the deal I got on the mirrors. The thread is about the mirrors signal. After I got them mounted to the car I quickly found out that the signals on the mirrors only illuminated with the turn signal and not the running lights. Now some of you may have already known they worked this way, but I didnt. I thought they worked with both. So I started working on a relay set up to make the parking lights and the signals work on each mirror, because only have the signals on the mirrors is ok, but I think its kind of wasted potential.


Sorry I didnt take any pictures. I didnt think of it at the time I was doing this. So here is what I came up with, and yes I tested it on my own truck so you know you are getting something that works. No this will not mess up or burn down your truck lol. I worked as a professional in the car audio, video, and security for a long time. So though its been a while since ive done this. I am not new at it.


- 2 Single Pole Double Throw Relays (SPDT) – One for each mirror

- About 30 to 40 feet of true 18gauge wire. Color does not matter

- Butt connectors, T Wire taps, Male wire tap connectors, Female Speaker terminal connectors, zip ties, electrical tape.


85 – Parking lights +

86 – Turn Signal +

30 – Mirror signal lamp

87 – 12v Constant ( Fuse line with 5am Fuse)

87a – Not used


I am not going to give a complete set of directions on doing this, but if you have any questions. Feel free to message me. I will point out some key things though. You will have to remove both door panels. Both kick panels and bottom door trim panels. You will also need to remove the dash panel under the steering wheel. You will need something to snake wires through the grommet that houses the wires going to the door. I used a long zip tie which worked great. Remove the side of the grommet from the door itself. There is no reason to remove the grommet on the car side. You will need to run 2 wires 2 each door for the signal lamp and turn signal.



Below I have listed wire locations and colors of wires. I know the info below is accurate for 12-15 Tacomas. It may be the same for other Tacoma years but I am not sure. Please test every wire before tapping it. No matter how accurate any sort of diagram or instructions are believed to be, you should always test each wire. The parking light wire is Green. Located on the right side of the fuse box in the second plug from the left. There are 2 green wires for the park. The 12v constant is a thicker gauge blue wire. Located in a plug directly beneath the plug that contains the parking light wire. The Turn signal is going to be located in the door itself with in the same plug that connects to the mirrors. The left driver side turn signal is Pink. The right passenger side signal wire is blue with white if I remember correctly. Test the signal wires by turning the ignition to the on position. Turn the blinker on to the side of the car you are working on. Probe the wire and it should pulse between positive and negative. Cut the signal wires about 5-6 inches below the plug. This leaves wire from the plug to connect them back to each other if for some reason you decided you dont want this setup anymore. Though I am not sure why you would decide that lol. The signal wires in the doors are the only wires on the car that you will actually cut in this process. All of the other wires will just be taped. You can not tap the signal wire as simply taping it will result in feedback. The signal wire leading into the plug for the mirrors is going to connect via butt connector to the wire going to 30 on the relay. The part of the turn signal wire going down to the door will connect via butt connector to the wire going to 86 on the relay. Now on the passenger side door you will have to run the parking light wire and 12v constant from the relay, under the carpet to the drivers side as I could not locate a 12v constant or parking light wire in the passenger kick. Oh and please use the proper connectors. Dont do the all to common twisting wires together and taping them. This is not a safe or secure method of connecting wires. Connectors are cheap at your local auto parts store, hardware store, car audio store, or home center. Once you finish wiring. Test the functionality. Then zip tie everything neatly out of the way of moving parts or anything it can snag on. Put your car back together and enjoy.


I did not go into great detail as I figure anyone attempting this will have some sort of experience, but if you have any questions. Send me a message. Also if I missed anything or made a mistake somewhere in the writing. Let me know and I will change it accordingly.

 

If I'm understanding what you did properly, then what you are doing has the mirror turn signals at full brightness when your parking lights are on. That can be an annoyance to drivers depending on how bright it is.

I would have used something like this: https://www.diodedynamics.com/store...ed-pwm-dimmer-with-bypass-pair/category/1448/
Half brightness with the parking lights on, full brightness with the turn signal.

 

The running lights on the Tacoma mirrors are no where near bright enough to cause any kind of glare or anything that would be considered a distraction or annoying to other drivers. If you look at the Tacoma mirrors you will notice they use one LED off to the side of the mirror. The light coming from the rest of the lens is purely reflection from the chrome surface in the light. I will have to take a picture of it. Certain model trucks like the Ford F250 come off the line with the running lights incorporated into the mirrors. If they can do it. I can do it too lol.

I have to say that dimmer is a good idea though. I really dont see it being necessary for these Mirror running lights but I do have an idea for it, so I think I am going to order one it give it a try. I ordered a couple of rock lights am going to mount to the bottom of my truck so that they come on when ever the doors on my truck are opened and go off when the doors are closed. Basically using the rock lights as puddle lights. That Dimmer would be perfect for this because I was concerned about the rock lights being to bright to be used as puddle lights.

 

So your prerunner was already wired for the turn signal mirrors to work? I just ordered the mirrors for mine also and was wondering if I would have to run wires. I only want the turn signal function