OEM Heated Mirrors DIY mod

Hell yeah Dale! I thought the same, especially since the newer '12+ Tacos share the EXACT SAME mirror as the Highlander's heated mirror. They could've made an easy $500+ by offering a cold-weather add on for our trucks

Hope you get it finished up successfully and post some pics when you're done

 

Got it done, and they work!
Sorry about the poor quality pics. Hard to tell what they are now.
Only broke one clip, on the inside mirror cover panel, passenger side. Little bugger must have moved when I tried to reinstall.

Some tricks I used for my 2013-
-Installed the switch for heat right next to the mirror adjustment controls. It ended up being a really tight fit when I put the bottom dash piece back on. I may have pinched the wires for when the lights are on, because it worked and now it doesn't. Will pull it apart tomorrow and have a look.
-used 16G wire for behind the mirrors. Vasoline is a good friend . Grounded to the door, and ran the passenger side along the frame bar above the glove box, like others have done.
-tapped into the mirror control + lead (grey wire) for control power to the relay.

-ran a 12G + lead to #30 on the relay from my newly installed Blue Sea 6 circuit board.
Pretty straight forward install, once I identified where I wanted to get power from, and where I wanted my switches to be. Winter is supposed to come for a while here, so I'm a little more prepared.

Sad observation- the stock speakers (which I had to remove to fish wire) are pretty lame. Which leads me to thinking .......

 

Subbed

 

Sweet deal man, looks great! Sorry to hear about the broken tab, I had an embarrassing mistake when I did mine...I had the heated mirror glass sitting on the grass next to the truck, and accidentally stepped on it after losing my footing...C-R-U-N-C-H

Had to pay another $50 and wait a few more days before doing the install.

Glad to hear you got it installed and ready to go

 

Thanks for starting this thread, Benson X, and to all who contributed.
I'm open to any PMs for help if needed. Couple places to save some hassle.
Fun mod to do, if you don't mind seeing your baby in pieces.

next.... need 2 more switches and relays for more lights.

 

Good job!

 

Sub'd.....

 

I need to do this. BAD. haha putting this on my to do list once I get the rest of my truck going. Great idea Ben

 

Benson X: My apologies, but I have to ask a question unrelated to this thread:


Schwangster: details on the switch circled please:

 

lol, thanks man. I can relate to this now more than ever!

It's a great mod, no matter how lazy it makes me feel. I use it when there's the slightest bit of condensation/frost, and it clears up pretty quick.

No apologies needed man! I'm not a thread Nazi by any stretch, ask away!

 

Lately there have been mornings I'm on my way to work and I forget to scrape my mirrors and all I can think about is I wish I had heated mirrors lol

Then I found this. Its a must lol

 

Not to answer for him but that's a driving light switch from an FJ Cruiser.

 

hahaha...work got in the way. Won't let that happen again.

Yes, that is an FJ switch, for the 30" RI bar in the grill.
During the mirror switch installation I swapped positions of the fog light switch and this one (used to be in the upper middle hole). I don't use the fog lights very often, and leave them on when I do.
The light bar I use frequently with the high beams when I'm travelling. I like to manually shut down the LEDs, then the high beams as the oncoming gets closer, then go to low beam. With the switch in the outer position it is an easy reach to click it off.
The middle hole needs to be filled and I have a set of D2 spots (off my old XJ) and I want to add some back lights. So we shall see what goes in there. Not decided yet.

 

Only negative I've heard is from my boss. He has heated mirrors in his Ford, and says that it only makes the mud dry hard on the mirrors.
I question that ....
Your 12 will be the same as my 13. If I was closer......... got beer ???

 

My truck is stocked with beer 24/7. Never know when you might get stuck somewhere My friends always laugh about that until they get thirsty lol

pshh mud is mud, it dries hard no matter what if you let it lol

 

BEER....
actually you are in WA state. If you are in the NW, PM if you actually decide to do it.
(and, BTW I'm too old to be texting you that question from the other thread, haha)

 

Why not just use the high beams as the trigger wire? That way, when the high beams go off, the light bar goes off with it instead of messing with 2 things. Also, if you leave the switch on, the light bar would come on when you turn on the high beams also. Instant light!

 

True. I want it both ways, with the ability to turn on the 30" even with the truck off.
Been considering a DPDT switch, so that I can choose to run it with the high beams, or run it without. In truth, I need to shut down the LEDs long before the high beams to keep the oncoming from going blind.

 

I did exactly that, had mine wired with a DPDT switch (I had 4 PIAA 520's, not a light bar but similar light output). If you go that route and run into issues with the wiring, let me know. It took me a few minutes to figure out that switch, lots of terminals in the back!

 

thanks. Interesting possibilities to wire things that way.