I have decided that a worthwhile modifcation would be to put a 'heated mirror on' light on the mirror control unit. It seems a flaw to have no visual indication other than the position of the switch, often I've switched it on in the morning and forgotten about it for quite a while into the journey.

Question is, what are the wires connecting to the switch? Presumeably the mirror heaters are switched via a relay, but this I suspect will be 6 to 12v so plenty of power to light an LED up. All I need to do is take a tap off the outgoing connector to the relay and connect the other end of the LED to the earth wire and hey presto!

Got a few photos so people know which switch I'm on about, hopefully someone will know!

This is the version of the switch unit:

Presumeably the wires can be identified by virtue of the numbers here?

Thanks for any help!

Just to point out...yours is a different design to vRS'. The heated mirror switch is in the middle, with left at the bottom at right at the top.

Nice mod idea though would be well worth doing IMO.

Yeah, this is an older version. I'm not sure when they changed, but I think all the VAG ones were replaced by the new version 2003/2004?

The heated element wiring may be in the same place on the plug, though, to make parts interchangeable?

The heater mirrors are switch by the central electrics control unit, Im pretty sure by a duty cycled signal.

Does that mean I wouldn't be able to take a power tap off the wire? That would leave my only option being to take a tap directly off the power into the heater elements themselves then . . which I guess shouldn't be too difficult.

While you are at it - get it so there is night time illumination too!

Does that mean I wouldn't be able to take a power tap off the wire? That would leave my only option being to take a tap directly off the power into the heater elements themselves then . . which I guess shouldn't be too difficult.

TBH I would think thats actually the best way to do it, the wire is right next to the switch.

Cheers for the help.

Tom . . . not sure what you're referring to, the unit is illuminated at night!

Tom . . . not sure what you're referring to, the unit is illuminated at night!

Ok ok, so it is...

Lummox, do you know what colour the wire is that goes to the heater? Save me removing the wing mirror glass to find out!

I will most lickly to be wrong but I was under the Imprestion that the heated mirrors only worked when the rear window demister was on. It automaticly turned it's self off after 20 mins or so...or am I talking Carp..:confused:

I will most lickly to be wrong but I was under the Imprestion that the heated mirrors only worked when the rear window demister was on. It automaticly turned it's self off after 20 mins or so...or am I talking Carp..:confused:

The heated mirrors only work when the mirror switch it set to heated and then turns off after 20 mins.

The heated mirrors only work when the mirror switch it set to heated and then turns off after 20 mins.

we've had this topic before , some fabias mirrors turn of after 20 mins some do not turn off at all and as far as i know they work independant to the heated rear window :(

we've had this topic before , some fabias mirrors turn of after 20 mins some do not turn off at all and as far as i know they work independant to the heated rear window :(

This was what my impression was, hence the mod.

I'll probe around this weekend, I've got a few things to do on the car anyway, including the oil change - got to find a 32mm spanner somewhere for that blasted oil cap!

Until 04/2002 the default timer was 20 mins - from 05/2002 the heater was continously on when selected!:eek:

You can VAG-COM the timer setting on the heating cycle timer as follows:

Controller adjustment

STG 09 (electrical system) select

STG Login - > function 11

Note: Before the adjustment a Login has to take place. --Login code: 21343

STG adjustment - > function 10

channel 003 (heated outside mirror)

Disconnection time of the heated outside mirrors.

Range of values: 1-253 = 0,66-173 min

Default value (to 04/02): 29 = 20 min

Default value (starting from 05/02): 254 (without disconnection)

That way you can set it for any time you wish.

I got my car back from the DEALERS with the switch left ON!:thumbdwn:

Better to VAG-COM it no matter what - heater elements usually have a fairly heavy load, and someone else might leave it on uneccesarily!

more VAG-COM setting goodies on http://www.briskoda.net/forums/diagnostics-vag-com/extra-vag-com-settings-fabia/52036/

N.B. Information on the VAG ECU settings was sourced from the kind people at OpenObd.org.

Cheers,

Bas

I have decided that a worthwhile modifcation would be to put a 'heated mirror on' light on the mirror control unit. It seems a flaw to have no visual indication other than the position of the switch, often I've switched it on in the morning and forgotten about it for quite a while into the journey.

Why bother - the mirrors are designed to be on all the time.

I leave mine on all the time.

The current draw is much less than a heated rear window.

If I want to adjust the mirrors (which is infrequent since I'm the only driver) I move the **** in the relevant direction then move it back to the ccentral (heated) position to obviate accidently kncking the mirrors off aim.

I've had cars before with constant heated mirrors...

I misread the manual when I got the Fabia and assumed the switch worked the same as my VW had. (Middle equals no movement. Heating activated with the rear window heater). Consequently I ran around most of last summer with them on, until I accidentally burnt my hand on the mirror! I don't think it does them good to be left on permanently - both mirrors burnt out on my VW within 5 years with normal usage. I hadn't actually noticed - it was picked up by diagnostic check.

I don't think it does them good to be left on permanently - both mirrors burnt out on my VW within 5 years with normal usage.

Whilst I accept the evidence of one car, that doesn't mean that everyone's car will do the same...

Why bother - the mirrors are designed to be on all the time.

I leave mine on all the time.

The current draw is much less than a heated rear window.

If I want to adjust the mirrors (which is infrequent since I'm the only driver) I move the **** in the relevant direction then move it back to the ccentral (heated) position to obviate accidently kncking the mirrors off aim.

I've had cars before with constant heated mirrors...

I don't believe it will do them any good to leave them on all the time. I consider it to be a worthwhile mod.