Adding a Dual-Display Auto-Dimming Mirror W/Digital Compass, Thermometer and Map Lights to a Chrysler TC by Maserati

I really missed the outside thermometer and compass that my SportTrac and Cadillac Deville had. JC Whitney sells a mirror with those features so it's just a matter of money and time.

From the JC Whitney catalog

Dual-display auto-dimming mirror with digital compass, thermometer and map lights

Replaces your original mirror and incorporates every advanced feature for safer, easier travel
Night Vision Safety™ mirror is the same Gentrex mirror available in select luxury cars and trucks
Eliminates the dangerous glare from vehicles in back of you
Get the factory mirror without buying a new vehicle!

	• AUTO DIMMING	At night, sophisticated sensors/circuitry detect glare from vehicle approaching from the rear, automatically darkening mirror to eliminate glare. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirror becomes.
	• COMPASS	Self-calibrating compass uses computer technology to accurately indicate travel direction (N, NE, S, SW, etc.) on the easy-to-read digital display.
	• THERMOMETER	Digital display accurately shows outside temperature. At 37° F or below, the word "ICE" appears to warn about potential road-icing conditions.
	• MAP LIGHTS	2 LED lights add extra illumination to vehicle's interior…handy for nighttime driving.

Tools required

DC Voltmeter (just to check my work)
Wire Strippers
Flashlight
Needle nosed pliers
#20 Torx Bit
Pocket Knife
Phillips Screwdriver

Four major phases of installation, preparation, wiring inside, wiring outside, reassembly.

Phase 1 - Preparation

	Here is the stock mirror
	Remote the mirror using a number 2 phillips screwdriver
	Remote the two sun visor clips
	Remove the screws holding the two sunvisors, three per side
	Remove the stainless steal covers three screw each, note that the top two screw are machine screws, the bottom screw is a self tapping sheet metal screw
	Remove panel that covers the center section of the window jam by gentley pulling down and toward the rear of the car. There are two ribbed clips holding the panel to the frame.
	Disconnect the power to each sun visor, use needle noise pliers to squeeze both side of the connector
	Remove the screwing holding the running board cover
	Remove kick plate after removing the two screws
	Attach the new mirror to the window and tighten the T20 torx screw
	Using a pry tool, remove the wire bundle cover, save the foam that pops out, you'll need it for later.
	Remove the black plastic sound cover by removing the two screws that attach it to the instrument panel kick plate. There is a pressure fastener on the back that covers one of the pedal bolts, force may be required to remove the sound cover.

Phase 2 - Wiring

	Feed with wire bundle across the top edge of the windshield and down the A pillar
	Feed the wire loom behind the panel and down into beside the parking brake pedal
	Black screwed to the chassis ground bolt. Red switched +12 (I used the radio fuse) Yellow constant +12 (I used the flasher fuse) Brown connected to the yellow wire from the dome light door switch
	Loosen the ground bolt, it's just long enough with the additional lug, so I didn't use the lock washer, the new lug had barbs that should perform the same job
	I took a shortcut when I attached the two power lines. I stripped the wire, yanked out the appropriate fuses, put the wire in the hole and shoved the fuse back in. It would probably be better to use power taps, but I was in a hurry and this has worked well for me in the past.
	Here's a picture of the fuse box rotated 180°.
	Next strip about 1/4 inch of insulation from the yellow wire that goes to the door switch. There are two wires attached to the switch, you want the yellow one. Splice in the brown wire,

Phase 3 - Outside Wiring

	Get underneath the front of the car and attach the thermometer to the bottom of the chin
	Route the cable up behind the headlights and through the same access passage as the headlight wires
	Pass the cable along the driver side fender all the way up to the firewall
	Behind the master cylinder you will see a plug in the firewall, this leads into the passenger cabin
	Remove this plug, and cut a slot into it so that it will keep its shape when re-inserted into the firewall
	Get back into the car and feed the thermometer bundle over the brake assemble plug it into the wiring harness

Phase 4 - Reassembly

	At this point if you turn the ignition key to accessory, the digital display in the mirror should illuminate with direction and outside temperature
	Time to put everything back in the reverse order it was removed

Admire your work

After calibration, all is fine and dandy the car is facing south-east and it's 60 degrees Fahrenheit

Left & right map lights buttons.

The map/reading lamp feature uses LED technology as its light source. The lights are activated by the door switch when entering or exiting the vehicle or manually by using the appropriate button on the mirror.

The center button:

Temperature Function, push the center button to toggle between F, C or turn the display off.

All finished

Last updated: Tuesday July 6, 2004