Mirrors

[Geoffers]

Would anybody be interested in their mirrors folding in when the alarm is set from the keyfob?

I'm thinking of developing a small circuit to do this. Although the circuit is relatively simple, it will take quite a bit of thought (Getting arm signal from alarm, applying power to the mirrors, sending close signal for predetermined time, cutting power again, etc)

It would be handy, but it's whether I can be bothered to do it just for myself!!!

If others would be interested and benefit, then it would be worth it. I'd just post the diagram here.

Let me know what you think.

[Monster-Mat]

id be intrested.................very much so.....aslong as its not 2 expensive

[Geoffers]

As a guesstimate, it should be less than £20 for the componants.

I wouldn't be selling it as a kit or anything. I'd be posting all the info here to make it up yourself so all you would really need is some soldering experience to make the circuit up.

Thinking about it, I could do it as a kit as well if people enough people were interested.

My main problem is finding the arm signal for the alarm (just as a trigger to start the close sequence - it won't draw any power). Anyone know to save me some time tracing it?

We could take it a step further and get it to close the windows as well, but I'm just thinking about the mirrors for now - mine have been smacked twice because I forget to close them....

[wildrnes]

defo interested in it mate

[Dr Evil]

What a clever idea!

Do let us know how you get on. :)

[barga]

Ye Ha I will have some of that dont know why Lexus have not done this.

[Kavey]

I've got a Sigma aftermarket alarm for my Altezza. Any idea if what you're suggesting could be hooked into that? I think it's a great idea!

[Steve]

Sounds good to me... was thinking of getting an alarm when i have my stereo fitted...

[GRiM]

Yes Steve,

You wouldn't want anyone nicking it, now that you're adding a stereo and doubled the value of your car!!

Moany Joking....

[Zee007]

I would certainly be interested Geoffers - its a fantastic idea! :)

[Bluebeard]

Hows about incorporating a full closure element. Not only folds the mirrors in but also closes any open windows and sunroof - I know its a taller order but just thought I'd stick the idea in

[GRiM]

Would that not raisie an issue of safety, iof for example, a child or animal has their head out the window at the time you remote lock the car.....

[andyhart21]

I would defienately be interested, especially if it was total closure

[dribble]

Sounds pretty sweet to me... add me to the list

:D

[Rob]

Would that not raisie an issue of safety, iof for example, a child or animal has their head out the window at the time you remote lock the car.....

nope! - anti jam system is incorporated on the SE and Sport models - if you have an S model - be careful.

[Rob]

an alarm trigger signal can be taken from the flasher relay, which is behind the drivers kick panel, flasher relay is the large bottom relay. I seem to remember that the trigger wire is green and something, but there are about 10 green and ? coloured wires going into the back of of the relay board - i didnt have time to check them all.

[Geoffers]

Thanks for all the feedback. It's well enough to get me going - I'll make a start this week.

The majority of decent alarms have an ARM signal, so there's no reason why it can't be attached to any make. You'd need to trace it though - some are pos but most are neg. It just goes high or low when the alarm is set.

I was thinking about using the indicator flasher as the arm, but it would need more circuitry as the indicators flash twice (or more depending how you are arming it), so it would receive multiple signals. The other concern using that method is if the signal gets 'back fed' (i.e. the dioide is in the alarm itself where they usually are) then the signal would trigger the mirrors when you indicate or have your hazards on and the alarm set. We could put a diode in ourselves but I don't want to cut into the line, simply attach to it (just to keep connections to the car itself to a minimum). I'll check this line out though.

As for total closure, I'll need to look more into this. The passenger and rear windows use current sensing on the power windows, not a sensor for when they are fully closed. (Try and close all the windows when they are already closed - you'll see your dash lights dim dramatically - same thing would happen if closure power is applied by an external circuit). As the system won't know if the windows are closed or not, it would still send the power to them for a pre-determined time - I'll need to spend some time on it but I'm just a bit concened on the current drain. I could build a secondary current sensor in myself that would stop the power if the current pulled was greater than a set amount. This would also take care of the safety issue but I would be worried that if there was something that caused any friction and the windows pulled more current than normal, then they wouldn't close as the power would shut off to them and leave the windows open.

For now, I'm going to keep it simple and cost effective. I'll just do the mirrors and look into the total closure when that's complete. It should be a quite easy to add on as it will have most of the signalling and control circuitry already in place.

[tony_hetherington]

the mirrors everytime the alarm's set sounds a VERY good idea to me !!!

please keep me posted as I'd be interested

good on you....thanks

[Unity_neil]

Be careful where you get your trigger from cos you could end up with the mirrors closing every time you lock the doors (sounds good) except if you hit the little "lock me in" button and your mirrors disappear! had this quite a bit on the FTO forum when I had one of those!

[Nick]

The LS430 has this facility. There is a switch for the mirrors with 3 positions. In/Out/Auto and it is useful. Be interesting to see if it will be on the new RX300, as these things usually filter down.

[RYX]

Definately interested. Hope we can have some sort of kit form?

[theb]

Sounds like a good idea to me too.

Would Lexus grumble about this in anyway? Invalidate warranty or anything?

B

[Geoffers]

Sounds like a good idea to me too.

Would Lexus grumble about this in anyway? Invalidate warranty or anything?

B

It should be undetectable on any routine service, etc. and would easily be removed if need be.

The way I was going to do it only has 4 connectors.

+v

Ground

Alarm ARM sig.

Output to Mirror

This can be connected using scotchblocks (not something I particularly like, but the simplest and easiest to remove) without even breaking into a cable and it would have a small switch on to disable it.

When you set your alarm on the keyfob, the unit would be triggered by the arm signal, apply power output to the mirror and then switch itself and the mirror power off. When you return to the car, simply switching on your ignition Acc. would extend the mirror back to it's outward position (providing the mirror close switch wasn't depressed)

So, it's just like you had closed your mirror yourself before you left the car - you would need to put your keys in to extend it again.

I'm doing it this way so there is absolutely no current drain after the mirror has closed and it can have no affect on the alarm.

Everybody agree with this method? I'm still after any feedback or if anybody can think of a better way of doing it.

[RYX]

Sounds perfect to me.

Where would the the kit be mounted? Presumeably near the feeds that you mentioned - but where are they? Please excuse my ignorance.

Rick.

[Geoffers]

A-HA - this is the million dollar question at the moment.

Mirror and power feeds are by the drivers kick plate, alarm ARM feed I don't know yet.

It's dark when I finish work so I can't trace it until the weekend. Annoying thing is, I've made the circuit up, I just need to find this and - voilla job done!