Heated mirrors ever optional on 3rd gen?

[longhaul747]

Last night it was very humid and then froze so this morning I had a layer of frozen dew on my 4Runner. My mirrors were covered in frozen dew and pretty much useless witch made getting onto the freeway during rush hour difficult at best. I tried the defrost option hoping maybe the mirrors were heated but after a few minutes it appears not. Heated mirrors would be nice to have. Was this ever an option for the 3rd Gen? My 98 SR5 does not seem to have them.

 

[J.A.]

Last night it was very humid and then froze so this morning I had a layer of frozen dew on my 4Runner. My mirrors were covered in frozen dew and pretty much useless witch made getting onto the freeway during rush hour difficult at best. I tried the defrost option hoping maybe the mirrors were heated but after a few minutes it appears not. Heated mirrors would be nice to have. Was this ever an option for the 3rd Gen? My 98 SR5 does not seem to have them.

You missed it by a year, the option began in 99.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Yup my 99 has heated mirrors, confirmed when I had to replace the driver's side mirror glass. There's a little wire lead that has to be connected for the heater to be activated.

My house has a garage, and so far most of our cold/icy weather has been overnight, so I haven't really "Tested" my heated mirrors. However, we are supposed to get dumped on tomorrow during the day and my 4runner will be parked at the light rail station so I'll be able to try out the heated mirrors then!

 

[longhaul747]

You missed it by a year, the option began in 99.

Oh dang...oh well most of the cars I have owned in my life did not have heated mirrors. I am sure I will live but once you have them they are very nice.

I am thinking Toyota got a lot of complaints and added it for the 99 model year. The mirrors on the 4Runner seem more important then other cars and when they are covered in ice it makes it all the more difficult. If they are just foggy they seem to clear just from the wind but not the ice.

 

[peter78]

In 2001 Toyota dropped the basic 4 cylinder model and they made the SR5 with extra stuff as standard. I have color coded heated mirrors, 6 speaker stereo and remote door locks as standard. I thought it was dumb, but even in Atlanta, I use them. When it is foggy and there is a mist on the mirrors or if they ice up, I even use them when it rains, as it tends to dry the mirrors.

 

[Elton H]

noting a can of de icer and a rag wont fix

 

[techno]

I have one heated mirror :shrug:

Have never bother to troubleshoot the bad one. Actually, instead of lurking around this site, I might go and check it out now...

 

[SilverBullet01]

any way to check this if we arent sure, without taking anything apart? iv got an 01 sr5 that seems to be fairly loaded. not sure if i have these though

 

[Rock Slide]

any way to check this if we arent sure, without taking anything apart? iv got an 01 sr5 that seems to be fairly loaded. not sure if i have these though

You do. The heated mirrors are activated when you depress your rear window defrost button. The 2 outside mirrors and rear glass are tied together.

http://www.top4runners.com/runhist/3rdgen/2001_4runner.pdf

 

[SilverBullet01]

You do. The heated mirrors are activated when you depress your rear window defrost button. The 2 outside mirrors and rear glass are tied together.

http://www.top4runners.com/runhist/3rdgen/2001_4runner.pdf

sweet! thanks RS, now thats just another reason why are rigs are so cool!

and from the looks of it ive got one crazy loaded t4r

 

[Magnum]

yup tested mine out this morning on my 99 works great, only thing i miss from my last truck is heated seats

 

[theizzardking]

i know off topic but what about auto dimming rear view mirrors...ever an option on the 3rd gens? anybody think about trying to add 'em? it's the #1 gripe i have about the yota over my last jeep, with everyone and thier mother doing hid lighting now i get blinded more often then not, sometimes i just point all of my mirrors to the ground it bugs me so much........

 

[Magnum]

i know off topic but what about auto dimming rear view mirrors...ever an option on the 3rd gens? anybody think about trying to add 'em? it's the #1 gripe i have about the yota over my last jeep, with everyone and thier mother doing hid lighting now i get blinded more often then not, sometimes i just point all of my mirrors to the ground it bugs me so much........

easy solution tint over your already tinted windows. Passenger windows back are pretty much blacked out and my front windows are like 15%.