I have that optional auto-dimming rear view mirror, but I've never noticed it doing anything. The rear window is tinted, so maybe it has never seen enough light to trigger it. Is there an easy way to test the thing?

 

Yea, the tinted window thing is a possibility, is the light on to indicate it's operational?

 

Click on the button to turn it off. You will notice the little green light will go out. Then within a few seconds, rear headlights seem to get brighter. It may depend upon the time of day also that you don't notice it (like around dusk or dawn). But late at night you will see the difference.

 

It doesn't switch on and off like you might think. It's a gradual darkening and lightening. If you find and cover the hole on the windshield side (to simulate nightime)and then shine a flashlight on the sensor beside the switch you should see it change.

 

easy way to see how it works is at night with driving/sitting at a standstill, turn on one of the map lights in the console and you will see it dim pretty quickly

 

To sum up in simple terms how the mirror works...there are 2 sensors, one on the front of the mirror and one on the back. The job of these sensors is to compare the light difference in front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle. If some one with headlights comes up behind you at night the front sensor detects darkness, the rear sensor (because of buddy behind you) detects the rear is brighter than the front and the result is the mirror starts to dim. Likewise during the day the front sensor detects light and the rear sensor will not cause dimming because if someone with headlights comes up behind you the light difference between the front and rear are the same and no dimming happens.

Now you have mentioned that you have tinted rear windows...this will impact the auto funtion as now when someone comes up behind you at night with headlights shining they are not bright enough for the rear sensor to see a huge difference between it and the front sensor. A similar thing can happen during the day to people who hang parking tags and such on the front of the mirror. The front sensor is blocked so it thinks it is dark out and the rear sensor is in normal daytime light so the mirror goes to full dim...even though it is daytime.

The solution as others have said is to press the auto button to turn it off each time. Now the real question is...does anyonme know if it can be programmed to always be off after each restart or does one have to turn it off each time the truck is started?

 

I've got (had) an auto-dimming mirror in my Stratus R/T that no longer works because I got some Windex on the sensor. Check the owner's manual for cleaning instructions. I think in mine it specified to not use any solvents, just a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.

 

on my 99 when i put the headache rack on i noticed it dimmed far less aggresively than it did when the window was open....

 

Mine didn't work from day one. the indicator light worked but it would never dim. i took it to the dealer and sure enough the mirror itself wasn't getting power and they put in a new one.

 

Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you! There's nothing wrong with it now that I know how it's supposed to work. I tested it during my lunch break today by covering the light sensor on the windshield side of the mirror with black electrical tape to make it think it was dark outside. Within a few seconds, the reflection became significantly darker to compensate for all the "highbeams" behind me. I guess I was expecting more of an on/off function like the manual flip type have.

 

Since we're on the topic here's a question......The diming feature is always "on" when I start the truck. I shut it off while driving and leave it off, get home shut off the ignition, and the next time I fire up the truck it's on again. Is this what it's supposed to do?

 

i think so... but i never touch my rear view mirror [and rarely check it either]

 

Ive got one on my 05 and it works great when ricers pull behind with their blue headlights.
The rear window is factory tinted and it still works great.
Wish the outside mirrors did the same.

 

JKA, Yes. works like designed. Same with the heated seats. If they are ON when you shut the truck off, they are OFF when you start the truck back up. Resets back to their normal mode.