Auto dimming mirror not dim enough?

I've never had a car with an auto dimming rear view mirror. I find that this one doesn't dim enough compared to all the manual "flip" mirrors I've had. Is anyone else annoyed by the headlights behind them with this mirror? I hardly notice a difference if I switch the auto dim off, it dims so subtly that I'm not sure if it's actually working or if it's just my imagination. Did I just get a dud?

 

Nothing covering the sensor on it? Mine dims fine.

Clean the sensor maybe.

 

Not at all. I have an Off Road so rear window is tinted but I have tested it with the window open as well (thinking the tint may interfere).

 

My rear window is also tinted. You can check it by covering the sensor on the window side with your finger and shining a flashlight on the sensor on the interior side (mirror side). You may just need to change the angle of the mirror a hair.

 

What does the sensor on the window side sense? Ambient light (day/night)?

 

I have a similar review of the auto dimming mirror. I have to look for a blueish green tint to the image in the mirror to know it's actually doing it's thing. Not sure if this is normal but mone acts the same way.

 

I have to agree with you that it needs to dim more . I wonder in having it tinted would do the more dim thing or are they adjustable ? First one I ever had too . I don't think it dims enough .

MM

 

Mine seems to tint just as much as all my other vehicles. It's not supposed to be super dark, just dark enough to take away the glare.

 

I did test it last night with a flashlight. It is functioning, just would like it to go darker. It's also pretty slow to respond. Not that it really matters, just an observation.

 

Considering they're pretty much all made by Gentex/Mito that's how it is.

I've have various ones in different vehicles. Not as dim as manual flip lever units but still gets the job done so long as you're not dealing with other an asshole behind you with nonstock bulbs not built for his lights.

 

There's an old post on here somewhere about this issue. It was recommended to remove the center headrest in the back if you have a double cab. Headrest supposedly interferes with the incoming light.

 

I don't know about the center headrest, that seems like it'd require the guy behind you to be in a very specific position to create a problem.

There's an ambient sensor on the front and a glare sensor on the back (side you look at). Just make sure neither are covered and it should work. If it doesn't work when you test it by covering the sensors, then get it fixed.

Check out this video for a simple way to test the mirror. You needn't take it apart, but its neat to see the components.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI3cR9KhrdY

 

look, sometimes I've noticed my mirror doesn't dim, like maybe the light isn't staying on it long enough on a winding or hilly road..

my biggest complaints is why the assholes at toyota don't include auto dimming side mirrors with the rear view.. cheap bastards i tell ya.

 

Those are nice, I have them on my funcar.

Of course I'd have had to pay $65k if i'd have bought it new. I didn't, so I paid substantially less. Still tons of fun.

By the time Toyota adds all those "my $40k truck shoulda come with..." items it too would be $65k new.

 

This post is the epitome of Tacoma World and 50% of the people that post here. "My auto dimming mirror doesn't auto dim enough. This truck is a pile of shit"

 

I have the opposite problem! Mine dims so much I don't like it... I know you can turn it off, but you have to do that every time you start the truck! I wish it would remember the on/off setting!

 

I don't think the OP said his truck was a pile of shit, I think he was talking about the Mirror being a dud.

 

#thirdgenproblems

 

Sorry son. I didn't mean damage your "Fanboy" ego.. I don't think my truck is a POS at all. In my 30+ years of driving, I have never been bothered by headlights in my rear view and was wondering if it's just the nature of auto dim mirrors or if mine wasn't functioning properly (I have nothing to compare it to). I've been around long enough to know that it's not out of the realm of possibility for electronics to malfunction (even right "out of the box").

Everyone else, thanks for the constructive replies.

 

My 2017 DCSB is a great truck . Coming from my 96 Tacoma xcab that I got new this truck is a space shuttle , and I like it just fine and will as I clearly plan it to be my last vehicle . My 96 you had to flip lever to dim mirror . This one is automatic . Older eyes become more sensitive to back ground light . In the age of , " I'm not tailgating " and " My driving lights aren't bothering you " I think we are just wondering if the automatic rearview mirror is working properly . Its a concern for others type of thinking , safety first . Outdated thinking I know but hard to change old habits .

MM