Fried my homelink mirror

[norcalpb]

So I tried installing an accent led powered via my homelink mirror. When I fired her up the lights turned on but then turned off a second later and there was smoke coming from the homelink connector!

Now the mirror has no power even though everything is plugged in. Why would this happen and can I repair this?

[XK4]

Sounds like something shorted. Pull the connector and look for damage and where the short might have been. Check your fuse, but I wouldn't replace the fuse until I found the cause of the short.

A thought: Was your "accent" led just an led or a led with built in resistor? A led without a resistor would fry with 12 volts applied.

Good Luck,

Dave

[norcalpb]

The accent light consists of 2 leds and one resistor. It's from an Audi A4. Is it possible that this led requires less than 12v and that's where the problem was?

[KnightRyderx2]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

The accent light consists of 2 leds and one resistor. It's from an Audi A4. Is it possible that this led requires less than 12v and that's where the problem was?

If this was the cases you would have just fried the LED and done.

There was a short in the connector where you connected the LEDs wires. There may have been a stray piece of wire that crossed from + to - or - to +.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by KnightRyderx2

If this was the cases you would have just fried the LED and done.

There was a short in the connector where you connected the LEDs wires. There may have been a stray piece of wire that crossed from + to - or - to +.

Makes sense. Also my power mirrors don't work anymore...might be some kind of shared power source or something.

[KnightRyderx2]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

Makes sense. Also my power mirrors don't work anymore...might be some kind of shared power source or something.

Maybe. Look up some wire diagrams to see as I'm not sure they share the same circuitry or not. Did you check the fuse yet? Check that and if good then take a multi-meter to the mirror connector and see if your getting 12v. The wire for the mirror runs down the passenger side A-pillar there is another connector in there, check for 12v here too if none at the mirror connector. You will have to trace it to the problem connector or whatever it maybe. This can be tedious.

Another thing to do, if there is no 12v at the mirror connector, run another 12v line up to there, maybe off the accessory port in the glove box. Before yo do this though look up specs on the homelink mirror and make sure it doesn't pull to much amperage, you dont want to mess up another circuit.

I'm not sure what is going on with the side mirrors, if those are out too it mostly sounds like a fuse has gone out and that will fix everything.

[norcalpb]

Thanks guys it was the fuse lol.

Edit: fuse #1 controls the homelink mirror and side mirrors.