Question about towing mirrors... ??

[Dante04SRT]

I bought a set of 08-11 power fold/telescope towing mirrors to put on my '05. They are used, but appear to be in great shape. I do have a question though about their NORMAL operation.

First, can you fold/manipulate these mirrors manually without damaging the gears inside?

Second, the passenger side mirror seems to be loose. I took a video to illustrate the problem better. I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this and is there a fix?

I figured it best to post in the 08-10 forum as you guys probably have WAY more experience with these mirrors than us pre-08 guys.

2008-11 f250 mirrors - YouTube

2008-11 f250 mirrors - YouTube

Any help or info would be great. I'll be wiring the power operation, but until then I want to make sure I don't damage any of the components.

-Brian

[MadDogz]

It may be out-of-sync. Try to close it all the way and see if it "clicks". You will know once you get power to them. They can be closed manually, foward and backwards, but it is not advisable to do it. From the Ford Manual page 103:
https://owner.ford.com/servlet/Conte...OwnerGuidePage

The powerfold mirrors may be folded forward/rearward manually to any
of the three positions shown and electrically to positions 1 and 2 only. If
a mirror is folded manually forward to position 3, you must manually fold
it back to position 1 or 2 in order for the powerfold function to continue
functioning.
Note: Ten or more switch activations within one minute, or repeated
fold/unfolding of the mirrors while holding the switch rearward during
the full travel may cause the system to disable the fold/unfold function to
protect the motors from overheating. Should this occur, wait
approximately 31⁄2 minutes for the system to reset and function to return
to normal.
Note: The powerfold mirrors are designed to operate while the vehicle is
stationary or traveling at moderate speeds. If you attempt to powerfold
the mirrors at high speeds, they may not fully fold forward/rearward -
slow down and powerfold or manually fold the mirrors in order to
complete the fold operation.
If the powerfold mirrors feel loose or fold very easily, it is possible that
the powerfold mechanism is out of sync. The powerfold mechanism gets
out of sync when a mirror is manually folded partially in toward the door,
then electrically powerfolded.
Note: The mirrors will not be out of sync if the mirrors are manually
folded all the way in or out and then powerfolded.
In order to re-sync the mirrors, manually fold the mirrors toward the
door until a click is heard. Then press the powerfold switch to
electrically fold the mirrors in then out."

[Dante04SRT]

Good information - I guess I'll have to give 'em power to get it figured out. THANKS! Anyone else have any suggestion, advice?

[FlintRidgeFarmSN]

I have replaced both of mine on my truck, one side from being hit by a tree service truck and one for having the same shaking/looseness issue that you have with yours. It would move while i drove and it would drive me crazy. I however just assumed that it had been hit a couple times will parked and gotten something inside broken. Also i have power on both of them and neither one of them adjust like the stocks ones. I can move them from left to right using the joystick in my truck but the controls are reversed and on top of that i have to manually adjust them up and down. Just FYI

[Dante04SRT]

Originally Posted by FlintRidgeFarmSN

I have replaced both of mine on my truck, .... and one for having the same shaking/looseness issue that you have with yours. It would move while i drove and it would drive me crazy.

That's kind of what I was afraid of. I paid $600 for the set and they were advertised as 100% working. I'm curious if maybe something is out of sync, but if I haven't even wired it up yet, how can anything be out of sync? The driver's mirror seems to function normally and will manually fold, the pass side mirror acts the way shown in the video... Just for kicks, I went out to see if I could even fold it and it doesn't fold all the way in - It's like it reaches a stop and won't go all the way folded in.... Very odd.

[FlintRidgeFarmSN]

Where did you buy them from? I bought both of mine through ebay for 250 each but not at the same time. Called ford before i ordered them and they wanted 1300 per mirror, that was comical. When i replaced the most recent one i was told that it was unused and in perfect condition, came with a crack on the plastic piece that attaches to the truck and hasnt functioned correctly but it does what i need it to do and that is reflect haha. I do not understand how they could be out of sync either, the wiring is very simple just a basic connection.

[Dante04SRT]

Originally Posted by FlintRidgeFarmSN

Where did you buy them from? I bought both of mine through ebay for 250 each but not at the same time. Called ford before i ordered them and they wanted 1300 per mirror, that was comical. When i replaced the most recent one i was told that it was unused and in perfect condition, came with a crack on the plastic piece that attaches to the truck and hasnt functioned correctly but it does what i need it to do and that is reflect haha. I do not understand how they could be out of sync either, the wiring is very simple just a basic connection.

Ebay

Did you do a retro install on a pre-08 or is yours 08+?

[nullster]

I fold mine in manually all the time, never had any problems with them.

Had a woman come over in my lane and smashed the driver side mirror, insurance replaced it for a little over 1,200.00
They are expensive for sure.

[FlintRidgeFarmSN]

Mine is 08, sorry i just now noticed you are doing a retro. However that still should have no effect on the mirror manually moving like that. I hope that once you get them hooked up it will fix it

[Dante04SRT]

Me too! I was driving down the interstate today doing about 65mph and the mirror is so loose that the force of the wind folded it in at speed! Really irritating consider how much they were!