Took it in to the dealer, who stated there was no problem / no error codes and it was probably because the new Jeep has an overly-tinted rear hatch window...
This really didn't make much sense to me - what would be the point of auto-dimming mirrors, including the outside ones, if the sensor can't detect the light?
Travelling in to work this morning, I tested the dimming feature by shining a flashlight onto what I figure is the sensor (in the upper section of the interior mirror) and there was no response.
I realize there is an on/off switch in the Controls section of the UConnect - am I missing something?
I don't think you are missing anything. You might try turning the feature off for a day (through a few start stop cycles) and then turn them back on.
Since I don't know if you ever had auto dimming mirrors before, I'll throw this out there. I've had these in a number of vehicles from different manufacturers. They don't snap to a dimmed position like manual dimmers do when you flip the tab.
Are you actually being bothered with bright lights behind you, or are you just trying to see the mirrors respond?
are you testing at night? They only trigger if the lights are on and the sensor knows its dark out (in other words, leave the headlights in auto, if they turn on.. the mirrors should dim)... and it doesnt tilt. It actually darkens...so its not instant
That's an awful response from the dealer, "overly-tinted rear hatch window"? If you have a second car or a friend/neighbor willing to help, fire up the Jeep at night and park the other car behind it with the high beams on. If you don't see a difference in the mirror then there's obviously a problem, but seeing your dealers response, good luck trying to get them to truly evaluate the problem.
You can always pull into a garage and put the Jeep in park. If you side mirrors aren't an obvious blue with the edges seen as normal mirror then you have an issue. I park in our garage in Summer as my 2011 JGC (WK2) Limited is black/black and the first thing you notice turning on the Jeep is the blued side mirrors when the sunlight is visible after garage door opens. If this isn't happening then you have a sensor issue at minimum.
Basically, I'm not seeing any response in the mirrors at all. At night...
If someone drives up behind me, there is no dimming.
If someone drives up behind me with their brights on, there is no dimming.
If someone drives up behind me and I shine a flashlight into (what I'm guessing is) the sensor in the mirror, there is no dimming.
At first, I just thought the mirrors didn't dim as much as I'd like them to.
Then I read a post where somebody with a '14 Overland complained that they dimmed to much.
And another post bitchin' about the fact that the outside mirrors don't dim all the way to the edge.
IIRC the inside mirror controls the dimming of the outside mirrors. Does the inside mirror dim?
testing the inside mirror, from the FSM (your dealer should have done this):
Turn the ignition switch to the ON position. Place the transmission gear selector lever in the NEUTRAL position. Place the automatic dimming inside rear view mirror switch in the ON (green LED indicator illuminated) position. Cover the forward facing ambient photocell light sensor to keep out any ambient light.
NOTE: The ambient photocell sensor must be covered completely, so that no light reaches the sensor. Use a finger pressed tightly against the sensor, or cover the sensor completely with electrical tape.
Shine a light into the rearward facing headlamp photocell light sensor. The automatic dimming mirror glass should darken within 2 minutes if testing for the first time. For an immediate response, turn the mirror switch to the OFF position and back to the ON position with the forward-facing ambient light sensor still covered. This defeats the daylight detection logic of the mirror. If OK, go to step 8. If not OK, replace the ineffective mirror unit.
With the mirror darkened, place the transmission gear selector lever in the REVERSE position. The automatic dimming mirror glass should return to its normal reflectance. If not OK, replace the ineffective mirror unit.
I've got a MY14 Laredo and the rear vision mirror doesn't dim but the side mirrors do. The RV mirror has the sensor area on it but it's useless. I find the headlights way too bright at night. I can't find any way of adjusting the dimming on the console screen despite the manual not indicating dimming is model specific. The Pajero I had previous to the Jeep was fantastic with compared to this!
Well, yesterday on my way in to work I switched the headlights to 'Auto' to see if that would make a difference. It did - and the mirrors dimmed as they were supposed to. (I don't normally use the 'Auto' position...)
I thought it strange, though, that the auto-dimming would only work when the headlights were in 'Auto'. So this morning I tested them with the headlights in normal 'On' position, and they worked! Go figure...
Time will tell, I guess, whether I have an intermittent problem, or the system just needed to be prodded to work in the first place.
Oh, and on my 2014 Limited both outside mirrors dim - must be part of one of the packages that came on the vehicle...
During the daytime, I'll usually travel with the switch at the 'parking lights' position, so the taillights are illuminated along with the DRLs. As it gets darker, I just roll it to 'headlights'.