JDM Power Folding Mirror Install Into Stock USDM Harness

JDM power folding mirror install into stock USDM harness.

By: Greg L., Zeke21 on twinturbo.net

This is how I was able to get the rumored “the JDM switch wont work in the USDM z car” phrase disproved. However, I am not responsible for what ever happens to you or your car. Please read this carefully and take you time. It took me about 2 hrs a day for about a week, 25 fuses, and a lot of patience to get this right. This write up should not take you nearly as long because you have directions. But do take you time it is worth it.

Install time: 30 minutes (some general z car and wire knowledge) to an hour (no knowledge)

Brief over view: My JDM mirror install consists of the following.

*USDM mirror housing, this enabled me to not have to paint the housing.

*USDM power heated mirror. Do note the JDM power folding mirrors do not have this option.

*The insides of the mirror housing consist of the JDM mirror Bracket and Motor.

*You must also use the JDM mounts, these I had to have painted to match the color of my car. Note: this will cause the mirrors to be off in sight perception. Please see the chapter on the mirror install for further possibilities of fixing this.

First we will begin with just the install of the JDM switch into the USDM harness. Please leave you USDM mirrors on you car. We need to make sure the conversion works properly with the USDM wire harness.

Also note: You may need extra 10A fuse in the event that something does not work.

Step 1. Pull the switch out. Stick a flat head screwdriver next the edge of the switch on the driver’s side. Gently bend the screwdriver towards the drivers seat in order to 'pop' the switch out.

Step 2. Next unplug the harness from the switch.

Read before doing the next few steps:

Step 3 (Plug and Play). DO THIS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO CUT THE WIRES! I recommend step 3 because it is cleaner and just looks sweet. However if you do not mind cutting them skip this step.

Pull the yellow plastic clip off the back of the harness plug. Use the flat head screwdriver on the both sides of the yellow clip to pry off.

Now you are going to need a small flat head screwdriver, something that will fit inside the holes on the harness plug. Look inside these holes and you will see a metal pin. Put the screwdriver underneath the metal pin (see pic) and push the screwdriver up. This should let the wire lose so you can pull it out on the other side of the wire. It is kind of tricky but it will work. Picture below was taken using a harness that had been cut. Yours will not be cut on the end.

YOU ARE GOING TO PULL EACH WIRE OUT ONE AT A TIME. You will first pull one wire from the JDM switch out and then one from the USDM harness. Then you will toss the JDM wire off to the side and replace it with the wire you pulled out of the USDM harness plug. You want to do this one at a time in order to follow my little chart.

Important! Leave the two Green/Red and Green/Black wires on the JDM harness plug. Those two wires power the folding function. You have no choice but to spice into those. But leave them alone for now. We’re only trying to get the normal function of the mirror control to work right.

Skip to step 5.

Step 4. (Cut em up) DO THIS STEP IF YOU PLAN ON CUTTING THE WIRE HARNESS!

If you plan on cutting please use the male and female end splicing tabs. This will make switching the wires around easier in case that the wires for some reason do not match up. Splice the male end on the JDM wires and the female on the USDM wires. Follow my chart, Step 5.

Step 5. The Chart. This chart should be pretty self-explanatory. However, look over the wire colors. If you do not have the same set of wire colors listed here, this conversion may not work. Wire colors are represented here by the main color first and then the stripe color on the wire if it should have it.

For example:

Yellow (main color) / Black (stripe color)

Work you way from left to right on my chart. For example take the Green wire and plug it into the spot that the Blue/White wire was in on the JDM plug. If you choose to splice, then splice the Green wire into the Blue/White wire.

Note: Be prepared to have extra 10A fuses ready in case this wire conversion does not work. Don’t worry hooking these things up wrong did not seem to hurt my car. I went through 25 of these bad boys trying to figure this out. If the fuse should go out: go to the fuse panel underneath the dash. It is located next to the footrest and the clutch. On the trim, slide the door up and replace the fuse.

Stock (USDM) Harness / JDM Harness Plug or Splice into these wires
Green
Yellow/Black
Blue/Black
Blue/Red
Yellow/Blue
Purple/White / Blue/White
Blue/Black
Blue/Orange
Blue/Red
Blue/Yellow
Blue

Now after getting all your wires plugged or spliced in turn the car to the on position and try to adjust the mirrors. Make sure every direction works properly. If everything works then you have successfully completed the hardest part of the job. Well maybe not now that you had a chart to follow!

However, if while trying to move the mirrors around and you heard a pop sound or nothing is working anymore, then the fuse has blown. Take you key out and replace the fuse. Now you are going to have to go through some trial and error. If this is the case email me.

Coming soon, Part 2: The install of the mirrors on the car while keeping the power defrost option and running power folding wires to the mirrors.