I did a search and couldn't find any info on this subject. Did any 4-Runner ever come with this option? I had a Maxima with this option and they are great in the winter to get snow and condensation off. If this was an option on any Toyota it may be able to be retrofitted, but might be costly. Having worked in military avionics, we used Minco thermofoil heaters (www.minco.com) a lot. I think this is the type of heater that the heated mirrors have but maybe someone who has seen one can verify that. Does anybody have any other ideas of a small 12v heater that can be glued to the back of the mirror and is fairly cheep? Thanks,Chris

 

I assume you mean the side mirrors because if you had snow on the rear view (in the cab), you would reallly be screwed!

I know that this is an option that came with my 2000 SR5. Funny, I found out because I had the notorious warped driver side mirror problem and my dealership order a replacement. Then, once they started the work, they found that they had not order the proper parts for the heated mirrors and I had to come back another day.

I can't help you on a retro or anything, sorry!

 

Good question... I was thinking about this same thing this morning as I was trying to back out of my driveway with frosted mirrors.

 

you guys need to move to SoCal. It's supposed to hit 91 degrees today :eek:

 

I believe that some of the 3G 4Runners have heated side mirrors. Have you considered/investigated the possibility of using OEM heated mirrors and retrofitting them?

Rick

 

Mirrors on mine are heated.

 

Heated side mirrors began in 1999 and was standard equipment on SR5 models and higher.

 

Really?? So my 02 SR5 SE has them? How do they work? There's no button for them, as far as I know. Do they just stay warm all the time, when engine is running?

 

There is no seperate button, they activate whenever you use the rear defogger.

 

Sweet!!! Thanks!

 

Any idea what it would take to fit a '98 SR5 to have the '99's mirrors? Would I have to replace the entire mirror and housing or just the actual glass/mirror section?

There is obviously already wires going through because of the power mirrors so I would see the wiring being a difficult thing.

Any thoughts?

Rick

 

Aren't the mirrors the same on all 3rd gens (at least the actual mirror glass)? If so I think this might be easy.

 

Has anyone considered adding elements to make a heated steering wheel? How about heated seats (for those of us with non-heated seats)? I think I could retrofit those Minco units to my 2G mirrors. If I can only remember how they came apart (I replaced the glass on one before)...

 

There is a company that makes elements that fit into your factory seats. I forget what the name of the company is, but there are a few people around that have them.

 

I'm not sure this link will work but its worth a shot.

[http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi]What I found for 99 4Runner door mirrors.[/URL]

There were 5 different mirrors types on the 99 4Runner so with both sides there are 10 options. More to come as I investigate further.


There are manual and electric mirriors but no mention of heated mirrors. I assume the electricly aimed ones are also heated but I could be wrong... again. That would mean that you may have to buy the aiming control switches to make them work or maybe you can just swap the glass with the heat elements and keep the manual aim function.

Prices are everywhere from $64 to over $200 for later models. Shop around.

I can't link to my search results but there are several on car-part.com.

 

Thanks for investigating matt, I too am interested... I had them on my volvo and they were great! (my '98 ltd. does not have them, not that I was doubting J.A.!) As I was missing them in the recent ice storms!! and yes, the rear defrost was on... I would guess running the wires could be quite annoying, and if the parts are going to be toyota, ive got a feeling its going to be an arm or a leg, but... i'm eager to see what we can find!

 

Jalaber, are you sure? I just talked to my buddy who has a '98 sr5 and his window sticker says it has "heated" side mirrors.

They must have added them in 98?

 

They didn't come on my 98 ltd...

 

I think Jalaber is correct. I'm pretty sure the mirrors only came with the heated seats of which I have neither. My 98 supposedly has everything but the wind deflector and hitch and when I asked the dealer about the seats he said it was not an option on 98s (I bought my 98 in 99 so there were 99s on the lot).

 

That's the first person I have heard with them on a pre-1999 model, not doubting it, just the first I have heard. Also the Toyota literature for 1999 makes it look like it is a new feature for that year.