Any way to disable the auto dim rear view mirror?

[djz]

I have the auto dimming mirror with the home link garage door buttons on my 2013. Is there any way to disable to auto dim feature, or at least default this feature to off? I find myself pressing the button every time I drive the Outback at night because I prefer to see more than just 2 balls of light in the mirror.

[bradze]

there should be a power button in the middle. i haven't had a homelink mirror since july, but both my subarus have the auto dimming with a compass and no homelink and if you turn it off the auto dim goes away.

[Budaru]

According to my manual, page 3-51, the right-most button turns the auto-dim feature off, and the button to its left turns it on. It further states:

Auto-dimming function
The auto-dimming function is an anti-glare
capability which automatically reduces
glare coming from headlights of vehicles
behind you.
By pressing the power on button, the autodimming
function is turned on. By pressing
the power off button, the auto-dimming
function is turned off. When the autodimming
function is on, the function
indicator will illuminate in green.
Even with the mirror in anti-glare mode,
the mirror surface turns bright if the shift
lever/select lever is shifted into the “R”
(reverse) position. This is to ensure good
rearward visibility during reversing.

[Sequoia225]

Originally Posted by Budaru

According to my manual, page 3-51, the right-most button turns the auto-dim feature off, and the button to its left turns it on. It further states:

Auto-dimming function
The auto-dimming function is an anti-glare
capability which automatically reduces
glare coming from headlights of vehicles
behind you.
By pressing the power on button, the autodimming
function is turned on. By pressing
the power off button, the auto-dimming
function is turned off. When the autodimming
function is on, the function
indicator will illuminate in green.
Even with the mirror in anti-glare mode,
the mirror surface turns bright if the shift
lever/select lever is shifted into the “R”
(reverse) position. This is to ensure good
rearward visibility during reversing.

I think the OP is asking if there is a way to keep it coming back on. I can turn mine off but next time I start my car it automatically turns back on.

[djz]

Originally Posted by Sequoia225

I think the OP is asking if there is a way to keep it coming back on. I can turn mine off but next time I start my car it automatically turns back on.

Exactly. I hate the feature and want to find a way to turn it off and keep it off.

[Rgp]

There is a sensor in the mirror, if you can locate it, you can block it, but you'll create a blind spot on your mirror. I'd just turn it off all the time if it bugs ya that much.

[BossMaverick]

The sensor is the little window looking thing on the bottom edge of the mirror, next to the center button. It compares the rearward incoming light to the forward light. I suspect that a small piece of black electrical tape on the rear side of the sensor window would prevent the mirror from dimming (rear side meaning the side that faces the rear window).

You could probably even adjust the size of the piece of tape to achieve a partial dim rate. Covering 3/4 of the sensor window may produce a very mild dim (assuming these mirrors dim progressively).

I would go out and try it but I have one of the few Outback Premiums with a manual mirror (I ordered it this way on purpose).

[BossMaverick]

Originally Posted by Rgp

There is a sensor in the mirror, if you can locate it, you can block it, but you'll create a blind spot on your mirror. I'd just turn it off all the time if it bugs ya that much.

No blind spot will be created. The sensor shouldn't be in the mirrored surface.

[satellite65]

My 2012 Premium has 3 wires going to the mirror. Hot, Ground, and Reverse. The reverse wire has 12v on it when backing up, which overrides the autodimmer. I cut the reverse wire, and connected the mirror side of it to the 12V wire. That way the mirror always thinks I'm in reverse, and it never dims.

[Tom28]

Why not just disconnect the mirror's power supply all together?