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Topic: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors (Read 534 times) |
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Eric_R
Administrator
Cosworth Owner 1998 - 2006 & site co-founder
Posts: 1792
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Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« on: Jul 11th, 2005, 8:02pm » |
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Guys,
Higher spec Scorpios have self-dipping mirrors. These are susceptible to very high temperatures - such as we are experiencing now - and they can burst, dripping the fluid, like Alien Blood, onto the gear surround below. This means a new mirror (£125) and a new gear surround if you don't clean up the fluid in time.
The problem is that the mirror is directly in the sun and absorbs heat through the black plastic. It can't shed the heat because in a closed car, especially dark coloured ones, the surrounding air is also very hot. The temperature of the upper cabin area can reach staggering levels in high summer.
May I suggest some ways to minimise the risk, and these have worked for 7 years on my ash-black estate:
1. Park facing away from the sun if possible.
2. Use a sun reflector of some kind, ensuring that it keeps the mirror in the shade.
3. If the car is in a secure area or can be supervised, tilt the sunroof very slightly. This allows the worst of the heat inside the roof area to escape.
These simple precautions will greatly lessen the risk of alien blood damage.
Owners with simple dipping rv mirrors can have a smug grin on their faces while they read this 
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After a Cosworth, anything else is just ... ordinary
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Paul B
Senior Member
'98 24V Ultima saloon
Posts: 2442
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #1 on: Jul 11th, 2005, 8:06pm » |
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Good advice there.
I'm currently parking mine next to some tall conifer trees during the day and leaving the sunroof on tilt.
So far - so good. 
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Two hundred & seven horses and only one jockey!
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locky
Newbie
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 8
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #2 on: Jul 11th, 2005, 9:36pm » |
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This is where sunroof and window deflectors come in handy. 
I usually have the sunroof slid back to just before the end of the roof deflector and the front windows down a bit. Any one passing can't see that the windows are down, and of course the car is double locked.
As Eric has mentioned this really helps to keep the inside a bit cooler as there is more of a flow of air.
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Eric_R
Administrator
Cosworth Owner 1998 - 2006 & site co-founder
Posts: 1792
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #3 on: Jul 12th, 2005, 12:04pm » |
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Locky,
I just tilt my sunroof very slightly before I lock it up. This breaks the 'oven' effect, and the car is noticeable cooler (but not cold by any means) when I return to it. The vents in the C-pillar (or D in estates) need positive pressure to open and let air in. Opening the sunroof even slightly breaks the seal and the hot air flowing out of the roof draws in cooler air through the vents.
The effect of the bodywork colour cannot be discounted. A silver or white car metal is noticeably cooler, even in high summer. If you touch a silver car parked in the full sun the metal will feel only warm, but you'd be able to fry an egg on a black car right next to it.
IMV this is what makes the darker coloured cars much more susceptible to rv mirror burst, it's like leaving the mirror in an oven all day.
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After a Cosworth, anything else is just ... ordinary
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dart
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #4 on: Jul 13th, 2005, 7:59pm » |
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Thank goodness I've got one of those ancient manual affairs that I actually have to raise my finger up too,ta dip it!All you in your all singing all dancin top of the range jobs.You just have to keep your eyes open and the car does the rest!
You can't beat a basic model(hard toil though it is)
Ps; Do you know,I even have to change gear myself!! imagine that 
Your sincerly Tote Ally Jealous.
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Eric_R
Administrator
Cosworth Owner 1998 - 2006 & site co-founder
Posts: 1792
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #5 on: Jul 13th, 2005, 9:36pm » |
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Dart,
Yes, sometimes I think that
... But then when I get in and the drivers seat and door mirrors have adjusted to my position, the nearside mirror dips to show the kerb when I go into reverse, the climate control keeps the temperature I've set and the speed sensitive steering weights up as I accelerate, and the AVC on the radio brings the volume up, and the rear deck levels up to compensate for the load, and I've set the cruise control for 200 miles on a motorway and my favourite tracks are on the CD player ...
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After a Cosworth, anything else is just ... ordinary
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dart
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #6 on: Jul 15th, 2005, 10:44pm » |
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Toys R us Scorpio's! huh! 140,000 miles
and never missed a beat,sorry,I have changed the spark plugs!
still jealous
Dart
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ren
Full Member
95 N 2.9 24v Cossie Estate
Posts: 480
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #7 on: Jul 15th, 2005, 11:29pm » |
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Ive got into the abit of drapeing a handkerchief or similar
around the mirror when not safe to leave an opening to
reduce the heat
it may look unsightly from the outside but those who think that are not faced with the repair bill.
ren
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mr._floppy
Junior Member
Posts: 100
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Re: Photochromatic Rear View Mirrors
« Reply #8 on: Jul 16th, 2005, 10:29am » |
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As the mirror was developed in the much hotter USA and is fitted to most American Ford models surely the lower temperatures we get here should trouble it that much.
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