GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hey Ladies and Gents, quick update on the BWV! I decided to get the Texas dirt / sand that came free in my carpet last weekend! So I used my compressor and vacuum, it ended up looking great! However as I was working I decided to take out the OnStar Module + Bracket Assembly. I fired the car up and no issues, BUT the rear view mirror no longer has any power flowing to it.

THAT BEING SAID, I ended up bidding on a Gentex mirror that was wrongly listed on ebay as a Nissan Sentra mirror that sold for $19 shipped (SCORE!). The mirror comes with Compass, Temperature, OnStar Buttons (in case I buy a costar module in the future) and auto dimming. The connector is a 16 Pin which is the same as what is plugged into the current OnStar only mirror.

NEXT, I need the OnStar wiring because the power to the mirror comes from the OnStar module and I will simply do a wire tap from main harness to the mirror harness or will build a jumper harness (but don't want to do this in case I get a Costar module)

Thank you for the help!

I ended up getting the wiring diagrams for the mirror and OnStar but need to figure out how to wire up the new mirror for the other functions. Any help is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

Hey again, so here is the deal, with the Gentex mirror that I purchased looks like all will be well and I can recommend that anyone do this mod!

So here is the deal our Vibes DO NOT HAVE a +12volt wire running to the rear view mirror, as such we can't power other functions on our mirrors other than the OnStar has 5 volts supplied by the module under the seat (which I removed). Now a ground location at pin 8 can be used as mirror ground (once again OnStar supplied). I can email you the wiring diagram for our vehicle if you like, for some reason I am getting a "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached" whatever that means

As for your typical Gentex mirror the wiring is below(thank you 12volt forum), now we have the option to tap into our temp sensors and have a redundant temp reading...... but why bother? If you DO bother then remember this, the temp sensor that I have seen included in the mirror kits IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT WE HAVE ON OUR FRONT BUMPER BEAM!

Now as for the +12 voltage on pin 13 I plan on wiring to some other accessory that is switched, maybe the radio since a fuse tap should be really easy to put on that. I have already bench tested the mirror and the compass and self dimming works great!

Allegedly there is a reverse override which won't let the mirror dim when in reverse...... I think I will save some headache and not wire it in.

Pin 1-not used
2 - Microphone (if the mirror is equipped with it)
3 - "Passenger Air Bag on" notification (if mirror is equipped with that display)
4. - "Passenger Air Bag off" notification (if mirror is equipped with that display)
5 - auto day/night signal, which comes from the LH outside rearview mirror
6 - Temp probe connection ( if mirror is equipped with display)
7 - Temp probe connection (if mirror is equipped with display)
8 - Ground
9 - one source says it's a Reverse Dim Inhibit signal so the mirror will not dim when the vehicle is in reverse, another says it's a supply voltage from a back-up supply (I guess so Onstar will still work in the event that the main evehicle battery is disabled in an accident). I'm pretty sure if 12v is applied to this pin, the mirror will not dim no matter what.
10 - Microphone (if mirror is equipped)
11- keypad signal (out) for On-star (pressing any button puts out a 5v multiplexed signal on this pin, - so you can't just use the buttons to control whatever you want to. Sorry.)
12 - keypad supply (5v) voltage (in) for the buttons
13 - ignition voltage (12v -main power IN to the mirror)
14 - keypad green LED signal
15 - keypad red LED signal
16 - return line to the LH outside mirror for day/night signal

I did a similar mod in my car (2009). My mirror only has the auto-dimming and compass, so it might be different from yours, but I simply jumpered pin 12 and 13 to power my mirror functions. I didn't know (until I read your post) that pin 12 was only 5V and not 12V, but I've been using it for almost 5 years now without any problems. Probably doesn't help you though, since you disconnected the source of the 5V pin.

Just remember that the onstar module has the numbers, lettering, barcodes, ect on it.... The silver box with no stickers, info, is for your 120v outlet. So don't remove that one.

Whoops!! I haven't tried the outlet actually ever! So the non sticker box is the inverter?

Yup. Just unbolt it from the onstar box and plug it back in under the seat. The wires will hold it in place.

The only thing I ever used the 120v plug in for was to charge my cell and ipad.

Do you know what the little communication box near the invertor is (Not the huge OnStar module but the little comm module)? What function does that little box serve?

Also I ordered the power wire, should be here in two to three days so I can finally power on my new mirror!

As I recall, the black box under the front right of the drivers seat is used for the stabilitrack system.

Right that is the Yaw sensor, I meant the one that is right under the onstar module and behind the inverter

OK ladies and Gents! THE WORK IS 100% DONE! I had to do a few things BUT it all worked out

1. Had to order a wire with terminal on the end up of it and put it in the connector going to the mirror, once that was done I ran the wire down the A Pillar next to the other wire (right under the take used to hold the existing harness to the A Pillar and ran it to the power distribution box behind the little storage door on the driver lower dash assembly
2. I ran a terminal to an open slot that goes to the ignition switch harness (it is the one under the thin green wire) and then put a fuse in line with the wire and connected it. BOOM every time you turn the key power goes to the mirror
3. Since I took my OnStar module out I basically tapped into the black wire (which is the same black wire as the mirror) and grounded it to the OnStar mount

Every time I turn the key the system comes on and does not shut off or dim when I turn the key to the start position

One issue I have noticed is that it is not calibrated and only shows one direction (stuck on east) from my understanding I have to drive it for while and it will self calibrate. WE SHALL SEE!

I removed the OnStar module along with the small black box and the inverter on both Vibes last weekend. At the time I did not realize the small silver box was the inverter. One day this week I went to charge my cell phone. I plugged the charger into the phone, plugged the charger into the outlet and hit the button. The light on the button came on, but nothing happened. I automatically started thinking something was wrong with the charger or my phone or that a fuse had blown or something. I figured I'd mess with it the next day. The next day I drove my mom's Vibe to work and I plugged her charger into my phone and tried it and nothing happened. It was than that I realized one of the boxes I had removed must have been the inverter, than I saw this thread which confirmed that . Will be re-installing both inverters this weekend !