DIY: Homelink install in a Base/Nismo
 

So I started this DIY as a one-stop resource for those interested in a Homelink mirror for their Base/Nismo 370Z's.

Here's what you will need:
- Flathead screwdriver
- Hex screwdriver (or check the set screw for your Homelink mirror to see what you need)
- Wiretaps
- Small cable ties
- Homelink mirror (I opted for the Gentex 453-series mirror in Amber to match my instrumentation)
- Homelink wire harness for corresponding mirror (mine was included with the mirror; try to source one if you can)
- 370Z Homelink wire cover (can be found at COVER-INSIDE MIRROR - 370Z (Z34) 2009+ :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com , or by the Nissan part no. 96329-CF00A)
- Ring connector
- Wiring tool
- 10mm socket with extension, ratchet

The install:

Start by using your flathead and gently prying apart the stock plastic mount, shown here-

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5154/dsc01324z.jpg

The plastic covers should separate, but since the top cover is encircles the mirror mount, it will not come off. Simply rotate the top cover to expose the mounting hardware.

There should be a small black plastic tab on the bottom of the mirror attached to the window. Gently push up on this tap and pull up on the actual mirror mount. The mirror will come straight off. The tab is here-

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7546/dsc01325s.jpg

You should be left with this affixed to the window. It is the mount that you will use to mount your new Homelink mirror-

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6893/dsc01326e.jpg

Plug the harness into the back of the mirror. Since the next step is mounting the actual mirror, accessibility to the back of the mirror could be limited-

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4103/dsc01329zs.jpg

Slide the new Homelink mirror onto the windshield mount from the top then down. Make sure that it is firmly in place. Tighten the set screw being careful not to overtighten (or you will damage the mount or mirror). You can always retighten it later if need be.

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1970/dsc01330lt.jpg

Here is the new Homelink wire cover. This will attach between the headliner and Homelink to conceal the wiring. The bottom portion will need to attach to the Homelink mirror, while the top portion slides beneath the headliner. It is shown in the correct orientation here-

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3749/dsc01339e.jpg

Leave a little slack in the wire (to ensure that you can still move the mirror around to adjust it) and run it behind the mirror like so-

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1887/dsc01343t.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7066/dsc01344iy.jpg

Run the remainder of the wiring and tuck it in the headliner, making it come down on the A-pillar. Slide the top portion of the wire cover up to conceal the wiring near the Homelink mirror-

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5702/dsc01347ih.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9094/dsc01349c.jpg

The next steps are to conceal the wiring behind the A-pillar and down to the fusebox.

Pry off the plastic trim piece next to the driver's side seat-

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2820/dsc01354ta.jpg

Take off the fusebox cover by removing the plastic nut and prying off the cover-

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3225/dsc01355p.jpg

Remove the weatherstripping along the A-pillar-

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9193/dsc01357v.jpg

Run the wiring down the A-pillar and down to the fuse box. Be careful not to block any of the attachment clips with wiring-

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/982/dsc01361qv.jpg
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/4456/dsc01362gq.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1897/dsc01363jd.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6366/dsc01364h.jpg

On to the wiring...make sure you disconnect the ground cable of the battery prior to doing ANY electrical work.

There should be three wires for the Homelink mirror- 12V constant, 12V switched/accessory, and ground.

Use the wiretaps (or splice) to connect the following wires in the fusebox harness. You may need to remove some of the electrical tape holding the loom together to get more access to these wires.

Homelink 12V constant- smaller red wire, bottom plug
Homelink 12V switched- orange wire, middle plug

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/263/dsc01378xu.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/103/dsc01380os.jpg

For the ground wire, there is a 10mm nut holding the left fuse box bracket. Remove it and attach the ring connector to the ground wire. Ground the Homelink mirror to this stud and tighten the bolt.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6994/dsc01376yr.jpg

Reconnect the battery and see if everything works. If it does, you're all set! Reattach all of the panels, weatherstripping, etc that you removed and you're done.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4285/dsc01424n.jpg

nice write up!

nice, wanted to do this for a while, where did you get the mirror from?

Nice write up :tup:

I just wired mine up a couple weeks ago. Haven't purchased the wire cover yet though.

Got my mirror from eBay. It was a GENK40A (I think), the newer style with no compass. Got it for like $60 shipped.

I did this install last month and am having a problem with my Radar Detector which I connected to the Homelink via an InvinsiCord. At night the Radar would intermittantly lose power and reconnect (reset) Two nights ago I pin pointed the problem! The auto Dimming of the mirror would cause this when headlights would shine in the mirror. Everytime this happened, my Radar would reset. Turning off the AutoDim resolved the issue. Not sure if anyone else has this problem. Not sure what the problem is....

Sounds more like a ground issue than anything. Try grounding the radar by itself.

But it works 100% perfectly fine during the day/when AutoDim is off...

When the AutoDim activates it's pulling more current, thereby requiring a better ground. Just a theory, grounds are a bigger deal than most people think. It'd be a good place to start looking.

Very nice writeup! I'm planning on doing this in a month or so.

Checked the ground and it is fine. Its definitely the AutoDim that is causing my V1 Radar Detector to reset. So this is an amperage issue. Could the wires we are splicing into no allow too much current to be pulled? I might have to tap into the Cig Ligher in the fuse panel for Ignition and see if that helps.

Thanks Weeeee, subscribed for future reference! :tup:

Just a follow up and FYI for anyone that is going to be doing the Homelink install AND wants to add a Radar Detector via InvinsiCord. DO NOT TAP INTO THE IGNITION WIRE as in this writeup. Tap into the CIG Lighter and the resetting of the Rader Detector when AutoDim kicks in will go away. Works perfectly now. It was NOT the ground.

i did my homelink a while ago and was a very simple install. no need to remove the a-pillar cover. just get a plastic squeegee and push the cord into the gap and around into the fuse box. i did pull the seal around the door opening temporarily.

i didnt unplug the battery either when i did the install. actually, i rarely remove the battery wire ground these days unless im working on the airbag.

I was just talking to my stereo installer today about puttin in a Homelink in my Z. Where can I get a mirror and the Homelink system? What is the cost? Sorry for the dumb questions but Im an idiot when it comes to this stuff. Thanks.

I got my Homelink mirror and wiring kit on eBay for like $70 shipped. (was two seperate purchases) I think there are complete kits on eBay too for under $200.

You can also get them for a couple hundred $ from Nissan. Your choice!

Im looking for the Gentex 453-series and I did a search on ebay and did not find one. If i go through Nissan will it be the Gentex 453-series?

Many thanks...just got done doing the install.

E

Do a search for Nissan Maxima Homelink mirrors, 2006 and up. Thats what mine came from and its the Gentex 453 with Amber Compass LED! :happydance:

I completed the installation today and managed to move the BT microphone from the A pillar to the map light area. The diagrams indicated a couple of spots for microphones for vehicles with BT, so I glued the microphone to that location. It hasn't been tested yet.

Anyhow, everything seems to be working. Well, the compass still shows C and I've had time to mess with it yet. Auto-dimming seems to work. However, Homelink isn't working at all. No lights when I press or hold any of the buttons. :-(

I checked the voltage at the T-taps, and it comes up good.

[EDIT] Resolved. Battery wire gauge to the t-tap was too small, so it didn't fully cut the insulation causing intermittent connection. It works now :)

^ are you still getting the "C" on the compass area? you may need to drive around a bit in a clear area (with a clear view of the sky) to get it to calibrate.

Got my Homelink mirror as a birthday present last week. Going to install it this weekend, woohoo. Thanks again for the DIY, looks pretty straight forward.

Maybe I'm retarded, but I can't for the life of me figure this part out. I've tried pushing that little black tab up towards the windshield and it doesn't move at all. I've been pushing certainly a lot harder than "gently" that is for sure. Any help? Sweating my *** off here.

Went and gave it another shot and was able to get it off. Pretty sure your directions are wrong though, the tab should be pulled down slightly... or at least thats what it seemed like I did when it finally came off.

Yea, I drove in circles a few times and it started working. :D

Sorry for the confusion. I meant pull up on the tab meaning towards you, like a soda can. At the same time you're pulling on the tab, you should be pushing up on the mirror. I said gently because you don't want to crack windshield glass when trying to get it off.

That OEM mirror was a bit of a pain to remove. I spent 30min trying to figure out the tab, so I pried and snapped it. The mirror was out afterwards with no visible damage to the glass. However, the wire cover that came with it is a bit on the short side.

BTW, for those who run a microphone to the a-pillar, it's nice to route and hide the mic underneath the map light switch location. Look Ma! No Wires!

Heh, the wire cover that came with mine was too long, couldn't use it. I'll probably pick up or order the Nissan one next time I'm at the dealer.

Digitonium do you have any pics of the new mic location? I just got a new head unit with BT and I'm thinking of doing the mirror at the same time.

Sorry, no pictures of the microphone installed. However, you can follow the instructions to change the ambient LED:
http://www.the370z.com/519440-post30.html

From there you should be able route the microphone wire through the headliner as you would when hiding the wires for the rearview mirror. Then you can push the microphone through the headliner and out through the map light area.

I tore the dust cloth and secured the microphone with epoxy. Make sure the microphone is aimed towards the opening. You can use masking tape to hold it in place before applying epoxy. Let it set for a few hours before removing the masking tape.

The headunit should have adjustments for the microphone. I think I had it close to max. My gf complains about hearing me sometimes, but so far everyone's able to hear me fine.

I just did this install but I cant figure out how to program homelink. When I try resetting memory by pressing two outer buttons , nothing happens. My compass works fine and my auto dimming too. Any ideas or suggestions ?

Any ideas?
I noticed the auto-dimming LIGHT turns on but the other light never turns on, even if I press the homelink buttons.

Please helpp !!! :(

Okay i'm going to assume nobody knows..I'm going to return the mirror

Use these instructions: Homelink

Simply select the 350Z as the programming is all the same; pick your garage door opener brand, and go from there.

I can't even make this first step work...no light comes on ever

For first time training, press and hold the two outer HomeLink® buttons, releasing only when the HomeLink® indicator light begins to flash after 20 seconds. (Do not perform this step when training the additional HomeLink® buttons.)

I'm going to do my mirror with my stereo hopefully this weekend. I just wanted to add an alternate way I found for the power wire(s).

There is a product called "Add-A-Circuit". I think the main manufacterer is Littlefuse but I found a similar product at my local electronics supply shop. It's basically an adapter that plugs into a fuse slot in your fuse box and gives you 2 fuse holder slots. One for the one you just pulled out and one to power a new accessory. The extra fused slot has a power lead with a crimp connector on it. There are pics on the above link but I coulnd't copy then since they are on a PDF.

Edit found one:

http://www.mouser.com/images/littelfuse/lrg/fhm.jpg

I'll come back here and let you guys know how it worked out.

Has anyone tried installing this on a roadster? How do I take down the headliner?

Thanks for the DIY. Made this real simple.

yo vic you gotta do this for me! lmao

Sorry to dig this old thread up.

Im ready to do my install but not sure about how the wire will interfere with the curtian airbag placement.

So from the roof headliner, if i remove the weathershield, when getting the wire across will it not cross over where the airbag is running ?

help... i need to visualise it before attempting it

I'm thinking about installing one of these, hopefully there is enough space by the lights
Light Khaki Homelink Visor Module (Rolling Code) | eBay seems pretty cheap