Frozen Mirror Fix: Lancer's Heating Element Mystery

Hey there, I had a similar issue with my 2011 Mitsubishi ASX diesel last winter. The driver's side mirror heating stopped working completely, and it turned out to be a faulty wiring connection where the cables run through the door hinge area. The constant opening and closing of the door had worn down the wire insulation over time. Took it to my regular garage, and they found the cable connection to the mirror heating element was loose and partially corroded. They had to replace a section of the wiring harness and the connector plug. Not a major repair, but it definitely needed proper attention to prevent any potential electrical issues down the line. If your mirror isn't heating at all, it's likely either the wiring or the heating element itself. These problems are pretty common in Mitsubishis of our generation after they hit the 100k mark. I'd recommend finding a garage that specializes in Asian cars, they'll know exactly where to look.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Really good to know it's a relatively common issue with these cars. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? And has everything been working fine since then? I've got a couple of garages in mind that work with Asian cars, so this helps a lot to know what to expect. Cheers!

Hey again! Happy to give you an update! Yeah, the repair cost me exactly 155€, which included fixing the faulty cable connection and replacing the corroded plug. Since getting it sorted at the mechanic, the mirror heating has been working perfectly, no issues at all through the cold mornings we've had recently. Such a relief not having to manually scrape ice off that side anymore! To be honest, it was a pretty straightforward fix once they knew what to look for. Sounds like you're on the right track looking at garages that specialize in Asian cars. They usually have good experience with these specific Mitsubishi quirks. Let me know how you get on with your repair, always good to compare notes with fellow Mitsubishi owners!

Thanks a lot for all that info! Just got back from one of those Asian car specialists you mentioned, what a difference from my previous mechanic! They actually found the exact same issue you had, worn wiring in the door hinge area. Paid about 170€, slightly more than what you did, but honestly, I'm just happy it's sorted now. The best part? They were super transparent about everything, showed me the damaged wiring and explained why it happened. Tested it this morning when it was freezing, and the mirror cleared up perfectly, such a relief! Guess I've found my new regular mechanic too, which is a bonus after my last frustrating experience. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me know exactly what to expect. These Mitsubishis definitely have their quirks, but at least we know how to handle them now! Cheers for the help!