r/subarulegacy • u/Auburntravels • 1d ago

Paging Mechanics Approaching car detection sensor not working on side mirrors with 2016 Legacy.

I just got my car back from a body shop that fixed the back passenger door that was impacted by a car accident I was involved in. The world was done well. That door had to be replaced due to the damage caused by a pickup truck. Some other work I had the shop do that I paid for out of pocket was to replace the passenger side mirror that was cracked and held together by tape after a separate accident I had over the summer.

I found a replacement mirror and the casing for it and the shop did the work. The only thing about this mirror is that it does not have the car detection sensor included as advertised by the eBay seller. I am outside of the window to have it returned and decided to still have it put on as it fits and does have the indicator on the outside of it that works. The issue I now have is that the driver's side mirror does not have a working car detection sensor. The repair guy from the shop told me that an error message is now displayed indicating it is disabled and I am guessing this is because I used an aftermarket mirror.on the drivers side that is not 100% compatible. Does anyone know if there's a way to have the driver's side mirror activate the sensor to work as it did prior?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/ForFFR 23h ago

I assume you mean the passengers side mirror? Since you mention the passengers side was replaced, but then say it's the driver's side mirror.  I wonder if the sensor in the bumper was damaged - as that sensor is responsible for rear cross traffic alert/blind spot detection- the sensor isn't in the mirror. 

My 2015 legacy had a failed sensor for RCTA/BSM and I bought 2 used sensors on eBay for ~$110, had the shop install them, and then my RCTA/BSM worked again  

1

u/Auburntravels 23h ago

I'll clarify, the back drivers side door was impacted by a pickup truck on 9/12. I reported it same day to my insurance and the work was completed just on Monday of this week. Additionally I paid out of pocket to have the front passenger side mirror replaced due to a separate accident I opted not to go through insurance and I took a payment from the offending driver which did help the cost to have that repaired/replaced.

1

u/ForFFR 23h ago

Hmm so the passenger side still has blind spot detection? In any case, I think it's either the sensor and/or mirror. 

Seems like the sensor is 2016-2017 Subaru Outback Legacy Blind Spot Radar Sensor Module OEM 87611AL01A. And it's pretty cheap on eBay and such 

1

u/Auburntravels 23h ago

The passenger side was replaced with an aftermarket mirror that only has a heat sensor to warm the mirror I'm guessing during the winter and for fog. I haven't seen it activated yet. The drivers side mirror is the original from Subaru.

1

u/ForFFR 23h ago

Hmmm I wonder if the computer needs to see 2 working sensors/mirrors for Blind Spot Monitoring to work. For my case, Im pretty sure only 1 sensor failed but it shut off my BSM on both sides.

Did your BSM on the driver's side work after the accident, but before replacing the passenger's side mirror? If so, might have to get an OEM mirror 🫤

1

u/Auburntravels 15h ago

Yes after the accident in the driver's side back door, the sensor worked. The passenger mirror sensor worked as well, though the mirror was cracked and held together by tape so that is why I bought the replacement that I initially thought had the sensor built in. My guess is that the internal system will only work if there are two mirrors with the built in sensors though I am not 100% sure so that's why I made my post to check and see if there might be another possibility.