Body, generic

B0610 Mirror Heater Circuit

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

Public J2012 lists, OEM manuals and NHTSA bulletins all lack B0610; its use cannot be verified. The title describes the heating element behind the outside mirror glass. In the 2003–2012 Saab 9-3 each door module watches this load on its own: if the heater draws too much current when switched on, it stores B1640 02 and tries again only in the next drive cycle. Magna's US9481304B2 gives a typical pad of roughly 23 W (1.8 A at 13 V), often a PTC element, whose power is cut back while the car stands still. According to TI, a mirror module has to supervise both the folding motor and the heater load for faults. A dead heater only affects demisting; adjustment faults have their own codes (B0600, B0601).

Likely causes

Heating pad behind the mirror glass broken or shorted
Corroded plug at the mirror glass or in the mirror base
Wire chafed in the door hinge passage
Heater output of the door or body control module faulty

Symptoms

  • Outside mirror stays fogged or iced while the rear window clears
  • Mirror glass does not warm up when the heating is switched on
  • Code returns after every restart

Repair estimate

DifficultyEasyDIY possible
Parts and labour€40–300
Time0.3–2 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

mirror heater elementbody control module

Related codes

B0600B0601B0950

References: saabwisonline.com, saabwisonline.com, patents.google.com, ti.com.