windguy Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 not sure where to post this topic but it pertains to Gen 2 TC's. Curious, has anyone else experienced a blind spot with the A-pillar area of the van? This happens to me on both driver and passenger side. If I'm at a stop sign I've got to move around a bit to make sure the A-pillar isn't blocking a pedestrian or biker. It seems like the a-pillar isn't too bad but for some reason it creates a blind spot for me. I'm sitting tall at 6-2. I drive hilly twisty canyon roads primarily and there are times when I flat out can't see an oncoming car. These are narrow roads so you need to scoot over and hug the right side when there's oncoming traffic. Sometimes it scares the bejesus out of me when I finally see the oncoming car. spooky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx138 Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Yes its an odd blind spot. I have issues with not being able to see turn signals on car in the lane next to me because of the a pillar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 I will have to pay attention and see if it is an issue for me , I have numerous vehicles and they all have different sight line issues . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Huh, I haven't noticed A-pillar problems, myself - I'm about 6ft tall. Then again, I've had a 2003 F350 crew-cab long-bed previously and one time the driver-side A-pillar on that beast hid an entire car turning left in front of me until the car was in my direct sight-line! We initially approached a fairly large stop sign intersection from opposing directions, but they were then turning left while I was going straight. Each road has two lanes going straight plus left & right turn lanes... I bet that driver had same names to call me for driving straight at them, lol - but I did hit the brakes when I finally noticed them, still a good 60+ feet away at 10mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Can't say that we've ever experienced this blind spot even in our panel van.. But then again, we both tend to sit more forward and upright while driving. However, I do wish that we could find a better mirror setup. I bet you have these mirrors, too? My panel van has them & I wish that the panel vans had the tall mirrors with bigger blind-spot mirrors as standard equipment. For reference, my van only has windows in the front, none at all behind the driver/passenger. And these are the optional mirrors for 2nd gen TC's that I personally think should be standard for panel vans... I want to find a pair for my van when I have enough extra money in the ole wallet, haha. LostInTransit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Most European TC panel vans have the dual lens mirrors. Gen1 wagons were equipped with the single section ones but I don't think it's the case with the Gen2. I've only seen the "optional" ones pictured above. Regarding the A-pillar issue: also the Gen1 A-pillar easily blocks a bicyclist (or an unfortunate sub-compact car) approaching from the left. I've gotten used to rocking left and right at every left turn to mitigate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Though the wife has already been informed and she agrees with this upgrade/option Sir, you really need an extra vehicle you could perform modifications on solely to your wife's opposition but still do it. It's good for testosterone production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 I've mostly only noticed the large mirrors on fleet TC's around my area (northern IL) and a couple of wagons, although I don't specifically pay attention to TC mirrors while driving, haha. Here's a used passenger side one on Ebay that I found. http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-TRANSIT-CONNECT-Right-Door-Mirror-Power-large-14-15-15J0861-/381554926615?fits=Model%3ATransit+Connect Doing some internet searching, it appears as though these are the correct dual glass 'large' mirrors, but I'm not sure if the cover is included (front side of mirror when on vehicle). These ones are manual mirrors, not power. Unfortunately, it doesn't show the full part numbers on the website. http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/PartDetail.aspx?n=xYvC3w0iU0ojGyohcJJ0uA%3d%3d&id=345273664&m=2&search=true&year=2014&make=Ford&model=Transit%20Connect http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/PartDetail.aspx?n=k6PwsPjChL0NJ9X%2bBfGCBA%3d%3d&id=343271996&m=2&search=true&year=2014&make=Ford&model=Transit%20Connect LostInTransit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 On the Parts diagram the whole Mirror Number is 17682 the yellow square shows what parts come with the mirror , The Trim piece in the front and cover are separate. The mirror cover comes in a black standard color and one that is primed to be painted. The major issue I have with the small mirrors is the Blind spot element should be on the bottom inside corner of the Mirror. Being on the outside and high it does not show the side of the TC for reference . avlisk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 On the Parts diagram the whole Mirror Number is 17682 the yellow square shows what parts come with the mirror , The Trim piece in the front and cover are separate. The mirror cover comes in a black standard color and one that is primed to be painted. The major issue I have with the small mirrors is the Blind spot element should be on the bottom inside corner of the Mirror. Being on the outside and high it does not show the side of the TC for reference . TC Mirror.jpg In the fine print, there's an explanation that 17682 (for example) is only a portion of the full Ford part number and that the full part number will be provided on the receipt for future reference. Notice in this screenshot that all the mirror assemblies are showing part number 17682... I think that number, in the Ford part systems, represents "assembly, mirror" and then there's additional numbers for each different size & type (manual/power/heated/etc). I just wanted to add this clarification so nobody calls their Ford dealer asking about mirror 17682, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Good info, If when you call ford and give the reference number that gets the parts person to the mirror section. Then the descriptions of the different mirrors will allow the Parts person to find the correct numbers for the Actual mirror that you want to order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikinchris Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 17682 is called a "basic number" and has been used as a number for a mirror since at least the 1930's. For instance, a mirror for a 1971 Mustang would be a D1ZZ-17682-A. The prefix and suffix to the number let you know what they fit on. "D" meaning 1970 decade "1:" meaning 1971, the second year of the decade and "Z" meaning Mustang and the second "Z" meaning the parts division number. The Suffix "A: would designate a certain version of the mirror, so you could have an A, B, C, etc. versions of the mirror. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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