How To Fix A Cracked Side Mirror On Car

Side Mirror Replacement Overview

You had plenty of clearance yesterday morning time. Just as you drank your coffee and backed out this morning time, the garage door opening mysteriously closed in on your automobile and ripped off the automobile side view mirror. Even if your insurance will embrace a side mirror replacement, this body shop repair is most probable less than your deductible. In other words, information technology's coming out of your pocket. The skillful news is that you can replace the side view mirror yourself for a lot less!

Social club a replacement side view mirror

replace side mirror Family Handyman

Start your repair job by searching the Net for an aftermarket side view mirror and for the factory paint color code. Most mirrors are available from online sources for a fraction of the dealer cost. Because replacement trunk parts take to be painted to lucifer your automobile, nosotros located the factory paint color code and and so visited an machine parts shop and purchased cans of aerosol bear on-upwardly paint and primer.

Painting the side view mirror was easy. We simply masked off the glass and followed the spraying instructions on the paint cans. But if you lot're not up to painting it yourself, take it to a body shop.

Remove the cover and door panels

Our ability mirror repair required the removal of the door trim panel to access the mirror's electric connector. This may seem scary at first, but with the right tools (available at motorcar parts stores), it's simple. If your car has a manual mirror, y'all can probably skip that stride and simply popular off the mirror trim panel and remove the iii retaining screws (Photos 1 and 4).

Removing the door trim panel isn't difficult. Information technology's designed to be removed for all types of servicing, such as repairing door handles and window mechanisms. The most challenging part is finding all the hidden fasteners. The play a trick on to removing the trim console is to know that trim panel screws are commonly hidden behind decorative vanity caps (DVCs) or in obscure recesses. Showtime your search with the armrest. Look for screws in the finger pull area, under the armrest or behind speaker grilles. If you run across a round cover that serves no visible purpose, chances are it's a DVC. Using a "hooked option" (available at hardware stores; Photo 2), pry off the DVC and y'all'll most probable observe a hidden screw. We found four hidden screws in our vehicle.

Subsequently you remove all the screws, utilize the trim panel removal tool shown in Figure A to remove the Christmas tree–shaped fasteners from the door. In that location is no universal design to these fasteners, so you'll have to feel around to find them by slowly prying around the border of the trim panel. As yous locate each fastener, insert the removal tool behind information technology and pop information technology out of its hole. When y'all've removed all the fasteners, lower the window and lift the trim panel upwardly and out. Cheque the trim console and door to brand certain all the fasteners came out of the door properly. If any were damaged, take them to an car parts store to go the proper replacements. Leave the power window and door lock connectors in identify and lean the trim panel against the door.

Disconnect the cable

Side by side, follow the cable from the mirror and disassemble the mirror'south electrical connector. Remove the screws that concord the mirror and remove it from the door. Adhere the new mirror. Reconnect the electrical connector and make sure you test the new side view mirror before putting the parts back into place. Reverse the entire procedure to reassemble the door trim panel. Use your fist or a small-scale rubber mallet to reinsert the Christmas tree trim panel fasteners. Supplant the screws and the DVCs.