Probably no car enthusiast would dare to drive without a rearview mirror. But this simple device also fails. The fastening of the interior mirror sometimes suddenly becomes loose. And someone can hit the outside mirror and accidentally break it. In addition, the angle adjustment drive in the mirror periodically breaks down. Is it possible to solve all these problems on your own? Of course: most car enthusiasts can disassemble, remove or glue the mirror on their own. It's not as difficult as it seems.
Removing the outer and inner rear view mirrors
Rear view mirrors are an integral part of the car. Even those drivers who have equipped their “swallow” with a monitor or camera cannot do without mirrors. Therefore, keeping them in good condition is the primary task of every car owner. Before moving on to the procedure for dismantling the mirrors, we will list the tools that we will need for the job.
Tools required for dismantling
- Phillips screwdriver;
- flat blade screwdriver.
How to disassemble an external mirror
It is advisable to dismantle the exterior mirrors in a certain sequence.
- Using a screwdriver, remove the locking bracket to which the mirror angle adjuster is attached.
The side mirror retaining bracket is removed using a Phillips screwdriver. - Use the same screwdriver to remove the fastening screws. There are only three of them. Be sure to hold the mirror while removing these screws.
The screws holding the side mirror are unscrewed with a Phillips screwdriver - After removing the screws, the mirror is removed. To do this, you need to slightly pull it towards you.
After removing the screws, the mirror is removed manually
How to properly remove the interior mirror
Changing the rear view mirror in the cabin is a little more difficult. Work must be carried out in the following sequence:
- The plastic plugs above the interior mirror mounting screws are carefully pryed off with a flat screwdriver and removed.
- The mounting screws are unscrewed with a Phillips screwdriver.
The mounting screws for the interior mirror are unscrewed with a Phillips screwdriver. - The mirror is carefully removed.
How to remove a mirror from a windshield
Dismantling a glued mirror does not require any special skills. Proceed as follows:
- In some modern cars, the bracket with the interior rear view mirror is glued directly to the windshield. To remove it, you must remove all plastic plugs from the bracket (if any).
- After this, the mirror is turned counterclockwise with both hands and removed from the socket.
The glued mirror rotates 90 degrees and is removed manually
Recommendations
- If the mirror holder is glued to the glass with epoxy glue (rubber), this glue is simply heated and the coin is gradually torn off from the glass.
If the penny is held on by glass glue, in this case the adhesive base is cut off with a string. When heating the windshield at the mounting location with a hairdryer, it is important to remember that the glass is fragile. Strong heating or sudden temperature changes should not be allowed, especially at one point. - Experts recommend turning on the glass heating to warm it over the entire surface, and only then heating the place where the mirror is attached.
- When working with glue, it is important to be careful and accurate.
Also, mistakes are not allowed when gluing, since it will not be possible to move the holder after the glue has hardened. We also recommend reading the article on how to remove a car radio without keys. From this article you will learn about available methods for removing a car radio without a key. - Before removing the rear view mirror, it is important to make sure that various devices and elements are not connected to it: cameras, video recorders, parking sensors, light and temperature sensors in the cabin, etc. Errors during dismantling can lead to breakdowns and malfunctions of such devices.
Disassembling rear view mirrors
The procedure below applies to both exterior and interior mirrors.
- The mirror is removed from its regular place.
- Use your hand to gently press the top edge of the mirror glass until it unrolls.
Side mirror mirror element rotates manually - A piece of rag or napkin is placed in the gap that appears between the mirror body and the glass.
- Then a flat-head screwdriver, pre-wrapped with electrical tape, is inserted into this gap.
The latches holding the mirror element are bent with a flat screwdriver - The latches holding the mirror are pryed with a screwdriver and removed from the protrusions.
- The mirror glass is carefully removed.
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The left mirror is dismantled in the same way as the right one.
How to glue a car mirror to the windshield
First we need to decide on the glue that we are going to use.
What glue should I use?
The main rule: the glue holding the interior mirror to the windshield must be two-component. Yes, there are many varieties of all-purpose glue. But in this case, universal glue will not work. The fact is that two-component glue perfectly withstands sudden temperature changes, high humidity, and most importantly, vibration. Conclusion: the mirror element should not be glued with universal glue.
There is a second option: use light-curing glue. This is a substance that quickly “sets” when exposed to sunlight. This glue can be purchased at specialized auto stores. But it has a serious drawback: to work with it, a powerful ultraviolet lamp is required, without which reliable bonding cannot be achieved. Some car enthusiasts claim that you can do without it, just sticking the mirror on a sunny summer day is enough. But such gluing cannot be called reliable.
The conclusion is simple: the best and least troublesome option for gluing a mirror is two-component glue. For example, Loctite 37438, which has become incredibly popular recently. By the way, it is sometimes used to glue DVRs that have a loose fastening device.
How to attach a mirror element
To keep the mirror securely on the windshield, you must follow the following algorithm:
- Select the location for installing the mirror. It should be glued in the center of the glass, at the same distance from both the passenger and the driver.
- The windshield is cleaned of dirt. First, this is done with a rag, then the surface of the glass is wiped with alcohol.
- The mirror is disassembled as indicated above (after all, in fact, only the bracket on which the mirror will be installed needs to be glued to the glass).
- A thin layer of glue is applied to the bracket and to the windshield. After this, you must wait at least 15 seconds.
Glue is applied to the interior mirror bracket - Then the bracket is installed on the windshield and lightly pressed down manually (and if you decide to install the mirror entirely, without disassembling, then after installation it must be additionally secured with tape, which will support the mirror until the glue sets).
The interior mirror is glued to the windshield - The glue must dry properly, so you cannot drive the car for 24 hours.
Video: gluing a mirror to the glass inside the cabin
Mounting the Device on a Bolt-On Bracket
Not all modern cars have interior mirrors glued to the windshield. In some cases, the mirror bracket is attached the old fashioned way: with bolts to the ceiling. In this case, you need to act like this:
- The mirror together with the mounting bracket is installed in the ceiling niche and held by hand.
The interior mirror is installed in a niche and held by hand - Self-tapping screws are inserted into the holes and tightened using a Phillips screwdriver.
- Sockets with installed self-tapping screws are closed with plastic plugs (provided that such are provided in the design of the bracket).
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Disassembly procedure
Once the structure has been removed, disassembly can begin. If it is required, of course. Perhaps you have found a new mirror whose price suits you completely. Then you can skip this point.
If it is necessary to disassemble an element, we start from whether it is internal or external.
The interior mirror is disassembled as follows:
- there is a place where the glass and the body are connected;
- spin is inserted;
- pressed with little force;
- a gap appears;
- use a mediator to pass along the entire length of the gap;
- the body is divided into 2 parts;
- the mirror is removed;
- everything else is located underneath it;
- We carry out the necessary work.
You may also need to disassemble the car side mirror. It doesn't matter whether it's left or right.
The task here is to remove the reflective element. Be prepared for the fact that the instructions below will not fit your specific car. There are cars on which everything is not quite like that. Sorry here, the guide is not universal.
But it is the following scheme that is suitable for most cars.
How to install and secure heated side mirrors
To assemble and connect the side mirrors yourself, you will need minimal electrical knowledge and dexterity. You must act in the following sequence:
- A set of mirrors equipped with an internal heating system is purchased.
Heated mirrors for Lada Granta - The standard side mirrors are removed from the car in the manner described above.
- After installation, the top cover on the side mirror housing opens. This gives access to the wiring socket (it is supplied with the mirrors).
The side mirror housing is opened and the electrical wiring is connected. - The wires are connected to the socket and inserted into the door through the mirror housing.
- Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic trim from the door.
Plastic trim removed from car door - The wiring runs through the door and dashboard to the fuse box, next to which there is a relay with a plug for turning on the heated mirrors.
Mirror wiring is connected to the heating relay - The wiring plug is connected to the socket shown in the photo, after which the car door trim is reassembled.
Common device problems
Let's look at a few troubles that every car enthusiast may encounter.
Peeling off the mirror surface
Sometimes this kind of trouble happens even on new cars. The reasons can be very different.
- the manufacturer decided to save money and used a low-quality adhesive;
- during the work, the master did not allow the glue to set properly;
- the mirror came unstuck due to too sudden temperature changes (and this is the most common reason, especially in frosty winter).
In all these cases, the car owner will have to use two-component glue, as shown above.
Glass replacement procedure
The mirror element of both the exterior and interior mirrors may be damaged. Below is the sequence for replacing it:
- The glass is removed from the mirror body.
- The new mirror element has several plastic hooks (in our example there are 4). These hooks are inserted into the mounting holes in the mirror body, after which you need to press very carefully on the mirror element.
The new mirror element is installed into the mirror housing manually - A characteristic click will be heard, indicating that the plastic hooks have engaged and the glass has “settled” into place.
The procedure for replacing mirror elements in interior mirrors is similar to that given above (the only difference is that there are usually 2 plastic latches in the interior mirror, not 4).
Let's sum it up
If necessary, you can remove the interior mirror yourself. But if you have the opportunity to contact a master, take advantage of it. This way you relieve yourself of responsibility for the possible consequences of incorrectly removing the interior element. The master will be obliged to correct any unpleasant outcome. Also remember that carrying out any upgrade that is not provided by the manufacturer carries the risk of losing the functionality of an element of your car. Always consult with specialists before making changes to the design of your car yourself.
The circumstances in which you will need to remove your rear view mirrors can vary. For example, repairing or replacing cracked glass, purchasing new modified models, and even regular window tinting. In addition, you can install a heater in your car, as well as a monitor and a rear view camera. Removing a damaged mirror, disassembling it and gluing a new one with your own hands is not so difficult, as is installing devices more convenient than a regular reflector. To do this, arm yourself with your machine's operating manual and our instructions.
