Outside mirrir question - HELP!

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:48 pm

Does anyone know if I can swap the guts of a mirror assembly from a broken one to a good one?

Specifically, my casing is broken. I have another complete mirror that's good, except it isn't HEATED like mine is. I was wondering if I can swap all the guts of mine into the good housing of the new one.

Anyone know?

(PS I have DESTROYED both my mirrors. where, you ask? Was it a great "tree" or "rock" story? NO! MY GARAGE! Two completely different freakish accidents have left be mirror-challenged.)

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:09 pm

The mirror guts are swap-able. make sure you get the Glass, Motor, Wire Harness and your undamaged housing.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:15 pm

ok. Now for the $64,000 question: HOW?

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:07 pm

When I was a young lad I used to assemble OSRVM's (Out Side Rear View Mirors) for a autosupplier.

Tips:

Trace the power wire from the mirror to the connector. Unplug it.
Next unbolt the 3 (?) nuts that hold the mirror onto the door. Remove the mirror and wire harness from the door
Lay the mirror to be dissassembled on a table or work bench with a cloth to avoid scratches.
Gently pry up on a corner of the mirror glass. This should pop the mirror / back plate off the motor housing
You might need to try oppisite corners to work the mirror glass loose. Set the glass / backplate aside (careful of the heater wires if you have a heated mirror)
Next the mirror motor should be secured to the inner frame of the mirror with a couple of screws. Remove those and remove the motor
Now comes the really fun part (removing the mirror head from the base)
Move the mirror all the way forward, applying a clamping pressure, and it should pop off the base.
[if the base doesn't pop off you might have to cut away some of the plastic on the bad mirror to get a look at the parts - then retry the dissassembly]
This will allow you to swap the mirror heads / inner bracing (if necessary).

Reassembly is the oppisite of the disassembly.

PS - be careful when removing the head from the base... those parts are usually spring loaded and can hurt.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 2:34 pm

WOW! thanks!

Now, help me understand one thing, my current mirror is heated. The glass is fine; it's the plastic housing that's broken. I have two new mirrors that are not heated.

Can I just change the mirror and wires and be done? Is the heating element in the glass backing?

Both are electric so I don't need to swap the motors. I'm just wondering how few parts I can get away with changing. Spring loaded parts sound like fun to put back together! (PITA!)

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:24 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

WOW! thanks!

Now, help me understand one thing, my current mirror is heated. The glass is fine; it's the plastic housing that's broken. I have two new mirrors that are not heated.

Can I just change the mirror and wires and be done? Is the heating element in the glass backing?

You sure could. The plastic housing and electric motor is the same between all of the mirrors. All you need is your glass w/ the heater heater [it's sandwiched between the glass and backplate] and the matching wire harness off your existing mirror. Then swap out those parts to the good mirror that you already have.

Good Luck!

Another tip: Try removing the glass w/o the heater from your extra mirror first. It'll allow you to "mess up" without damaging the good parts.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:58 pm

ok, um, so, I was attempting step 1 and, well, um, SHATTERED THE MIRROR. (7 years bad luck? great, I needed that!).

To get the mirror out, I simply put my fingers behind the mirror and pulled. Nothing. I pulled harder. still nothing. I pulled REALLY hard. bent the entire glass assembly. Glass isn't fond of bending.

Oh, and it's still fully assembled, just broken. Yes, this is the non-heated mirror, so it's ok in that regard. But I just bought this mirror, so now I'm in to this with no turning back. HELP!

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:24 pm

From the '03 service manual:

SIDE VIEW MIRROR GLASS

REMOVAL
WARNING: ALWAYS WEAR EYE AND HAND PROTECTION
WHEN SERVICING THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY.
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE WARNINGS
MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY FROM BROKEN
GLASS.
(1) Carefully pull/pry the broken glass holder from
the mirror assembly.
(2) Disconnect the heated mirror electrical connectors
from the terminals on the mirror glass holder, if
equipped.

INSTALLATION
CAUTION: It is important to make sure the motor is
square to the glass holder (attaching fingers) prior
to glass holder attachment, otherwise the glass
holder could be installed incorrectly causing poor
retention and possible repeat failure.
(1) Position the new mirror glass holder to the
mirror assembly.
NOTE: Position the mirror glass holder so that the
moisture drain hole on the mirror glass holder
assembly is facing downward.
(2) Align the mirror glass holder’s attaching fingers
to the mirror motor housing.
NOTE: Ensure that the protective rubber cover of
the mirror motor housing is positioned correctly
around the bottom of the fingers area.
(3) Using one hand, firmly press the mirror glass
holder assembly into place while at the same time
supporting the housing assembly from the backside
with the other hand.
NOTE: Pressure must be applied equally over the
center portion of the mirror to engage the mirror
glass holder’s attaching fingers to the corresponding
fingers on the housing assembly. One or more
clicks may be heard when finger engagement takes
place.
(4) Verify retention of the mirror glass holder
assembly by gently pulling outward on the mirror
glass holder.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:25 pm

GOOOOOOOOOOOT ITTTTTTTTT!!!

DONE!

To pry off the glass, you must go from top of mirror. First aim mirror to the ground, then continue to pry in that direction (as if it were to fall forward, flat on the ground with the mirror side down).

Once off, I had to change wiring harnesses (NO EASY FEAT). For some bizzare reason, the driver's side mirror has an extra set of wires even though both sides are heated.

Anyway, it's all in and I didn't break any of the important stuff! (always nice)

Getting the mirrors to stap back in wasn't easy either, but it went.

I'm feeling much better about my $190 purchase instead of the $500 one required from the dealer to order the "ultra rare" heated mirrors. Who knew my KJ was so "rare." I do enjoy those heated mirrors in the snow!

Thanks again for your help!

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:28 pm

oh, that would have been helpfull to read before doing this. Looks like I finished as you were typing.

So make a sandwich with the glass in one palm and the outside back of the assembly in the other and compress. Makes sense.

tnx again.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:04 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

tnx again.

Just glad that I can contribute! Congrats and good night (for me at least)

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:17 am

nice work, but why is your KJ rare for having heated mirrors? Mine does and i kinda thought most did? i love them also, i hope they never go out!

-nick

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:53 am

rare because there isn't a single heated mirrir in junkyard databases. they say they have them, but a VIN check shows they are not heated. Dealer also said 'oh, we'd have to special order that one.'

I personally bought 3 that were advertised as heated but showed up not heated (used).

But yes, they are great.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:07 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

rare because there isn't a single heated mirrir in junkyard databases. they say they have them, but a VIN check shows they are not heated. Dealer also said 'oh, we'd have to special order that one.'

I personally bought 3 that were advertised as heated but showed up not heated (used).

But yes, they are great.

hmm, i will remember that if one ever goes bad.

-nick

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:38 pm

More importantly remember that you can do what I did if needed. I cracked both casings but the glass and elements were fine.

And if you ever need to swap out the glass, you get it out by pulling from top down. That's key!

Gotta love this forum!

Outside mirrir question - HELP!

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