Side Mirror Replacement Overview
You had plenty of clearance yesterday morning. As you drank your coffee, and started to back out this morning the garage door suddenly closed in on your car. It also ripped off your side view mirror. Even if your insurance will cover a side mirror replacement, this body shop repair is most likely less than your deductible. In other words, it’s coming out of your pocket. The good news is that you can replace the side view mirror yourself for a lot less!
Order a replacement side view mirror
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Start your repair job by searching the Internet 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 price. To match the car, replacement body parts must be painted. We found the paint code of the factory and went to an auto parts store to buy cans aerosol primer and touch-up paint.
The side view mirror was simple to paint. We just had to mask the glass and then followed the spraying instructions. But if you’re not up to painting it yourself, take it to a body shop.
Remove the cover and door panels
Our power mirror repair required the removal of the door trim panel to access the mirror’s electrical connector. This may seem scary at first, but with the right tools (available at auto parts stores), it’s simple. If your car has a manual mirror, you can probably skip that step and simply pop off the mirror trim panel and remove the three retaining screws (Photos 1 and 4).
Removing the door trim panel isn’t hard. It’s designed to be removed for all types of servicing, such as repairing door handles and window mechanisms. It is difficult to find all the fasteners hidden behind doors and windows. To remove the trim panel, it is important to recognize that trim panel screws are often hidden behind decorative vanity caps (DVCs), or in recesses. Begin your search by looking at the armrest. You will find screws under the armrest, behind the speaker grilles and in the finger pull area. If you see a round cover that serves no visible purpose, chances are it’s a DVC. Using a “hooked pick” (available at hardware stores; Photo 2), pry off the DVC and you’ll most likely find a hidden screw. Our vehicle had four hidden screws.
After you remove all the screws, use the trim panel removal tool shown in Figure A to remove the Christmas tree-shaped fasteners from the door. There is no universal pattern to these fasteners, so you’ll have to feel around to find them by slowly prying around the edge of the trim panel. After you’ve located each fastener and inserted the removal tool behind them, pop them out of their holes. When you’ve removed all the fasteners, lower the window and lift the trim panel up and out. To ensure that all fasteners have been removed from the door, check the trim panel. You can replace damaged parts at an auto parts store if they are damaged. The door lock and power window connectors should remain in place. Lean the trim piece against the door.
Disconnect the cable
Next, follow the cable from the mirror and disassemble the mirror’s electrical connector. The screws that hold the mirror in place should be removed and the door will be opened. Attach the mirror. Connect the electrical connector. Before putting the parts back together, make sure to test the side view mirror. To reassemble the door trim panels, reverse the process. Use your fist or a small rubber mallet to reinsert the Christmas tree trim panel fasteners. Replace Screws and DVCs are required.
Figure A: Special Tools
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Special tools for removing the panels and replacing the side view mirror are available at auto parts stores.
