Tighten Passenger door mirror
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Madrid, Spain
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My passenger door mirror has been hit by someone, and itīs not straight anymore, but moves and vibrates with every bump in the road. I guess someone tried to break it. It will move a little bit upwards and downwards. Can someone tell me how to tighten it so it doesnīt move anymore? Are there any bolts in it? I can only see an allen type screw, what does this do?
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
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Carlos, I have an issue with my drivers side electric mirror. Don't know if my situation is similar to yours, so I will try to describe my situation and what I have done so far to fix it. I am trying to get an internal parts diagram of the mirror assembly, to see what or if anything can be replaced (Plan A). If I can not easily repair the mirror with a new part, I have a plan B and a costly plan C if A and B fail.
First I need to say I did the damage myself (knocked it). The mirror base if firmly attached to the car door. The verticle post is still attached to the mirror (flag), but is not attached to the base. The post sits on the base but is loose and stays on the car due to the electrical wiring (still works). Pulling the miror flag and flag post straight up as far as I can (wiring stops it), it appears there is a spline type steel locking mechanism that may have broke. If I can not easily replace it (part even available? and would need to rewire to get the part on) I may try to use a cold weld "glue" to fix the broken part while the assembly is on the car. Like to try this before replacing the mirror which is plan C.
Charles
88 Cab
First I need to say I did the damage myself (knocked it). The mirror base if firmly attached to the car door. The verticle post is still attached to the mirror (flag), but is not attached to the base. The post sits on the base but is loose and stays on the car due to the electrical wiring (still works). Pulling the miror flag and flag post straight up as far as I can (wiring stops it), it appears there is a spline type steel locking mechanism that may have broke. If I can not easily replace it (part even available? and would need to rewire to get the part on) I may try to use a cold weld "glue" to fix the broken part while the assembly is on the car. Like to try this before replacing the mirror which is plan C.
Charles
88 Cab
#4
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You know, I just got my first Performance catalog in the mail saturday. While thumbing thru it yesterday afternoon, I noticed they have some special tool for about $53(!) that is supposed to stock mirror vibration. I noticed this because my two outside mirrors vibrate a little. But, I didn't take the time to figure out what it is they are selling. It may be worth a call to them.
#5
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I had the same problem with my passenger side mirror and no amount of tightenting the allen bolt would improve the situation.
I then loosened the bolt and inserted a thin rubberized strip under the gasket (gasket is probably not the right word here but its the rubber weather seal that separates the car door and the mirror mount) to act as a wedge. Tightened the bolt back up and case solved.
Lord only knows there are probably more technically acceptable solutions (may the Porsche gods be kind), but this one worked OK for me.
I then loosened the bolt and inserted a thin rubberized strip under the gasket (gasket is probably not the right word here but its the rubber weather seal that separates the car door and the mirror mount) to act as a wedge. Tightened the bolt back up and case solved.
Lord only knows there are probably more technically acceptable solutions (may the Porsche gods be kind), but this one worked OK for me.
#6
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I had a similar problem with my mirror until it eventually fell off, it took me over an hour to find it again ofcourse damaged. Anyway after getting the mirror back from the panel shop I found the culprit was the alloy clamp which is connected to the allen key bolt that you mentioned. Other than mine had cracked which allowed excessive movement it didnt seem large enough to really hold onto the lip of the door frame. To fix it I went to my local scrap metal merchant and he gave me a small pied=ce of aluminium which I shaped but just a little longer than the previous one, drilled and tapped it, and it now has no movement, gave me better adjustability and alot more confidence in it staying put.
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#8
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1st question answer: As mentioned, the allen bolt is used to secure the base of the mirror to the door. If it can't be tightened you either have a stripped screw/receiver end, or, the receiver end has cracked in which case a new screw/receiver is required.
2nd question answer: If base is secure but mirror is loose on the base/swiveling about and up and down on the shaft, then you must remove mirror at the base (allen screw loosen only enough to remove mirror/base from the door---if you loosen too much the receiver end of that allen screw will fall down into the door!!!). Once removed, if you look up into the mirror where the wiring goes through the shaft, you will see a spring loaded key/nut that requires a special tool to tighten/loosen. To tighten, you must squeeze the spring in toward the shaft to allow the key/nut to reach the threads. You'll se what I mean when you look at it. I used a needle nose pliers instead of special tool to grab this key/nut and push in at the same time while turning the key to get it started on the threads. My only problem was that I couldn't push and turn hard enough to reach the threads. After closer inspection, it seems the threads were stripped on the 1st few threads, so I pulled the cone washer that fits in the spring out by using dikes/cutters and cuttin it in half for removal. I was then able to get a bite on the threads with little effort. Once the key/nut gets started, you can relax with the inward pressure and just take your time to tighten it. Re-install mirror base and you are done. It's been 2 years and no problems, didn't cost a penny! Note: some may find it easier if they remove the wiring so they can pull the mirror completely off and away from the car to work on it. I am a mechanic and felt it was a big waste of time for the added convenience!!
2nd question answer: If base is secure but mirror is loose on the base/swiveling about and up and down on the shaft, then you must remove mirror at the base (allen screw loosen only enough to remove mirror/base from the door---if you loosen too much the receiver end of that allen screw will fall down into the door!!!). Once removed, if you look up into the mirror where the wiring goes through the shaft, you will see a spring loaded key/nut that requires a special tool to tighten/loosen. To tighten, you must squeeze the spring in toward the shaft to allow the key/nut to reach the threads. You'll se what I mean when you look at it. I used a needle nose pliers instead of special tool to grab this key/nut and push in at the same time while turning the key to get it started on the threads. My only problem was that I couldn't push and turn hard enough to reach the threads. After closer inspection, it seems the threads were stripped on the 1st few threads, so I pulled the cone washer that fits in the spring out by using dikes/cutters and cuttin it in half for removal. I was then able to get a bite on the threads with little effort. Once the key/nut gets started, you can relax with the inward pressure and just take your time to tighten it. Re-install mirror base and you are done. It's been 2 years and no problems, didn't cost a penny! Note: some may find it easier if they remove the wiring so they can pull the mirror completely off and away from the car to work on it. I am a mechanic and felt it was a big waste of time for the added convenience!!
#9
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I had the same problem with my mirror, it was the mirror housing was loose on the base. take the mirror off the car as described above. Locate the hollow hex bolt that all the wires are going through, tighten with a realy big screw driver being careful not to pinch any of the wires. For a while I considered fabricating a tool to tighten the bolt, but the screw dirver worked just fine.