Your side view mirror is broken and now you need to replace it. First things first, keep away from the roads as much as possible. Because side view mirrors are primarily used to avoid accidents, it can be very dangerous to drive around with a broken side mirror. It helps you detect other moving cars in blind spots before changing lanes. So it is necessary that you replace your side view mirrors as easily as possible.
Replace side view mirrors
If you have to replace side view mirrors and want to save cash when doing it, the best thing to do is to purchase the parts and do the work yourself. It’s not difficult to replace side view mirrors, and you are able to do it yourself very easily using these easy-to-follow steps. Here is what you need to do, courtesy of eHow:
Things you’ll need:
- Owner’s manual
- Replacement mirror
- Pry tool
- Screwdriver and/or torx driver
- Nut driver and/or socket wrench
- Small, shallow plastic bowl, cup or container
Step 1: Discover and purchase the replacement mirror. Make sure it is an exact match to the one you’re replacing. Take into account the vehicle’s model, make and year. If for any reason you are unable to get one through your dealership or an auto parts store, the best places to try to find replacements are savage yards or online. Doing it that way can also save you money.
Step 2: Roll your window down and turn off the vehicle.
Step 3: Remove the negative cable of the battery. This is a very significant step, as you will find risks of electrocution involved if the cable is still attached.
Step 4: Use your pry tool to take out the trim pieces of the interior door panel. Then, pull out your screwdriver and begin getting the screws that are holding the panel in position. In some cases, a corner trim piece may need to be removed first before you are able to lift the door panel off.
Step 5: For those who have manual roll-down windows, skip this and go to the next step. For those who have power-controlled mirrors, nevertheless, the wiring harness needs to be unplugged.
Step 6: .
Step 7: Pull apart the actual mirror from the mirror assembly. You can use a torx driver to take out the screws and then gently pry the plastic tabs on the backing until the two pieces fall apart.
Step 8: Attach the new mirror to the assembly by snapping it onto the backing with the tabs.
Step 9: Once the new mirror is attached to the backing, place it to the mirror assembly.
Step 10: Reverse each step to reinstall the entire mirror assembly back on the auto.
Safely replace side view mirrors
Once you’ve done the last step to replace your side view mirrors, there is one more vital thing to keep in mind. Last but not least, remember never to connect the battery until you are absolutely certain every little thing is back in place. For your safety, make sure to double- or triple-check the wires and connections before connecting the battery.
