It’s easy to replace a broken side view mirror. First things first, stay away from the roads as much as possible. Driving around with a ruined side mirror can be very dangerous because it is mainly used to prevent accidents. It helps with safe driving by allowing you to see blind spots and detect other moving vehicles before switching lanes. That’s why it is crucial that you easily replace your side view mirrors.
Replace side view mirrors
If you need to replace side view mirrors and want to conserve cash when doing it, the best thing to do is to the parts and do the work yourself. It is not difficult to replace side view mirrors, and you can do it yourself easily using these easy-to-follow steps. Here is what you have 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: Make certain you’ve the replacement mirror. Be sure the replacement mirror is the exact same match as the one you are replacing. This contains 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 watch for replacements are savage yards or online. You also can save a ton of money that way.
Step 2: Roll your window down and turn off the vehicle.
Step 3: Detach the negative cable connecting to the battery. This is an significant step, as there is electrocution risk involved when cables are still attached.
Step 4: Using your pry tool, remove the trim pieces of the interior door panel. Then, pull out your screwdriver and start taking out the screws that are holding the panel in position. Sometimes, there may be a corner trim piece that must be removed first before the door panel could be lifted off.
Step 5: If you have manual roll-down windows, skip this and go to the next step. However, when you have power-controlled mirrors, unplug the wiring harness.
Step 6: Using a nut driver or a socket wrench, take out the mirror bolts so that you are able to remove the entire mirror assembly from the auto.
Step 7: . Using a torx driver, remove the screws and then pry the plastic tabs on the backing gently until the two pieces come apart.
Step 8: Take the replacement mirror and attach it to the assembly; simply snap it onto the backing with the tabs.
Step 9: Once the new mirror is attached to the backing, place it into the mirror assembly.
Step 10: Reverse each step to reinstall the entire mirror assembly back on the automobile.
Safely replace side view mirrors
Once you’ve completed the last step to replace your side view mirrors, don’t go driving off just yet. Last but not least, remember never to connect the battery until you are absolutely certain everything is back in place. Double-check all the wires and connections before reconnecting the battery cables.
