Q: So, I'm driving along, and then all of the sudden, the rearview mirror just falls off the windshield and into my lap. The adhesive pad is not even sticky anymore. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have a recommendation for re-attaching it...or should I just go to Pep Boys and get a mirror mounting kit. I really don't want to waste the time to go to the service center just for glue.
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So, I'm driving along, and then all of the sudden, the rearview mirror just falls off the windshield and into my lap. The adhesive pad is not even sticky anymore. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have a recommendation for re-attaching it...or should I just go to Pep Boys and get a mirror mounting kit.
Don't remount it! You are the lucky winner. Get a small rv-mirror and mount it where the old one was. Lots of others cracked a windscreen trying to get the old one off. I think Sector111 sells one.
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O.K. So, pretend I want to be a cheapskate and don't want to pay for a new mirror...
BTW...the mounting cleat is what fell off. So, I will have to remount that at a minimum to use the Sector 111 mirco mirror.
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O.K. So, pretend I want to be a cheapskate and don't want to pay for a new mirror...
BTW...the mounting cleat is what fell off. So, I will have to remount that at a minimum to use the Sector 111 mirco mirror.
NO! Myelise is right! You can still be a cheapskate - just think of the $$ you saved not cracking your windshield. Glue that puppy back on and go for the micromirror - the increase in visibility is remarkable.
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Why bother putting it back on at all? My stock rearview mirror made it home from NJ to Knoxville, then straight into the Lotus Stock Parts bin along with the useless visors. Never needed it, but nearly killed a guy on a bicycle that I never saw with it in place...
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I wish mine would fall off.
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You can buy a generic aftermarket mirror with a "two part" swivel/adjustment so that you can move the mirror up and down to gain better visibility. This would require a generic plinth to be glued on to the windshield in place of the OEM plinth.
Or you can remount the OEM plinth, then re-install the OEM mirror or a Micro Mirror.
In either case, yo can go to your generic autoparts store (heck even Wal-Mart probably has it) and buy a tube of mirror mounting "glue". Usually you have to remove any existing glue from the windshield and the plinth. Then clean with an alcohol wipe. Apply the glue and install the mirror following the instructions that come with the mirror mounting glue.
The bubble package of mirror mounting glue only costs a couple of bucks and is easily to use - I've done it to other cars.
Or if you really want to, you can take the car to an auto glass shop, and they can glue it back on in no time - they may not even charge you for it.
One hint though - if there is some residue on the windshield, mark the outside of the windshield with a grease pencil or piece of tape or something to show the location where you need to stick the plinth. So this before cleaning the inside of the windshield.
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Thanks Tim...that's what I was looking for. Honestly, I don't have a front visibility problem with the stock mirror (guess I'm used to it), but if I did, I would do what DragonRider1 did and just leave the thing in a box...the view out the rear is nothing much anyway. But, I find > $100 for a rear view mirror to be close to extortion (sorry Shinoo)...that's just not right. For that kind of money I better look like Brad Pitt when I look into it.
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Thanks Tim...that's what I was looking for. Honestly, I don't have a front visibility problem with the stock mirror (guess I'm used to it), but if I did, I would do what DragonRider1 did and just leave the thing in a box...the view out the rear is nothing much anyway. But, I find > $100 for a rear view mirror to be close to extortion (sorry Shinoo)...that's just not right. For that kind of money I better look like Brad Pitt when I look into it. I find that I need the rear view mirror so that I can watch what's behind me. I like to see if that car closing on me has a light bar on the roof...
I decided against the Micro Mirror simply because I didn't like the the oval shape (or the cost). There's a thread where I made my own mirror using a spare $13 OEM mirror for a mount, a 99 cent piece of mirror, and a $2.50 "baby mirror" (for watching your kids in the back seat). It works pretty well and is very small...
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There's a thread where I made my own mirror using a spare $13 OEM mirror for a mount, a 99 cent piece of mirror, and a $2.50 "baby mirror" (for watching your kids in the back seat). It works pretty well and is very small...
I remember that thread...just search "touring mirror"
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My "Right sized mirror" is a great alternative for cheap money and looks O.E.M.
Not hand made. Do a search.
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Thanks Tim...that's what I was looking for. Honestly, I don't have a front visibility problem with the stock mirror (guess I'm used to it), but if I did, I would do what DragonRider1 did and just leave the thing in a box...the view out the rear is nothing much anyway. But, I find > $100 for a rear view mirror to be close to extortion (sorry Shinoo)...that's just not right. For that kind of money I better look like Brad Pitt when I look into it.
In my case I'm 6'2 and that mirror takes up a very heavy part of everything off to the right right at eye level. I wouldn't mind a smaller mirror (though I'm of the $100 is about $70 too much camp) yet frankly all it seemed to be good for was lighting up the rear deck every time I hit the brakes and at one point having a semi so close I could count the bugs in the radiator fins.. I'd rather not see that.
-Dragonrider...who will NEVER look like Brad Pitt even if he has a Michael Jackson Plastic Surgery budget...
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hahaha - awesome ... it took me an hour to just get mine dislodged from the puck.
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Maybe we need a track brace for the rearview mirror?
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I bought a 6" polished aluminum oval rear view mirror that appears to be identical to this one:
http://www.jpcustoms.com/store/catal...ew_Mirror.html
and an very pleased with it. Perfect size, good adjustablility, but still not cheap. No way would I consider putting the stock mirror back on - it's well worth replacing the mirror now that it's off.
Good luck,
John
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Here are a few pictures of it installed. The third one is from the driver's eye position, and shows that you can still see the edge of both seats, the roof, and the rear spoiler in the significantly smaller mirror. The mirror's also tinted slightly dark, so even though I thought I'd really want a night position I don't miss not having it.
John
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jhnmdahl,
Does that mirror you installed work on the stock puck?
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jhnmdahl,
Does that mirror you installed work on the stock puck?
No, it comes with one you have to glue on yourself (A GM one, I think?). It helps to mark the location somehow before taking off the old one - it's a little off-center, but is in a better spot than centering the new mirror. Took me about 15 minutes to get the old one off and glue the new one on.
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Oh what the puck! I got the stock mirror off without any damage to the windshield but the stock puck is still there. Not sure if I want to add a new one so I get more mirror options or go with the more expensive micro-mirror.
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Removing the mirror and the puck aren't particularly hard, but you can't exert a lot of pressure on one point on the windshield or it will crack. My puck came off with heat and mineral spirits, but took a little patience - maybe five minutes or more? Check out these threads for more info:
John