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Topic: electronic mirrors (Read 1818 times) previous topic - next topic

electronic mirrors

hello again, was wondering if anyone took apart the electric side mirrors. my passenger side makes motor noise, but does not respond. driver side moves fine. it's an 86 cougar. i attempted to remove the assembly, but can't remove the outer black plastic trim ring....which encircles the whole mirror. manual says to remove that piece.......i feel once i have it apart, i can repair it...thanks for any help.

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #1 –
You removed the mirror but not the black ring? How did you do that? the ring and the mirror are one piece... :S



Anyway...

Not sure if this is what you want to know.

How-to remove mirrors:
Remove the screw holding plastic tiangle in the corner of the windows from the inside.
Then, from the inside again, unscrew the 3 bolt holding the mirror on the door and voila!

I never dissable a mirror assembly and dont know if it's possible without removing the mirror (without breaking it) from the case...

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #2 –
The mirror irself (the glass part) can "snap" out if you just pull hard enough,giving access to the motor.The glass is mounted to a plastic base.It's stronger than you think.The motor is held in with (I think) 3 screws.Hope this helps.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #3 –
Yep, the glass is glued to the plastic backing plate, the plate snaps onto a metal "X" that is the pivot (2 legs on the glass, 2 legs on the motor housing). The mirror is moved by 2 plastic screws that go through holes in the motor, and are ball-joint mounted to the back of the glass.

Does the mirror move in any direction under power (up, down, left, right), or is it stuck solid? Did it used to work? A previous owner may have broken the plastic screws and remounted the glass with a big glob of glue or something.
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #4 –
Huh I have never had to change out a mirror. They just come for free on my new doors. My car that had deleat on the passenger side mirror is no longer there. Now I just have to run wiring for those power windows.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #5 –
thanks for the info...i'm the original owner...mirror moved o.k....i never really adjusted it after setting it for my preferences....lack of use probably gummed up the motor. it makes noise but no movement.

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #6 –
I've seen it where the little plastic things that hold the mirror plate to the motor break. Is the mirror in there solid or does it flop around?
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #7 –
they are solid. i can physically move the mirror...a little clik click sound is heared when i move it. maybe i should pull the mirror off and hope i don't break it...i did my son's nissans mirrors..one broke. i replaced it and they work o.k. now....might be the same set up as the cougars.

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #8 –
Quote
a little clik click sound is heared when i move it.
Normal.  The motors turn little donut-shaped thingies that have spring-loaded threads on the inside. The plastic screws are screwed/unscrewed by those threads. It's designed to let the screws "click" through the threads so nothing gets damaged if someone whacks the glass.

The screws should be kept from turning by the T-shaped ball end that snaps into the back of the glass holder. If the tiny arms of the T are broken off, possibly from adjusting the mirrors while they were frozen in winter, the screw's ball could be just spinning in the socket.
.
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #9 –
thanks masterblaster..i'll see what i can do....being in central florida, i know they never froze, but motor may have dried up...maybe i can spray some lubricant into motor and free it up and not remove the mirrors...thanks again...

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #10 –
Some lube might work. I'm still betting on broken "T" pins.

Here's what you'll see if you pull the glass off.
The red X is the pivot bar. The horizontal legs snap onto the back of the glass, and it takes a LOT of pressure to install or remove it. Just keep going and just before you know it's going to break... *pop* and it's out (or in).  :eek:

The two big holes are where the plastic screws go in. You can just barely see the 3-sided spring-loaded gear in the bottom hole.
.
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!
 

Re: electronic mirrors

Reply #11 –
great picture.....i'll give it a shot.....thanks for your help