side mirror October 16, 2007, 09:45:33 AM My RH side mirror is a bit damaged on the outside, but the glass is still ok. I got a replacement mirror, but its glass is shattered so I figured I'd just swap the glass with mine. Taking the glass out was easy but I can't seem to get it in again! Can it be done or should I simply get another mirror? Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #1 – October 16, 2007, 10:15:28 AM Oh....I think I know what happened. The power mirror motor uses those "fingers" that snap onto the back of the mirror glass housing. It's a real pain in the backside to get those reattached.Whenever I swap out mirror parts, I do the full swap: unbolt the mirror motor from the mirror housing (three screws that you can see behind the glass), remove the wiring, and reinstall the opposite way. I never, ever separate the glass housing from the mirror motor. Learnt my lesson about 20 years ago about that. So...I don't think you ruined anything, it's just that you might need to remove everything and reattach the mirror glass housing to the motor first, then reinstall. Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #2 – October 16, 2007, 10:53:35 AM QuoteLearnt my lesson about 20 years ago about that. Today's my lesson I guess :)Will try what you said tonight and post back Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #3 – October 16, 2007, 10:54:19 AM Eric is right... It is a pain to reattach the mirror to those fingers, but it IS possible. I was able to line everything up and snap it in place but I might have gotten lucky... Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #4 – October 16, 2007, 12:16:14 PM QuoteSo...I don't think you ruined anything, it's just that you might need to remove everything and reattach the mirror glass housing to the motor first, then reinstall.I see what you mean. Just took a look at the mirror, but I can barely see the three screws that hold the motor, and I can't reach them w/o removing the glass housing first. Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #5 – October 16, 2007, 12:20:21 PM QuoteJust took a look at the mirror, but I can barely see the three screws that hold the motor, and I can't reach them w/o removing the glass housing first.It's possible to get to the screws...you have to move the mirror glass housing around to get a good shot at them. Once upon a time I thought that one would need a special angled screwdriver to reach them. Turns out all you need is a good set of normal Philips screwdrivers and some patience (I lacked a great deal of the latter in my younger days). Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #6 – October 22, 2007, 02:38:50 PM Ok, I started removing the mirror from the Tbird, but somehow I couldn't get the wire up high enough to disconnect it. Is it necessary to remove the doorpanel as well, or should I yank the wiring a bit harder? Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #7 – October 22, 2007, 03:51:57 PM You *should* remove the door panel. The harness for the power mirror is clipped just below the triangular hole in the door (of course). You can pull really hard and sometimes it will just unclip. Or it can pull the wires completely from the harness. Either way, you need access to plug it back in when you're reattaching the mirror. So my suggestion is to always remove the door panel. Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #8 – October 23, 2007, 08:34:12 AM I figured so. Gonna see if I can get the panel loose. Thanks! Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #9 – October 23, 2007, 09:07:13 AM The door panel is really easy,but pay attention to what you're doing.There are fasteners in places you may not think about if this is your first time removing the panel.Is it a standard door panel or a Turbo Coupe style panel? Quote Selected
side mirror Reply #10 – October 23, 2007, 10:31:22 AM It's a regular '88 Thunderbird, no Turbo Coupe, so I suppose it's a standard door panel. Where are those fasteners (yes, it's my first time removing the door panel )? Quote Selected
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