Introduction

• Replacing a car mirror on the outside door will be covered first, followed by how to replace an inside rear view mirror. All the instructions will be given to cover all situations--the car may or may not have all the items covered. If an item is not on your car, go to the next item.
  
  

Outside Mirror

• Remove the door panel to access the nuts for the mirror and the electronic control for the mirror. Remove the screws in the armrest, which are usually found in an access on the bottom of the arm rest. Remove the screw in the top of the armrest in the recess. Look for a screw in the door handle or in front of it. Remove any screws around the two sides and bottom of the panel. Remove the cover in the top front of the panel that covers the back attachment to the door, if removable. It will just pull off. Lower the window to prepare to remove the panel. All panels will have a curve at the top of the panel that will hook into the top of the door panel. Door panels are held on by two methods in late model cars.
  
  

• The first method is with small plastic snaps that are inserted through holes in the doorframe and snap into place. They can be removed with a common screwdriver by inserting the screwdriver between the door panel and doorframe and sliding it down until it contacts a snap. Use the screwdriver to snap the button out of its cavity and move to the next one.
  The second type of panel uses a set of 90-degree angle plastic hooks that fit into a rectangular opening in the bottom half of the door frame and then moved downward to lock into place. Remove the door panel by first gripping the bottom of the door panel and see if it lifts up and out of the recess in the door frame. If not, then it is the type with the door snaps. Use the screwdriver to snap them out of their cavities on the doorframe and then lift the panel upward and remove the panel.
  
  

• Bring the panel away from the door about 4 or 5 inches and remove the electrical connectors on the power window switch, and from the light in the lower left corner of the door. If this is the type of door where the door handle comes with the door panel, then use the screwdriver and unsnap the small plastic locks on the rods to the door handle at the back of the handle and lift the rods out of the handle. There will be two rods--one is the door lock and the other is the door latch rod.
  
  

• Hold the mirror with one hand and remove the 10 mm nuts with the other. Remove the mirror. As the mirror is removed direct the electrical connector out of the hole in the door. Install the new mirror remembering to install the sponge backing to the mirror. Push the wire connector through the hole in the door and then the studs of the mirror and install the nuts and tighten. Install the components in reverse order of their removal.
  
  

Inside Mirror

• To install an inside rear view mirror, place a piece of tape on the outside of the window where the rear view mirror is to be mounted. Once the glue is removed, it will be difficult to get the exact position of the mirror. Use a razor blade and remove the remainder of the glue on the windshield. Use the razor blade or sandpaper whichever you are more comfortable with and remove the glue from the back of the button that gets installed on the windshield. Use some alcohol to clean the area on the windshield where the button will be re-glued and the button itself.
  
  

• Bend the clear plastic tube from the mounting kit to activate it. Hold the brush side down until it is saturated. Use the brush and rub the area on the windshield well--this is a primer for the glue. Let this dry for 3 minutes. The orientation of the button is vitally important. If it is put on backward or upside down you just bought a new windshield since it will not come back off without destroying the windshield. Make sure that the indentation is out toward you and that the taper is at the top. Look at the mounting surface of the mirror for the shape to make sure that the button is installed right side up and the dent out. The perfectly smooth side is the side that adheres to the window.
  Cut the top off the glue container and apply one drop in the center of the button. Carefully align the button to the windshield and then push it on and hold it there for a minute with a little pressure. Allow it to set for an hour, then install the rear view mirror and tighten the holding screw.