Replace driver side, side view mirror assembly

Tiny
CAISSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 INFINITI QX
  • 88,000 MILES
2002 Infiniti QX4 Gold color. Crack the driver side, side view mirror plastic assembly.
How to remove the side view mirror assembly.
My experience is medium on car body repair.
Please include details. Pictures will help a lot,
I assume I need to remove inside door panel first. How?
The plastic assembly is cracked but glue-able.
If I can disassemble it to show inside. Then I can glue from inside and add support to cracked areas.
No need to remove entire thing from the door would be great. I see that it has a 'rim' that seems to snap on. If I can pry the rim out (but not to scratch it), next remove the glass mirror, maybe I can then access the inside. Then I can glue.
Please help.
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 AT 11:12 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
To remove the mirror from its seat, pry at bottom to release 2 slotted clips. Take care not to pry too hard, there is the risk of the glass breaking.

After removal of the mirror, you would be able to go about removing the clips holding the outer casing. You might need to remove the mirror motor assy by removing the few holding screws.

If you wish to remove the mirror assy, you would need to remove the door panel which requires a few screws to be removed, ( they could be hidden), and pry the door panel free of the clips holding the panel in place.
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Thursday, May 30th, 2013 AT 7:06 AM
Tiny
CAISSON
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Hi, KHLow2006,
Thanks for the quick answer.
Just to understand more, and not to damage the mirror itself: What is 'Seat of the mirror'. Is it something behind the mirror to hold the mirror, or is it simply the back of the mirror?
Ply at the mirror's back to force it to pop out, or ply at the holder of the mirror, not the mirror itself?
How do I access to it in order to ply?
The mirror itself blocks access. Can I see the clips from the bottom of mirror if I adjust the mirror tilted high? Still, the mirror is kind of recessed into the assembly, inside the rim. To ply, the screw driver can only be slightly tilted up from level, not able to tilt higher because of the mirror blocking it, and the rim of the assembly does not allow the screw drive to tilt higher to ply.
I used a thin round wood stick (barbecue kind) as screw driver for trial. Seems the wood piece reach only mostly empty space.
Can you help more? Thanks.
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Thursday, May 30th, 2013 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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The seat is were the mirror clips onto the base.

You need to pry at the outer casing of the mirror, it comes together with the glass as an assy.

If you push the mirror facing upwards at the its highest point, you should have a gap from bottom for prying at the mirror.

Use a scraper or steel ruler for spreading out the force when prying. A large flat blade such as a scraper would be a better tool to use.

Use the edges of the mirror for leverage, not at center.
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Friday, May 31st, 2013 AT 6:42 AM
Tiny
CAISSON
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Thanks. With your advice, I successfully repair the driver side side view mirror of the 2002 Infiniti QX4.

I use a wide blade plastic scraper to ply from the bottom of the mirror. Any wide blade type should work. Plastic preferred to prevent scratch.
The mirror assembly has plastic reinforcement in its back side for strength. My side view mirror has 2 wires too, for dimming.
The mirror assembly is held to the motorized plate by 4 clips (one each corner). The clips hold on to 4 horizontal round rods on the motor assembly. This secures the mirror assembly to the motorized plate. (The motorized plate moves the mirror.) There are sticky thick gooey silicone grease surrounding the center of the motorized plate, to protect the motor head from water. Do NOT clean out the sticky gooey grease. Leave it alone.

Here is how I remove the mirror assembly:
1, Masking tape the entire edge of the side view mirror system. Also, masking tape the mirror edge as well.
1. Ply out slowly, at bottom corners, one at a time, using the edge of side view mirror assembly as leverage. Masking tape prevents scratch.
2. When hear a click and feels slight release, the clip at the corner maybe released. Move to the next bottom corner and ply.
3. Ply alternately between the 2 bottom corners, and slowly, until the bottom of the mirror is loose.
4. Wear glove. Use your hand, holding the bottom of mirror, slowly tilt upwards and out (toward you), to loosen the two top clips.
5. Remove mirror assembly. Do not pull out too far. There are 2 wires attached. Tape or hang the mirror to the side.

In my case, the motor assembly is cracked at several places. The motor assembly still works. (Meaning? It is loosy loose. The mirror shakes quite a bit when the car moves.)

Incidentally, do not use Crazy Glue or equivalent. The entire side view mirror assembly is actually porous Aluminum alloy, not plastic, though it looks like plastic. Crazy Glue cannot glue this porous Aluminum. (Yes, I tried.).

I use 5-minute epoxy. Works great. I apply glue to cracks of the motor assembly. When they dry, I then add metal strips to crack areas for added strength.
On the cracks of the outer shell, I first apply epoxy from the inside. This way glues it back to proper shape. Then I glue metal strips at crack areas from the inside for strength.

Wait 24 hours or more until the epoxy cures completely. Snap the mirror assembly on to the motor assembly.

Result:
The mirror does not shake any more.
The outer shell still shows the 2 cracks because paint is off along the cracks. Not too noticeable though.
I later apply a fine line clear silicone glue on the outside along cracks, to against moisture. This is optional, as it may make the cracks more noticeable. I decide not to paint it.
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Saturday, June 15th, 2013 AT 2:36 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Glad to know you heve the problem fixed and thank you for the input, which is going to be of help to others if they come here to search for answers.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2013 AT 12:38 AM

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