How to Replace a Car Side Mirror

How to Replace a Car Side Mirror
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How to Replace a Car Side Mirror
Whether it’s someone’s idea of a a prank or you just had an accident with another car, breaking the side mirror on the vehicle can be an annoying problem. You can ask professionals to work on this for you, but if you want, you can also do it yourself. Here’s how to replace a car’s side mirror properly.

What You’ll Need:
Replacement side mirror or mirrors
Owner’s manual
Pry tool
Socket wrench or nut driver
Screwdriver and/or torx driver
Small shallow container (cup or bowl)
Procedure:
Purchase a replacement mirror, making sure it’s the same as your vehicle’s model, make and year. Most auto repair shops sell these, but you can also order it online through your dealership. Buying one from a salvage yard or junkyard is also a great idea.
side mirror

Roll the window down, then shut the vehicle off.
Find the battery’s negative cable and disconnect it. This is very important, otherwise, you’ll put yourself at a risk of getting electrocuted.
Remove the interior door panel, with the help of your pry tool. This lets you remove the trim pieces. Using a screwdriver, remove the screws that hold the panel in place. If needed, you might have to take away a corner trim piece before the door panel can be lifted off.
If you have power-controlled windows, carefully unplug the wiring harness. Skip this step if your windows are manually rolled down.
Remove the mirror bolts using either a nut driver or a socket wrench. This allows you to remove the whole mirror assembly from the car.
Separate the mirror from the assembly. You can use a torx driver to remove the screws. Afterwards, pry the plastic tabs on the backing, until the two pieces are apart. Put the small parts in a small container for safekeeping.
Snap the new mirror to the backing using the tabs, so it will be attached to the assembly.
Put the new mirror, which is attached to the backing, in the assembly.
Reinstall the whole mirror by reversing the steps.
It’s always better if you consult a professional when changing your side mirrors, if you’re unsure of this method. Otherwise, you might end up doing more harm than good.
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