[s-cars] replacing driver-side mirror

[matt ludwig]

Allllllllllllllllll righty then.

Here is another update on the side mirror replacement and a short  
'How-To' for anyone else needing to do this in the future. In a  
nutshell, YES, you MUST remove the interior door panel to replace the  
mirror housing- there is no other way. There are 2 electrical  
connections (aka- Hanz n' Franz finger torture devices, or HnFftd's  
for short) that the mirror must connect with; 1) mirror adjustment  
motors and 2) cold weather heated mirror element. #2 connects right  
at the housing itself and is very easy to do (comes out w/ the  
housing). #1 is something of a James Joyce epic tragedy that has not  
one, but 2 HnFftd's and is clipped to the inside of the metal door  
frame about 12 inches south of the lower window frame. Here are some  
guides for all of you playing along at home:

Tools needed:
1. Small phillips head screwdriver
2. Large phillips head screwdriver
3. #8 ?? Torx head bit (basically a big one)
4. 12 tough fingers (i'll get to this one later)
5. a flat blade or 1" putty knife (for prying)

Directions:
1. Roll the window all the way down.
2. go here and memorize how to remove interior door trim:
3. **DO NOT remove trim 100%**- instead, do everything except for  
removing the locking cable. Find a suitable stand to rest the trim on  
(milk crate works great, btw) and simply let the cable bundles be  
connected while you work in between the trim and the door to get to  
the one electrical connection. it is tight, but fine for this job.
4. Remove the interior door trim per the instructions, w/ exception  
of locking cable.
5. remove the little piece of black plastic trim on the inside of the  
side mirror bracket, along with the molded foam behind it. Reserve  
these.
6. take putty knife/blade and pop-off HnFftd #1 from the door frame.  
Use all 12 of the fingers you have to both hold the connection, the  
door insulation aside, the door trim, and separate the male/female  
connectors.
7. take putty knife/blade and slide off HnFftd #2 at lower end of the  
male/female connection.
8. Remove HnFftd #1 from the cable attached to mirror housing and  
place in same manner on new cable/housing.
9. fish cable of old mirror bracket/housing up so it is 'free'.
10. With everything basically 'apart', get the larger philips head  
and the Torx head and remove the 2 screws holding the mirror bracket  
and housing to the door frame.
11. pull bracket up and towards you (standing on outside of door)
12. disconnect heated mirror connection
13. Fish 12" cable out through eyelet in door frame and wipe off any  
dirt/grime from bracket location.
14. Reassemble in reverse order, and/or it fits like the photographic  
memory picture you took and saved before you started taking it all  
apart. : )

This one is not really *that* difficult and in a garage w/ time it is  
all the more bearable. Just thought I would pass along my experience  
to anyone who may have this coming up.

Sincerely,


matt ludwig.
1995.5 S6 Avant
Washington, D.C. / Portland, ME

On 20Jul , 2006, at 2:32 PM, Robert Rossato wrote:

> Again, going by memory here but, the wiring harness should pull up  
> with the mirror.  May have to mess with it a bit.  I don't recall  
> having to take the door panel off when we replaced the driver's  
> mirror on Bys' car.
>
> 78F at lunch time here in CT.  Last couple of days have been  
> great.  Thanks Canada for sending that natural AC down.
>
> BR
>
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: matt ludwig <matt.ludwig2 at verizon.net>
>> was just going to reply with my findings...
>>
>> i stumbled through and by luck- removed the entire frickin' side
>> mirror by doing exactly what you say Bob!.... only to find out that
>> the motor wiring cable (~ 10 inches long w/ male connection at end
>> (enter easy joke here, Pizzo : )) is buried inside the door and does
>> NOT want to come up through it's hole where it disappears to. now,
>> the hole is definitly big enough to fit the connection (i have seen
>> the size on the new mirror i have) but it will not budge. anyone have
>> a Bently procedure they could share or a diagram as to how long the
>> 'other' connectors wires are to see if i do yank, will it come to me?
>>
>> DC heat = 95F and counting....
>>
>> many thanks!!
>>
>>
>> matt ludwig.
>>
>>
>> On 20Jul , 2006, at 2:03 PM, Robert Rossato wrote:
>>
>>> As I recall, removal of the door panel is not necessary.  Just
>>> remove the triangular panel on the inside of the door.  May have to
>>> remove a small screw or two on the front edge, can't recall for
>>> sure, then pry off cover.  After cover is off you'll have access to
>>> the bolts holding the mirror in place.  Remove bolts, disconnect
>>> harness at bottom of mirror base and you're done.  That may not be
>>> the exact procedure, but it's close enought to get you going.
>>>
>>> BR