A rear view mirror is mirror that is found in both the interior and exterior of the vehicles for helping the driver see the area, which is behind him or her, and the sides of the vehicle outside his or her vision. Most of the modern cars will have this mirror mounted on the side doors of the vehicle. Other mirrors will be placed inside the car on the windshield, so that the driver can see the traffic following behind his or her car. Now-a-days the car manufacturers also install a side indicator on the side mirror. This will give a higher visibility to the oncoming vehicles and the people walking on the roads, who would be able to see the indicator at a higher height when they are turning the vehicle. When these mirrors break or get damaged, then you must know how to replace rear view mirror.
These mirrors can be found in every car, because if the driver does not have eyes on the behind then there are high chances of major road mishaps. These mirrors are used for turning the vehicle or during parking, so that the driver can park the vehicle without damaging his or other person’s vehicle. However, over the time these mirrors might get damaged, thus blocking your vision and at such time it is best to get it replaced. Here are some simple steps on how to replace rear mirrors.
Things Required:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Paper towels or soft cloth
- Wax crayon or marking pencil
- Flat-bladed scraper
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Small pair of pliers
- Scissors
- Mirror reattachment kit
Steps:
- The first step for replacing the rear view mirror will be taking a scraper and start scraping out the area where the mirror is attached to clean it. If the blade of your scraper is sharp then do this process carefully, because you don’t want any scratches on your car.
- Take some alcohol, pour in on a paper towel or cloth, and use it for wiping the area, which you have just scraped clean. Rubbing alcohol will help in removing any residue of oil, grease or any other adhesive. Let the windshield dry for sometime.
- For replacing the rear view mirror, you will have to check the attachment point of the mirror. You will see a small U-shaped button in the area of attachment point. Now, you will have to remove this button, sometimes this button will be fixed with a screw, which you will have to remove first for removing this button. This screw will be snapped in place; take the pliers, press down the metal flange and with the help of the screwdriver pry the button open.
- Once you have taken out the button, take the scraper and remove all the traces of adhesive from the button. Clean it with alcohol and allow drying for sometime. When it is dry, then you will have to place it on a spot on the windshield where you want to replace your rear view mirror. Make sure that you have placed the button in the right spot, because later it will be difficult to remove it again.
- The next step for replacing the rear view mirror will be making sure that the curved side of the U-shaped mirror is facing upwards. Take a marker and trace the area around the marker, after that when you remove the button, the area where you need to install the button will be marked.
- Now, take the repair kit and remove the activator container. The fluid inside this container should be mixed with the glue. Now take this mixture and paint it over the marked area on the windshield. If you want, then you coat the inner surface of the button as well. Let both the surfaces dry for sometime.
- Next step for replacing the rear view mirror will be applying adhesive on the center of the inner side of the button. Now, place the gluey side of the button on the windshield; press it on that area for sometime. When you remove pressure off the button it will be fixed on the glass, allow it to dry for an hour and then you can attach the mirror. Now you are done with replacing the rear view mirror.
Related Content: