Take apart outside mirror

[tominnorthtexas]

How do I take apart my new driver side power mirror on my 1991 Buick Park Avenue Ultra, to put the parts into the old housing, so I can avoid painting? I believe it comes apart because the dealer has motors and glass assemblies listed separately. I've tried prying off the glass assembly, but I'm afraid I'll break it.

Thanks, Tom

[anant369]

There is a plastic clip on the left center of the mirror plate. If you carefully pry it out, the glass and the plastic it is housed on will pop out.

[tominnorthtexas]

Originally Posted by anant369

There is a plastic clip on the left center of the mirror plate. If you carefully pry it out, the glass and the plastic it is housed on will pop out.

Thank you for the information. I haven't found any info in my aftermarket manuals.
I've peeked and peeked and haven't found anything that looks like a plastic clip. What should it look like, and exactly where located?

I bought the new mirror from the agency, correct for my VIN. Do you suppose that the design is changed, so that the individual parts are not replaceable?

One agency parts man told me that I could buy the glass, the motor or the whole housing/motor/glass. I bought the whole thing.

Then, my favorite Chevy/Buick parts man told me that the motor alone was no longer available.

I'm thinking of using my saws-all on the new housing, to get out the motor and glass. Then I'll screw them into the old housing. I'd rather not do that

I'll appreciate any further info. Thanks, tominnorthtexas

[Cntrysthbst]

I just did mine! No clip on this either! I have a 1992 Park Ave., now if yours is the same this is how --- push the elec. switch so the mirror will go all the way towards the car, get a flash light and set it up on a bar stool if you can and face it into the mirror housing, pull the mirror out alittle with one hand and on the inside you will see where it is attached in 3 places, now - not the center pivot put the other two attaching pivots have small springs on them, take a long small sturdy piece of wire, or equiv, and push the springs down ( towards the housing ), do this on both and if you can't just carefully pop the center pivot and then work the small springs down --- take a small pry bar, something thats about 1/2 inch wide, stick the pry bar into where the center pivot is and twist, you need to pop it out of the center, hold the mirror while you do this, not to much torque either - after you pop that it should come out - if the other pivots are still attached, work the small springs down more and carefully work them out,

install pivots with springs first, get them set -- then pop the larger center pivot into its place, DON'T USE TO MUCH FORCE BECAUSE YOU CAN BREAK THE MOTOR HOUSING THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME OF THE MIRROR --- make sure you have patience to do this, and don't do it on a bad day, take your time, study it closely, otherwise you'll be replacing the whole thing! If you get stuck in a jam - take a break - reread this if you have to and ask all the questions you need too! Godd luck! Rob

[Cntrysthbst]

Sorry, push the springs towards to mirror, this unlocks it from its place, and it would help to put some grease on all the pivot areas! Slowly work it or it WILL break! If you do break it, just get some OEM factory spray paint that matches your car and paint them then you can just replace the whole unit which I would recommend doing! Its alot easier! Rob

[tominnorthtexas]

Originally Posted by Cntrysthbst

Sorry, push the springs towards to mirror, this unlocks it from its place, and it would help to put some grease on all the pivot areas! Slowly work it or it WILL break! If you do break it, just get some OEM factory spray paint that matches your car and paint them then you can just replace the whole unit which I would recommend doing! Its alot easier! Rob

Well, I got the mirror replaced. I got the new mirror apart and installed the motor in the old housing, while the housing was still on the car. I cut the wires inside the housing and soldered on the new wires. I covered the splices with heat-shrink. I bolted the motor into the housing.

I pried the two jack-screws out of the mirror and installed them back into the motor. I couldn't push the mirror backing plate onto the jackscrew balls. Finally, I removed them from the motor and pushed the balls back into the mirror backing plate.

Then, I lined up the jackscrews aith the motor shafts, and pushed them on.

I didn't realize until then that the center pivot sleeve has to be pushed onto (over) the pivot boss on the motor. It was very difficult, but I finally managed to push it over the boss and the job was completed and everything works.

Unfortunately, I cracked the mirror sometime in the installation process. Next time I might fashion a stiffener, the shape of the glass, and tape it to the mirror, to distribute the pushing and pulling loads.

I intend to leave it cracked unless it falls out or clouds over. If it does fail, I think I will get a new aftermarket glass and replace just the glass or glue the new one over the broken one.

Thanks to every one for the info which gave me the courage to do this tough job.

Tom in North Texas