2002 Suburban Power Mirror Fell off

The circular spring clip holding the power mirror on my 2002 Chevy Suburban came off when the attendent tucked in my mirror at the last car wash. Now the mirror is swinging in the breeze. It seems easy enough to fix -- all that needs to be done is the clip re-installed on the mounting post. However, getting at the clip and mounting post seems to be the real challenge.

Any suggestion how to fix this without taking it to the dealer and without busting the glass.

Right now, the universal duct-tape tool is keeping the mirror in place. However, its not as attractive as the original plastic mount.

 

B2TT

i would go back to the car wash and make a fuss...i worked at one back in the day, and they will almost always pay for stuff like that, even if they have a sign claming no responsibility for damages.

LOL. Unfortunately, that means taking it to someone like the dealer -- I hate having someone touch my cars -- they always seem to come back with more wrong with them than they went in with. I'll do as much of everything that I can before letting someone else muck it up. At least that way, I know who to blame. 

It sure seems simple enough. I can see the silly thing. I just can't get at it. My guess is that the actual mirror glass is glued to a mounting plate and you take a guitar wire to cut through it like they do to replace the windshields. Then you can access the servo and other mounting stuff. But then again...I'm just guessing.

It' s not high on my list of priorities but the duct-tape does look lame -- even though it is doing the job and it is black to match the mirror.  

Actually, I broke down the other day and ordered the service manuals from Helms. $135 is a small price to pay for having that much technical info available.  The car's only getting older and will probably have more to fix as we go along.

Thanks for the idea though.  

 Well the Service manuals showed up and I know you all have a buring desire to know the answer to this question so hear goes:

>>Stick a 'flat prying device' (a.k.a. screwdriver) behind the mirror glass and twist it to free the mirror mount from power rotation cup clip.<<

This interpretation from the exact text wording has been generalized a little here to spare you all from the technical details. But in a nutshell, the basic idea I guess is to force it off using a screwdriver. Go figure!

Of course, they also preface the procedure with "saftey precautions" such as to be sure to "use gloves to protect yourself from either already broken glass or possible broken glass" ...I like that thought - NOT!

Haven't tried it yet--maybe I better order a new piece of mirror just in case this procedure yields a more broken component than when I started?

Any takers? I've got $10 bucks riding on it that when I try this, the mirror breaks -- no matter how delicate I try. 

 

 

Update:

1.) Haven't tried the fix yet...just got back from a week in Nashville. Didn't want to bust the mirror before leaving on a big trip with no back-up parts on hand.

2.) Driver's Side mirror now in the same state (some mental defective in Nashville parking lot must have whacked the mirror climbing out of their "double-wide" because they parked too close).

3.) You are gonna' love this: Before leaving for Nashville, dropped off the wife's Buick Regal at the Dealer's for a "recall fix" to the steering bering. While there we asked them to "fix" the airco because it wasn't working anymore. Told them to take their time as we were going to be gone a week. Picked it up yesterday....Driving home - No Airco! And it cost me $144 for something that I already had. Low Coolant light comes on! And inconvenienced by having to bring the car back to the dealer and being without it again -- only this time when we will need it. Why is it that the Dealer's Service departments always live up to my expectations of poor quality workmanship and service? Just for once I would like for my car to come back fixed of the problem it went in for, not come back with more problems, and be done right the first time?!!!