Problems keeping it up...
Discussion
Hello people,
I have searched through the threads, but can't find the answer I need. Basically my drivers side wing mirror has become so loose, that it hangs down so that I get a great view of the tarmac! Its loose at the base where it connects to the door, it just swivels around!
How do I tighten it and is the bolt that I need to access inside the door (I can hear a rattle inside the door when the mirror moves)?
Many thanks for any help.
Regards
I have searched through the threads, but can't find the answer I need. Basically my drivers side wing mirror has become so loose, that it hangs down so that I get a great view of the tarmac! Its loose at the base where it connects to the door, it just swivels around!
How do I tighten it and is the bolt that I need to access inside the door (I can hear a rattle inside the door when the mirror moves)?
Many thanks for any help.
Regards
The bible isn't that helpful on the subject, at least it wasn't when I had exactly the same symptoms. It assumes too much knowledge whereas you really want specifics about the mirror assembly.
We spent two hours trying to figure it out on a cold winter day!
The grub screw is the key to it all. If you move the mirror into its correct position, the grub screw will be situated on the top (the bit nearest the sky!) of the mirror stalk.
There should be a black plastic collar around the stalk. Pull that back as far as possible towards the main part of the mirror (away from the car), angling it to expose the top part where the grub screw is.
You may want to put some masking tape around base of the mirror where you're working to avoid paintwork damage.
You should, perhaps with a little twisting of the mirror, be able to just see the grub screw (or if it's missing) the hole for it. (I'm not sure what you can do if the screw is missing.)
Assuming you can see the screw, because things are so tight in there against the recessed part of the door, you'll need a cut-down allen key of the right size.
As your mirror is very loose, you can probably turn the mirror before you start to try various sizes - I don't know it off-hand.
Once you know the size, you'll need to hacksaw the short part of the allen key to give about 2-4mm of straight length.
Put the mirror in the right place, pull the collar back and try to get the allen key into the grub screw. It's a very tight fit and you may not be able to tighten much each time. In our case, we couldn't get enough leverage to turn the screw enough in order to take the allen key out and insert it again to tighten some more.
We got round this by ruining two allen keys - one with the long part bent to the right and one bent to the left and using them alternatively. The mirror has remained tight ever since.
It shouldn't be this much trouble to tighten a mirror, but unfortunately for us, it was. Bad design, see.
(Edited for grammar!)
>> Edited by GI on Monday 2nd May 11:31
We spent two hours trying to figure it out on a cold winter day!
The grub screw is the key to it all. If you move the mirror into its correct position, the grub screw will be situated on the top (the bit nearest the sky!) of the mirror stalk.
There should be a black plastic collar around the stalk. Pull that back as far as possible towards the main part of the mirror (away from the car), angling it to expose the top part where the grub screw is.
You may want to put some masking tape around base of the mirror where you're working to avoid paintwork damage.
You should, perhaps with a little twisting of the mirror, be able to just see the grub screw (or if it's missing) the hole for it. (I'm not sure what you can do if the screw is missing.)
Assuming you can see the screw, because things are so tight in there against the recessed part of the door, you'll need a cut-down allen key of the right size.
As your mirror is very loose, you can probably turn the mirror before you start to try various sizes - I don't know it off-hand.
Once you know the size, you'll need to hacksaw the short part of the allen key to give about 2-4mm of straight length.
Put the mirror in the right place, pull the collar back and try to get the allen key into the grub screw. It's a very tight fit and you may not be able to tighten much each time. In our case, we couldn't get enough leverage to turn the screw enough in order to take the allen key out and insert it again to tighten some more.
We got round this by ruining two allen keys - one with the long part bent to the right and one bent to the left and using them alternatively. The mirror has remained tight ever since.
It shouldn't be this much trouble to tighten a mirror, but unfortunately for us, it was. Bad design, see.
(Edited for grammar!)
>> Edited by GI on Monday 2nd May 11:31
Hi,
Found the grub screw, just need to locate the correct sized allen key! See what you mean about bad design. The grub screw is accessible when the mirror is pointing down at the ground. Can't see how I am going to access it when the mirror is in the correct place (maybe with a lot of cursing and swearing!)
Will get a new set of allens tonight and have a stab!
Thanks again.
Found the grub screw, just need to locate the correct sized allen key! See what you mean about bad design. The grub screw is accessible when the mirror is pointing down at the ground. Can't see how I am going to access it when the mirror is in the correct place (maybe with a lot of cursing and swearing!)
Will get a new set of allens tonight and have a stab!
Thanks again.
If you need any parts for your mirror find them here
www.computermarket.com/mall/3933C3F3/OZ_Computers_Online_TVR_Stuff_6.html
OZ
www.computermarket.com/mall/3933C3F3/OZ_Computers_Online_TVR_Stuff_6.html
OZ
Actually these people are Citroen specialists and the same patrts are approx 50% cheaper ! www.brodie.co.uk
the easy way....
tighten (but not completely) the upper grub screw whislt you can get to it easily (ie no cutting down of allen key)...... rotate mirror round to where it should be..... it is stiff to move but it will.
Drill small hole through the metal of wing mirror on opposite edge to grub screw... insert small self tapping screw and tighten... Pull black plastic cover back into place and hey presto done for ever....
Oh did I mention it takes about 5 minutes max
tighten (but not completely) the upper grub screw whislt you can get to it easily (ie no cutting down of allen key)...... rotate mirror round to where it should be..... it is stiff to move but it will.
Drill small hole through the metal of wing mirror on opposite edge to grub screw... insert small self tapping screw and tighten... Pull black plastic cover back into place and hey presto done for ever....
Oh did I mention it takes about 5 minutes max
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