Passenger side mirror not folding

Passenger side mirror not folding

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Discussion

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Tuesday 24th January 2023
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Yes the latest in the saga of faults 🤬. Noticed it this morning whilst giving the car a clean; when locking the car, at first it half folded closed, then after a couple of times it just does nothing.
The motor is working and it will fold if I give it some assistance, it has no problem then unfolding.
Anyone else had the same problem and got a fix?
Got to admit I'm getting rather fed-up, feels like one problem after another, if the car wasn't such a great driving machine I'd cut my losses and sell it.

LGC-Adams

126 posts

46 months

Tuesday 24th January 2023
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Any chance its iced up, if its as cold where you are as here in SE UK?

Edited by LGC-Adams on Tuesday 24th January 15:47

tony993

341 posts

217 months

Tuesday 24th January 2023
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neil-g8km6 said:
Anyone else had the same problem and got a fix?
Yes: wait for a warm day & try again. One of my other cars does this when it's very cold. I don't have this problem with the Alpine, because I didn't buy the mirror package - mainly because I didn't want the auto dim rear view mirror, but also because I thought it was an expensive option.

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Tuesday 24th January 2023
quotequote all
tony993 said:
Yes: wait for a warm day & try again. One of my other cars does this when it's very cold. I don't have this problem with the Alpine, because I didn't buy the mirror package - mainly because I didn't want the auto dim rear view mirror, but also because I thought it was an expensive option.
In the midlands and not as cold as it was last week when it didn't have a problem.
I assume that's it is an internal plastic gear wheel that has failed, of course it will be made of unobtainium and the only available spares will be a complete new wing mirror unit at an extortionate price and unavailable until 2024.
If anyone knows of an A110 breaking for spares please let me know.

Wacky Racer

38,270 posts

249 months

Tuesday 24th January 2023
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Just had an "actuator" replaced today under warranty on our Mazda 3 for the same problem.

Sometimes water gets into the plastic cogs and freezes, Plenty of videos on YT.

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Thursday 26th January 2023
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The mirror makes no attempt at movement now, I presume that it has work away all the teeth somewhere in the mechanics.
Enquired about a replacement, £580 +vat 🫣 and of course none available in the UK and France.
Think I'll wait till I find a salvaged item🤞

fuzzy-si

30 posts

21 months

Thursday 26th January 2023
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I wouldn't be at all surprised if the insides are the same as some other Renault/Nissan group car.

Might be worth taking it apart and searching any part numbers you uncover...

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Thursday 26th January 2023
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Exactly what I plan to do. I took off the door card yesterday but still need to do more of the door apart to access the wing mirror fixings and that's going to wait till there is warmer weather.
https://flic.kr/p/2odAGLc

RikkertBiemans

58 posts

21 months

Friday 27th January 2023
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Could you provide any info about how to take the door apart? So especially where the screws and clips are located? Thanks!

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Friday 27th January 2023
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There are four torx screws holding the door card, the front is easily visible between the door jamb,
https://flic.kr/p/2odEKcz
The other three are behind plastic blanking pieces; one on the outer plastic edge of the door, if you look closely there is a 3mm indentation where you can GENTLY prise out with a fine screwdriver,
https://flic.kr/p/2odHdTu
In the door handle, again 3mm indentation at the top, push the screw driver in 3 to 4 mm to release the clip holding the cover, the cover will not remove totally,
https://flic.kr/p/2odCeE8
The last one is behind the leather door pull and repuires a small plastic prise tool(the black one, it came in the fitting kit for my nextbase camera)
https://flic.kr/p/2odH25b
With the four screws removed, I worked from the top of the door jamb (nearest the hinges) downwards and along the bottom using big plastic prise tool between the metal door and the plastic card pulling outwards to release the plastic push clips all round.
https://flic.kr/p/2odGaoB
Lift the door card upwards a little to release from the window rubbers.
Note; have a towel etc on the floor to rest the bottom of the door card on, the door handle will still be attached and when refitting FIRST reposition the door handle into the door card. Replacement is the reverse, carefully aligning the plastic push fit clips.

RikkertBiemans

58 posts

21 months

Saturday 28th January 2023
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Thanks! I have some rattles in the left door when i turn up the bass. Going to look after it once it gets warmer. Are the clips fragile? One my cayman i had to buy these new because they broke so easily.

Edited by RikkertBiemans on Saturday 28th January 08:49

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Saturday 28th January 2023
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The clips appeared to be good and sturdy, unlike lots of things that Porsche make out of chocolate😂

RikkertBiemans

58 posts

21 months

Sunday 29th January 2023
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That’s good to hear (about the clips). Thanks for helping smile

What i really liked about the 987 platform is that there is tons of information about maintenance and repairs floating around (english boards and YouTube videos). You could also get most if the parts easily on the common webshops (daparto). Porsche even has a public parts catalogue where you can check each individual pieces numbers and see where screws and clips are located.
I never thought about that, but thats really the only thing i dislike about my alpine. But i guess all exotics have that in common.

Edited by RikkertBiemans on Sunday 29th January 10:18

Franzino

494 posts

162 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
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neil-g8km6 said:
Yes the latest in the saga of faults ??. Noticed it this morning whilst giving the car a clean; when locking the car, at first it half folded closed, then after a couple of times it just does nothing.
The motor is working and it will fold if I give it some assistance, it has no problem then unfolding.
Anyone else had the same problem and got a fix?
Got to admit I'm getting rather fed-up, feels like one problem after another, if the car wasn't such a great driving machine I'd cut my losses and sell it.
We have the same problem; contacted Alpine and they will fix it under warranty. I could be that it's only a question of some grease on the mechanism...if not then they will replace the motor (= base of the mirror that is painted). Our car was not the first with this issue they told us and those things are exactly the reason why we took the extended warranty.

Edited by Franzino on Wednesday 1st February 22:22

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
quotequote all
Franzino said:
We have the same problem; contacted Alpine and they will fix it under warranty. I could be that it's only a question of some grease on the mechanism...if not then they will replace the motor (= base of the mirror that is painted). Our car was not the first with this issue they told us and those things are exactly the reason why we took the extended warranty.
Thanks for your reply and sorry to hear your problem.
Am I right in assuming the motor and mechanism is in the bottom section of the mirror, the part attached to the door skin?
I will remove the mirror from the door when the warmer weather arrives, not a difficult process, I'm hoping when I take the mirror apart to find some common components from other Renaults and replace the failed items🤞.

Edited by Franzino on Wednesday 1st February 22:22

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Friday 16th June 2023
quotequote all
just an update; I have had no reply from Taiwan regarding a replacement actuator, so I have asked a friend who has a specialist manufacturing company to apply for a sample as has been suggested.
However, I recently found a s\h wing mirror at a breakers for £450, nothing like greed to get my blood boiling and stir me into action.
This morning I took the outer coloured casing off and then separated the wing mirror carcass, leaving the actuator in place attached to the lower section. On locking the car the actuator worked on its own yet would not fold when the mirror carcass is attached. I gave the moving parts a good dose of PTFE spray and operated the mirror actuator with the internal open and closing button a few times, repeating with the PTFE spray.
Attached the mirror carcass and hey presto, it works!
Result, I now have my near side mirror folding.


a110au

278 posts

53 months

Saturday 17th June 2023
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ah thats a great result so the diagnosis is not broken anything but accumulation of dirt or need for re-lubrication ?

neil-g8km6

Original Poster:

171 posts

25 months

Saturday 17th June 2023
quotequote all
a110au said:
ah thats a great result so the diagnosis is not broken anything but accumulation of dirt or need for re-lubrication ?
Yes all is now good, evidence suggests that it could be simply the lack of lubrication or ingress of dust etc.
A quick note of thanks Justin for your printed phone holder, does what it says on the tin, also your printed air-vent attachment has taken up residence in the car. A good rub-down with wet and dry, followed by a few coats of Plasti-coat made a world of difference to the finish.

7en

234 posts

13 months

Saturday 17th June 2023
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tony993 said:
Yes: wait for a warm day & try again. One of my other cars does this when it's very cold. I don't have this problem with the Alpine, because I didn't buy the mirror package - mainly because I didn't want the auto dim rear view mirror, but also because I thought it was an expensive option.
I had a hunch this would be a problem after owning an RS Clio and the mirror folding being 50/50, at least that's with a manual switch though so you decide when to try and fold and don't have to watch one side not folding everytime you lock the car. I wouldn't add the mirror package as I think it just will be an issue at some point, also due to the car being so slim it's not that necessary.

As others have said stripping and greasing can help, but I didn't find it a true fix for the Clio, after a short while it can still not fold occasionally.

Edited by 7en on Saturday 17th June 12:58

Martyn P

156 posts

78 months

Sunday 19th November 2023
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Hi Neil,

Exactly the same thing has just happened to my passenger mirror.
Half folding and now not at all.

Car is still in warranty so will contact dealer to see what next.
Is this a relatively easy fix or does it require replacement of whole mirror and motor?