Side mirror came loose. How do I fix it?

[Totally 80s]

My drivers side mirror came loose today. Not the mirror itself but the actual housing. I opened it up from the bottom (there is an access panel) and found about 8 washers followed by a lock washer. I can't figure out how to tighten the mirror back. When I stack all the washers up over the male plug of the mirror they go beyond where the lock washer could lock. Do I need to take the mirror off to repair this? Any suggestions or help appreciated. I searched the forum and nobody had posted this problem.

[Michael]

You have to get at it from inside the door. If its like most cars, there are three nuts or bolts holding it in place, that and the electrical plug. I think I pulled mine off when I regrained my door and I can't remember if there was a trim cover over the fasteners or if it was the a pillar cover.

One look from the interior and you should have no problem figuring it out.

[DMC5180]

Post a picture please.

Is the Spring washer stack up real rusty? Pop the lower cover off the other mirror to see what needs to be done. If you can't get the retaining washer to re-lock onto the pivot tube, you'll be replacing the mirror.

[Totally 80s]

I'm talking about the plastic surround (around the mirror) that pivots on the door mount. Not the inside guts of the mirror. This is the actual pivot point where the mirror can go 180 degrees back and forth.

[Totally 80s]

Post a picture please.

Is the Spring washer stack up real rusty? Pop the lower cover off the other mirror to see what needs to be done. If you can't get the retaining washer to re-lock onto the pivot tube.

There is a tiny bit of surface rust but not bad. I popped the lower cover off to restack the washers but when i do there seems to be too many of them to get the lock washer on the pivot tube.

[DMC5180]

It's a stack of spring washers. They have to be compressed onto the tube. I'm guessing the manufacturer has a special tool or press to do this. Because the wire sticks out of the tube, you can't get an appropriate sized socket over the washers to push on them, unless you remove the mirror from the door and de-pin the connector.

[Totally 80s]

Yeah, its the stupidest designed thing I have seen in a while. It seems like you have to compress the washers to get the lock flange on the end. Is this something I can do myself? Somebody has had to have had this problem.

[DMC5180]

It's inside the door. You have to remove the upper trim panel. This is the passenger side I just happen to have the panel off at the moment. Any other pictures you'd like to see?

11955

11956

[Totally 80s]

It's inside the door. You have to remove the upper trim panel. This is the passenger side I just happen to have the panel off at the moment. Any other pictures you'd like to see?

11955

11956

I got it out easy enough. I would like to see a photo of how somebody got the lock back on the stack of washers. Assuming it could be done, how exactly does the locking ring go on?
Do you put it on with the rest of the washers (with the cord in the middle of it) then try to stretch, jimmy it into the groove?
Do you put it on externally from the washers (not with the cord in the middle of it) and try to stretch the small opening to go into the groove?

[DMC5180]

I got it out easy enough. I would like to see a photo of how somebody got the lock back on the stack of washers. Assuming it could be done, how exactly does the locking ring go on?
Do you put it on with the rest of the washers (with the cord in the middle of it) then try to stretch, jimmy it into the groove?
Do you put it on externally from the washers (not with the cord in the middle of it) and try to stretch the small opening to go into the groove?

1. It's a one way press on retaining washer. you have to push it on and hope catches the groove. I'm surprised yours came off to begin with. I've looked at it questioned how a person would go about getting the retainer off the shaft.
2. Yes
3. Only if 2 doesn't work. I would imagine this is how the manufacturer did it.

[Totally 80s]

Well I spread the retaining washer apart a bit to take it off of shaft. I don't think its worth 3 hours of struggling with it when the part is $165 for a whole new mirror. I need a new mirror glass anyway. It sounds like I need a whole new mirror.

Not sure how it happened. I was washing the car today, moved the mirror a little bit, heard a small "pop" and looked down and the mirror was loose.

Maybe somebody has fixed this and has some good ideas. Otherwise I guess I am out $164.

-alex

[DMC5180]

Yeah, your probably better off with a new one while they are available Or find a good used one. Many of the Vendors do have Parts cars to pull things like that off of. All you have to do is inquire. Your fall back is NOS.

[Totally 80s]

Thanks for trying to help me Dennis. I appreciate it.

I gotta say, that compression washer design is one of the wankiest things I have seen in quite a while.