Technical How do the electric mirrors come apart, please?

[alexGS]

Hello all,
I tried a ten-minute Advanced Search but didn't find anything about how to take the wing mirrors apart.

The task is to repair and repaint both electric wing mirrors on a Racing Red Tipo Sedicivalvole, 1994 model.

I could just mask off the glass, sand off the flaking clearcoat, and repaint the housing. But the problem is that the right mirror moves left-and-right only, and the left mirror moves up-and-down only.

There are no screws under the housing. Taking off the rubber boot reveals nothing, and I can't see how to remove the glass. Can anyone give me some help, please, on how you get these things apart?

Thanks,
-Alex

 

[alexGS]

...not exactly answering my own question, but after some poking around with an LED torch, I figured out how the things work.

Two black plastic pins have a screw thread on them and a balljoint at the end. The balljoint is supposed to be clipped into the glass backing plate and lugs on the balljoint prevent the pin from rotating. Each motor then makes a noisy job of winding the pin in and out, provided the pin does not turn.

By running the motors until the pin lugs are vertical, I've managed to pop the backing plate back onto the pins (the screw threads 'give' as you push on the glass, so I had to push hard).

Now the mirrors seem to be working.

I've deduced that the wiring for the mirrors is difficult to remove - the door trim has to come off, and the wiring has to be un-threaded from the rubber concertina conduit to the door pillar. That's a bit much work for both sides!

Instead, I've decided to sand and repaint the mirrors while on the car - will mask off most of the car and turn the air pressure down to reduce spray mist. Obviously I'll mask off the mirror glass too.

It would still be interesting to know how you get these things apart, but I thought I'd post this just in case it helps someone else 'fix' the electric mirrors.

Cheers,
-Alex

 

[Parko]

As far as im aware, you have to break the glass to get into the unit. Sounds a wise decision painting them on the car.

 

[jonboy739]

yeah i couldn't get my glass out without doing any damage to the plastic threaded winding screws. mine doesn't move very much now the thread is stripped.