How i did the rearview mirror repair
02-28-2005, 05:33 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
How i did the sideview mirror repair
Hi,
its been a while ago that i posted about the problems with my popped out rearview mirror, and i found quite a lot of folks here having the same problem. Fact is the C5 rear view mirror is a pi$$ poor design. I dont understand how GM can create such a faulty unit on a 50.000 US$ car. Well. doesnt matter. I found a way to fix it:
On the first picture you see how the original ring sits on top of the alloy rod and you see the loaded spring that pushes agains the ring when tension is released. I compressed the spring with some wires to make installation more easy.
I didnt trust in the ring design anymore (as i lost my second mirror this winter) and found a different way to keep the unit together.
Instead of pushing the ring over the spring i drilled a hole into the alloy hollow rod, set the spring and fix the whole thing with a nail.
Here a picture of the hole i drilled:
To get that far, you have to get the whole mirror assembly appart. It is neccessary to cut the control wires for the electronic mirror control to take the mirror assembly appart:
After you route the wires through the rod, the spring and the painted mirror outside assembly, just connect the wires again (they are colorcoded, dont mix them up). I choose to use hot shrinking tape to keep the wires secured together:
Now its time to put the whole thing back together. Here is how the nail fixes the spring on the rod (for clear view i left away the painted outside mirror assembly):
And here a picture of the whole thing back together (notice the spring still compresed. Just cut the wires after you put in the nail):
I really hope this helps somebody in restoring a faulty rearview mirror on somebodys C5. I feel sick in buying once a year a new mirror . . .
Jochen
its been a while ago that i posted about the problems with my popped out rearview mirror, and i found quite a lot of folks here having the same problem. Fact is the C5 rear view mirror is a pi$$ poor design. I dont understand how GM can create such a faulty unit on a 50.000 US$ car. Well. doesnt matter. I found a way to fix it:
On the first picture you see how the original ring sits on top of the alloy rod and you see the loaded spring that pushes agains the ring when tension is released. I compressed the spring with some wires to make installation more easy.
I didnt trust in the ring design anymore (as i lost my second mirror this winter) and found a different way to keep the unit together.
Instead of pushing the ring over the spring i drilled a hole into the alloy hollow rod, set the spring and fix the whole thing with a nail.
Here a picture of the hole i drilled:
To get that far, you have to get the whole mirror assembly appart. It is neccessary to cut the control wires for the electronic mirror control to take the mirror assembly appart:
After you route the wires through the rod, the spring and the painted mirror outside assembly, just connect the wires again (they are colorcoded, dont mix them up). I choose to use hot shrinking tape to keep the wires secured together:
Now its time to put the whole thing back together. Here is how the nail fixes the spring on the rod (for clear view i left away the painted outside mirror assembly):
And here a picture of the whole thing back together (notice the spring still compresed. Just cut the wires after you put in the nail):
I really hope this helps somebody in restoring a faulty rearview mirror on somebodys C5. I feel sick in buying once a year a new mirror . . .
Jochen
Last edited by Jochen; 04-14-2005 at 02:58 AM. Reason: Changed name from rearview to sideview
02-28-2005, 06:26 PM
#2
Team Owner
As usual, excellent how-to, Jochen. You should make this another Tech Tip along with your DRL one.
That ring retainer looks fragile at best for such a critical function.
That ring retainer looks fragile at best for such a critical function.
03-01-2005, 11:37 AM
#4
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thank you patches. I add this to the tech tipp section. Guess it will be published soon.
Awsum98, the mirror doesnt has to get out of the frame (yet, it will help you get the frame off when you remove the mirror before). The black plastic frame that holds the mirror (fixed with double sided tape and cliped to fix on the edges of the frame) has two long extensions on the back. On those two extensions and in the middle of the mirror frame, the frame assembly is fixed to the elecrical mirror control unit. This extensions makes the mirror move when you push a button on the door control unit. Those extensions just snap with little ***** into the holes.
Here a picture:
Hope this helps.
Jochen
Awsum98, the mirror doesnt has to get out of the frame (yet, it will help you get the frame off when you remove the mirror before). The black plastic frame that holds the mirror (fixed with double sided tape and cliped to fix on the edges of the frame) has two long extensions on the back. On those two extensions and in the middle of the mirror frame, the frame assembly is fixed to the elecrical mirror control unit. This extensions makes the mirror move when you push a button on the door control unit. Those extensions just snap with little ***** into the holes.
Here a picture:
Hope this helps.
Jochen
03-01-2005, 12:04 PM
#5
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Anthony TX
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CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Jochen!!!! You are the MAN!!! EXCELLENT WORK!!!!!! Well Done!! 
Thank You Very much.
Bill Curlee
Thank You Very much.
Bill Curlee
03-01-2005, 12:40 PM
#6
Veteran
Great post !!!
The writeup and the pictures are excellent!
One question. Are you concerned the nail could eventually work its way out of the hole from vibration?
You could use a certain type of cotter pin that you spread the ends open or one that latches after it's inserted?
Just a thought.
The writeup and the pictures are excellent!
One question. Are you concerned the nail could eventually work its way out of the hole from vibration?
You could use a certain type of cotter pin that you spread the ends open or one that latches after it's inserted?
Just a thought.
03-01-2005, 01:22 PM
#7
Drifting
Thread Starter
Absolutely, i was thinking about using a pin like you said and bend the ends to avoid slipping out.
I choose the nail because the pressure from the spring is very high and i dont think vibration will cause the nail to move.
But, of cause, if you have such a pin it will be a good idea to use it.
One thing i may change when i have to do this the next time (there is still a mirror waiting to get the mod): I will cut about 1/2 winding of the spring and drill the hole a little bit more down on the rod. As you can see on the pictures, there is very little substance left over the hole and the metall is very soft.
The pressure applied from the spring will still be the same.
Jochen
I choose the nail because the pressure from the spring is very high and i dont think vibration will cause the nail to move.
But, of cause, if you have such a pin it will be a good idea to use it.
One thing i may change when i have to do this the next time (there is still a mirror waiting to get the mod): I will cut about 1/2 winding of the spring and drill the hole a little bit more down on the rod. As you can see on the pictures, there is very little substance left over the hole and the metall is very soft.
The pressure applied from the spring will still be the same.
Jochen
03-02-2005, 07:45 AM
#9
Team Owner
Originally Posted by Jochen
Absolutely, i was thinking about using a pin like you said and bend the ends to avoid slipping out.
I choose the nail because the pressure from the spring is very high and i dont think vibration will cause the nail to move.
But, of cause, if you have such a pin it will be a good idea to use it.
One thing i may change when i have to do this the next time (there is still a mirror waiting to get the mod): I will cut about 1/2 winding of the spring and drill the hole a little bit more down on the rod. As you can see on the pictures, there is very little substance left over the hole and the metall is very soft.
The pressure applied from the spring will still be the same.
Jochen
I choose the nail because the pressure from the spring is very high and i dont think vibration will cause the nail to move.
But, of cause, if you have such a pin it will be a good idea to use it.
One thing i may change when i have to do this the next time (there is still a mirror waiting to get the mod): I will cut about 1/2 winding of the spring and drill the hole a little bit more down on the rod. As you can see on the pictures, there is very little substance left over the hole and the metall is very soft.
The pressure applied from the spring will still be the same.
Jochen
03-02-2005, 09:15 AM
#11
Team Owner
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by wamara
Sehr gut und danke!!
04-13-2005, 03:40 PM
#13
Drifting
Thread Starter
I tried to put it to the tech tip section in February, but it never was published . . . Can an Admin step in and make a tech tip out of it ?
Thanks,
Jochen
Thanks,
Jochen
04-14-2005, 08:54 AM
#17
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by Jochen
Absolutely, I was thinking about using a pin like you said and bend the ends to avoid slipping out.
But, of course, if you have such a pin it will be a good idea to use it.
Jochen
But, of course, if you have such a pin it will be a good idea to use it.
Jochen
04-15-2005, 06:52 AM
#18
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Aug 2000
Location: Sindelfingen Germany
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Der Jochen, unser alter Bastler.........
Nicht schlecht Herr Specht, weiter so!
Bei mir liegt übrigens noch ein OEM Luftfilter, den Du gekauft hast!
Sehen uns in München beim Geiger, OK?
Gruß
Frederik aka Ewald aka KopieKing aka ETE
Nicht schlecht Herr Specht, weiter so!
Bei mir liegt übrigens noch ein OEM Luftfilter, den Du gekauft hast!
Sehen uns in München beim Geiger, OK?
Gruß
Frederik aka Ewald aka KopieKing aka ETE
04-15-2005, 08:52 AM
#19
Racer
code
Originally Posted by C5 Frederik
Der Jochen, unser alter Bastler.........
Nicht schlecht Herr Specht, weiter so!
Bei mir liegt übrigens noch ein OEM Luftfilter, den Du gekauft hast!
Sehen uns in München beim Geiger, OK?
Gruß
Frederik aka Ewald aka KopieKing aka ETE
Nicht schlecht Herr Specht, weiter so!
Bei mir liegt übrigens noch ein OEM Luftfilter, den Du gekauft hast!
Sehen uns in München beim Geiger, OK?
Gruß
Frederik aka Ewald aka KopieKing aka ETE
Oh OH! Trouble...
They know D-day will come on June 6th....
Last edited by Dustie; 04-15-2005 at 08:53 AM. Reason: typo
04-15-2005, 05:16 PM
#20
Drifting
Thread Starter
Oh ohu . . . Den Filter . . . ganz vergessen
Den brauch ich zum basteln . . .
OK, will meet in Munich at Geiger. Hope we will talk before
And have a
or two later.Bis bald,
Jochen