Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 08:06:49 -0300
Reply-To: Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@NBNET.NB.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@NBNET.NB.CA>
Subject: Re: Power Mirrors
In-Reply-To: <28717B33-3D7F-4E35-934D-8C54A8C32BD2@gmail.com>
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Thanks Ben.
While you were writing your response, I did discover the release leaver, but once I had removed the mirror was a little disappointed with what I found. It seems there may not be an easy way to replace only the glass.
What if I were to "finish" the delaminating and peel the rest of the glass from the backing stock and then glue the new glass to the backing? This would reduce the thickness of material with which the heating element has to contend (not that the Hyena ever gets driven in winter).
On 18-Sep-2014, at 07:43, Ben wrote:
> Roy,
>
> It is not uncommon to just glue replacement mirrors onto the old ones. When factory replacements were available, they were around $78 each.
>
> They have a heating element on the backside which will still work with a thin glass glued on top.
>
> If you want to remove the stock mirror, look at either edge of the glass. You will see a metal tab which can be either pushed up or down (depending on which side you are on) by a thin tool such as a putty knife or even a household butter knife. This spins the locking tabs off behind the mirror which disengages them. Take care to pull away as there are thin wires attached to the heating element on the backside. The connectors are frequently corroded and may break during removal. Soldering will fix that, if they break. Installation is the reverse.
>
> I believe Van-Cafe carries the glue on solution which are cut my a local glass guy. It's just as easy to source locally, if you have a shop willing to cut a new mirror. Tricky one is the convex mirror on the passenger side.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> BenT
> sent from my electronic leash
>
>> On Sep 18, 2014, at 3:31 AM, Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@NBNET.NB.CA> wrote:
>>
>> Since we are talking mirrors. Both of my external {power} mirrors on the Hyena ('88 WBX Westfalia) are severely delaminated with only an orange-sized filed of vision left in each. Needless to say, the will not pass the motor vehicle inspection (MVI).
>>
>> I have spoked with a local glass shop who can cut new mirrors, but are loath to enter into the mirror housing to replace the existing glass and are actually proposing to glue the new mirror overtop of the old. This strikes me as possibly asking for future trouble with the power mirror mechanism.
>>
>> Is it a big job to replace the glass in one of these mirrors? Unlike my Jettas, the mirror cowling does not appear to disassemble which seems to indicate it will be necessary to take the door apart (at least partially) to free the internals of the mirror?
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