remove rearview mirror?
 

hi folks,

i have a new rearview mirror ready to swap in but can't figure out how to remove the old one from the existing mount.

to clarify, i'm not looking to cut through the glue, but want to slide the existing mirror arm off its base plate...

I was worried about breaking the windshield and so I just went by the Dealer's service center and they popped it right off for me.

it is hard to do! I would go by a glass shop or the dealer and get them to do it.

OP is not talking about removing the base plate. He clearly said he wants to reuse it.

OP, I do not know how to take the mirror off on the S197 specifically. On most Ford mirrors there is either an allen setscrew or a torx screw that holds the arm to the baseplate. On some mirrors there is a plastic cover for this screw that must be found and removed. Hope this helps, sorry I couldn't help more...

You need to slide a small flat blade screwdriver in the notch at the base of the windshield mount, press up, and kind of exert some sideways pressure. It's difficult to describe. The metal that wraps around horizontally is like a large leaf spring and clamps it tight on the wedge mounted to the windshield.

It was a PITA but I finally got it to slide off the wedge after fussing with it for about 10 minutes. Be careful though. You don't want a busted windshield. :icon_lol:

Called the closest dealer & they said they'd charge an hourly rate. Went to a glass/tint shop & they didn't know.


How small a screwdriver? I tried with a jeweler's style one but no luck; was pretty gentle, though, all these warnings about windshields got me nervous... You'd think if it can take a pebble at 80mph it'd be safe to take off a mirror, but what do I know?

Thats why we said it is a p.i.t.a! it takes a good amount of pressure. You can do itbut dont rush it.

Okay, for posterity's sake, I ended up calling three tint shops, four Ford dealerships, and two glass places before I found a glass shop willing to take a look at it.

It turns out that the metal wrapping around the base plate is just a spring clip, NOT the internal clip discussed eg. here: http://explorerforum.com/forums/show...threadid=85229 and does not need the two-pronged tool.

The glass guy used a regular old hook tool and a little scrap of rubber as a base to release tension on one side enough that he could just roll it off. First time he tried rolling it off without the hook tool, the mirror popped out of the ball socket. He also didn't charge me, perhaps related to the fact that we were talking cars & his son owns an '07 Saleen.

Anyway, I now have a wide angle mirror installed and easy access for my next little project. I'll take a photo of the mirror mount for future search-ers when I find my charger.

That's what I said in my post above. :icon_toast:

Too much BASS will pop it off as well....

I just got done removing mine, from what I found, wiggling the screwdriver back and forth with some force while pulling up on the mirror worked the best. Didn't have any issues at all. Just took a surprising amount of force.

need to do this with my car as well. I got a auto-dim mirror off a 2005 Taurus. hopefully the OEM harness is tucked up in there

Oh, its there, believe you me.
You really have to look for it, but its thee.
Need the plug pin out and color?

I have the wiring chart already...I had bought one of those spiffy 2009-2010 Ford Repair DVD Manuals before you guys here on MF linked me to that online version.

thanks for the confirmation the wiring harness is there. I hate wiring stuff