How to Replace a Mirror on Vehicles

A broken side mirror affects the way you drive and the look of your car. Replacing the side mirror is a job that you can perform with the right tools and replacement part. In a Vehicles the mirror attachment sits under the inner door panel. Once the panel comes off, installing a new mirror is not too difficult. The project may take as little as an hour to complete. The result will add to the look of your Vehicles and help you see what is behind you when you drive.

Under The Hood:

• How to Replace a Mirror on a Mustang
• How to Replace the Mirror on a Buick LeSabre
• How to Replace a Mirror on a Pontiac Grand Prix

 How to Replace a Mirror on a Mustang

Open the door and locate the mirror assembly access panel located on the door, close to the dash. The knob for the mirror adjustment mounts to the access panel. Remove the access panel by pulling outward on it.

Disconnect the wiring harness that connects the motor located inside the mirror assembly with the knob located on the access panel.

Remove the three nuts that secure the mirror to the door that are located behind the access panel. Use a 9/16-inch deep-well socket and ratchet. Make sure you hold the mirror when you remove the last nut. This prevents the mirror from falling out and scratching the Mustang's door.

Pull the old mirror along with the studs out of the door.

Remove the studs from the old mirror with a 5/32-inch wrench and insert them into the mating side of the new mirror assembly. If replacing the mirror with a stock replacement, this step is not necessary.

Slide the studs of the new mirror through the door and secure it by replacing the three bolts.

Reconnect the wiring harness between the motor in the assembly to the switch on the access panel.

Place the access panel against the door frame and snap it into place by lightly striking it with the ball of your fist.

 How to Replace the Mirror on a Buick LeSabre

Push the mirror lens upward so it faces the roof of your Buick LeSabre.

Place the eight-pointed star head of the Torx driver into the setscrew located in the base of the rearview mirror. Turn the Torx driver counterclockwise. This releases the clamping pressure on the mirror.

Slide the mirror upwards to remove it from its metal bracket.

Place the base of the replacement mirror against the windshield, directly above the metal bracket. Slide the mirror down into the bracket. The bracket has a groove on each side into which the mirror will slide.

Secure the mirror to the bracket by tightening the setscrew clockwise with the Torx driver.

 How to Replace a Mirror on a Pontiac Grand Prix

Open the car door and roll down the window.

Locate the control panel on the inside of the door. For most Grand Prix vehicles, this small panel sits in the bevel of the armrest and surrounds the control buttons. Slide a flathead screwdriver under the panel and pry it off carefully. There will be wires attached to the panel.

Remove the four wire connections from the panel. The wires sit inside a wire harness that plugs into a socket. Grasp the harness with your fingers and tug upward to unplug it.

Move under the armrest and find the two plastic plugs that cover the armrest screws. Pry the plugs off the armrest with the screwdriver and remove the screws. Disconnect the armrest to expose the reflector panel.

Insert a pry bar under the reflector panel. Start at the end nearest the car's dashboard and pull the reflector panel away from the door.

Take the speaker cover off the door panel with a screwdriver.

Slide your hands under the door panel cover and pull toward you as you lift upward to remove the panel. Hold the panel with both hands to support it, so you do not pull off the speaker wires. Unplug the wires that connect the speaker to the door. Put the panel aside.

Remove the wires from the mirror. These units have wire harnesses that unplug. Pay attention to the connection. You will want to connect the new mirror the same way.

Use a socket wrench the remove the nuts securing the mirror to the door. According to the instructions provided by Signal Mirror, there will be three nuts. This may vary based on model and year of the Grand Prix. Hold the mirror with one hand to keep it from dropping off as the nuts come free.

Pull the old mirror and housing away from the door taking care not to let any of the mirror components drop inside the door cavity.

Slide the new mirror and housing into place and secure it with the nuts.

Insert the new wiring into the harness and connect it in the same manner as the old mirror.

Reinstall the parts removed from the door by reversing the removal process. Connect the speaker wires, insert the reflective panel, attach the door panel and secure it. Reinstall the control wires and panel.