How do you remove the rear view mirror from a 2001 Acura TL 3.2?

Removal of 2001 Acura TL RV Mirror

The process of removing the rear-view mirror is relatively simple, but you must take your time so as not to damage the windshield.

The mirror is mounted on a "slide foot" that is fastened to the windshield. The actual mirror has a slide mounting bracket that slides over the piece (slide foot) fastened to the windshield. The method for removal and installation is via a small hammer (true) and a long slender punch (8-10 inches) or better yet, a long flat blade screwdriver with a decent handle. You will also need a "tweaking" flat screwdriver to be used as explained later.

Step one: Realize that to take the mirror off, it most come off by sliding (tapping it) to the front of the car. If you try to go towards the back of the car, you will bust the windshield by putting too much pressure on the slide foot. It can't be done that way.

Step two: Sit in the passenger seat and look overhead at the spot lights and the sun glasses holder. This square looking unit has to come out of the head-liner, but the good news is that it is really simple.

Step three: Open the sun-glasses holder and look up into the corners. You will see two Phillps head screws. Remove and keep these screws.

Step four: The "tweaking" screwdriver (flat) is now going to be used to take off the lens for the overhead spotlights. Insert the screwdriver near the front where the locking tabs are located. Careful here to not apply too much pressure. Remove the lens and lay to the side. Look up into the corners and you'll see two more screws to match the ones taken out in step three. Keep the screws. At this point, the square unit containing the sun glasses holder and the spot lights will almost fall out in your hands, but there is a retaining lip on the backside away from the windshield; just push the unit towards the windshield gently and pull down gently at the same time.

Step five: The square unit in step four will be dangling by the wiring harness. It has a white, square, electrical connector that furnishes power to the spot lights. Press the retainer tab on the side and gently lift up with your "tweaking" screwdriver. Pull the connector out. The unit is now loose and should be placed away in safe place with the lens and the screws.

Step six: The mirror itself has an electrical connector (blue in the harness) connected to the blue connector in the internal wiring harness. Press the retainer tab and gently pry apart using the "tweaking" screwdriver.

Step seven: On your mirror, there are two (2) plastic covers that should now be removed. The one at the top near the headliner will be about one in square and the one along the back of mirror leg will be odd shaped and about two inches long. Be careful in removing these; they are thin.

Step eight: Examine the hole where the square spot light unit came out. When you removed the plastic cover, it revealed the mounting base for the mirror along with the wiring. (You actually look through the hole towards the windshield to see the mounting foot.) Patience, we're almost there!

Step nine: Now is the time to be extremely careful with the hammer and punch or screwdriver. What you're going to do is place the screwdriver or punch on the mounting base, on a solid piece and tap the base. The mirror should start to move over the slide foot toward the windshield (to the front of the car towards the engine). Don't drive the punch or screwdriver into the windshield! It doesn't take super human effort to tap it off. It will move and come off fairly easy. Tap the mirror until it comes off and it will dangle by the wiriing. Now is the time to threat the wiring through the headliner hole and take the mirror down. Congrats....the new mirror can now be installed.

Step ten: Thread the new mirror wiring through the headliner hole and fit the mirror to the slide foot. There is enough room to hold it on. You can't push it on with you hands, so don't try. Get it started and then use you screwdriver and hammer (small) to tap the mirror back on to the foot. Here again, it doesn't take superhuman strength, just finesse! Be sure that where you tap is a strong point; the pot metal could break if you get on the wrong spot or you whack it too hard.

Steps eleven until complete: Just go in reverse order from the other steps. Be sure to thread the wires back through, connect the mirror and the lights, replace the screws, and finally replace the plastic covers. Be careful replacing them as they are thin and could break. Don't get in a hurry, just do it right, take your time, and don't break them.

Final Step: After all is said and done, turn your ignition key to start or crank your car; turn the mirror to automatic; place you finger over the light sensor in the back of the mirror and then......watch it turn "blue". When this happens you can say: "That wasn't so bad after all!" If this happens, you've installed the new mirror correctly.

KEY POINTS:

• Use a small hammer
• Use a long slender punch or flat blade screwdriver
• Use a "tweaking" screwdriver (flat)
• Take your time and use finesse
• Make sure the mirror slides off the slide foot by going towards the front of the car!
  
  
  
  
  

First answer by ID413362351. Last edit by ID413362351. Question popularity: 15 [recommend question]