Mirrors

john baldwin · john baldwin's Garage

The '89 Carerra 3.2 Targa I recently purchased has a convex mirror on the drivers side and a flat mirror on the passenger's! I'd like to swap these side to side; pca talks about a bayonet mount accessible thru a small hole on the bottom of the housing; I can't see anything despite moving the mirrors all the way out...anyone out there had to change these out before? HELP!

2ndTARGA · 02-05-2007, 01:27 PM

First you need to make sure which style mirror you have: If there is a very small oval shaped hole in the bottom center of the black rubber mirror housing then you have the newer version. If you have this hole, there are some directions below from another site. Note: you will need to adjust or push the glass all the way in at the bottom in order for the internal gear teeth to line up with the hole. You then use the screw driver as a lever to pry the teeth toward the body. Three of four clicks is the limit of travel.

Disassembly Mirrors

Remove the glass from the aero mirror by inserting a small flat blade screw driver into the long hole located on the bottom of the mirror housing. Use the flat blade to push the geared lock toward the car body to release the glass. Once the gear is unlocked, gently pry the mirror away from the mirror housing using your fingers. DON’T FORCE THE MIRROR GLASS. It is easily broken and very expensive to replace. If you are having to use force to pry the mirror glass off, then you have not unlocked the mirror gear properly. Failing to unlock the gear before prying the mirror glass off will result in a broken mirror glass and will most likely break the adjusting motor as well.

On the other hand, if you are absolutely sure there is no oval shaped hole in the bottom of your mirrors, then you may have the older snap-in version. Carefully prying on the glass with something like a putty knife should pull the internal posts out of the mounting holes.

Good Luck

Ron

CarreraDan · 02-05-2007, 01:34 PM

John,
There is a wonderful illustration if you search "aero mirror install" that shows how these mounts work. The easy way is to remove the mirror from the door so you can see what you are doing. If you look into the hole on the underside of the mirrors you will see a series of notches that you have to move about 1/2 inch to unlock the glass (I think counterclockwise to unlock). You will be suprised at how much force it takes to unlock the mirror. Be careful with the heating wires, on my 88 they were very fragile. I can take pictures later if you need them.

2ndTARGA · 02-05-2007, 01:36 PM

John

Here is the tread mentioned above. Half way down there is an animated section showing the locking ring motion.

aero mirror glass removal?

Ron

john baldwin · john baldwin's Garage

Hey, thanks guys....I'll check it out tonight. One question, though, I have flag mirrors; Aero seems to be the style mentioned here...is it that ALL aero mirrors feature the large locking gear nut ring (bayonet mount?) and that SOME flag mirrors (the newer versions) do?

2ndTARGA · 02-06-2007, 11:50 AM

John:

I don't really know much about the Aero mirrors but you are right as far as the flag mirrors go. Early ones have press fit studs (bayonet?) epoxied to the back of the glass and later ones use the locking ring. As mentioned, the slot (hole) in the bottom is the key to ID.

Ron

john baldwin · john baldwin's Garage

Thanks guys...visual was a great help! Helps to have a flashlight on a head strap! Pushed bottom edge of mirror in (mirror now facing down) to bring locking ring closer to the oval hole...rubber boot protecting the motor was in the way...couldn't really see the slots. Then tried pushing outside edge of mirror in (mirror now facing left-drivers side, right passenger's side) and turning entire flag housing forward to get a site line to the ring. Managed to get the blade of the flathead screwdriver on a "bump" on the ring and pushed CCW-took some force- and "pop" it released. Brought mirror back square with flag housing and pried evenly on perimeter of glass with fingers...off it came.

Pried two wire connectors off mirror with flashlight to release....insulation on connectors is cracked and breaking up....not a lot of extra wire here to cut and replace the connectors...any suggestions? Silicone?