924S driver mirror won't adjust out far enough

[rschnvr]

I have a 1987 924S and find the driver side outside mirror won't adjust outward far enough using the mirror control. The view in it is more like a rear view mirror, with half the view taken up by the side of the car and not showing a car to the left behind me in a near blind spot.

Is there any fix to modify the mirror so it can turn further outward? Or is there a way to mount a manual mirror that would adjust outward more than the electric mirror?

[tamathumper]

Sorry to ask an obvious question, but is the mirror head folded all the way out?

[9FF]

Sometimes the mirror gets moved when cleaning it, it quite easy to make it jump a cog especially if the gears inside are worn. Try pushing on the outside edge of the mirror with your thumb until it jumps back a cog on the gearing.

[rschnvr]

Thanks for the quick replies.

To answer tamathumper first, the mirror housing is folded out into what I consider its "normal" position, not folded back or forward parallel to the side of the car.

For 9FF, pushing on the outside edge of the mirror doesn't rotate the mirror outward beyond the position it will drive to electrically. Comparing it to the passenger side mirror, they both appear to be rotated outward to the same degree at the limits to which the switch will move them.

[tamathumper]

Does it make any difference if you push on the outer edge of the glass, or if you pry gently backward on the inner edge? Be very careful, as those mirrors will pop off pretty easily.

[rschnvr]

tamathumper - Thanks for the suggestion. I've tried to gently move the outer edge and inner edge to adjust the mirror angle (I've previously broken mirrors when pushing them too hard, so I'm careful about how I do that), and it seems to be at its mechanical limit of outward rotation. What I haven't tried so far is just pushing the whole mirror assembly forward and finding some way to keep it from popping back into its normal position.

[tamathumper]

To answer the question in your first post, the mirror should move out far enough for you to safely see, barring any unusual seat position. (If you don't have the Porsche crest on your chest when you exit the car, from hugging the airbag, then you shouldn't be having trouble seeing in the mirror.)

And you've got the "rounded rectangle" mirrors from the 944 of that era, correct? When it gets to the limit, what does it do? Does it just stop, or does it "ratchet"?

Short of taking the head of the mirror off to inspect it, you might try moving it electronically to its limit and then applying gentle pressure to the outer edge at the same time.

[rschnvr]

Yes, it's the original rounded rectangle mirror (bought car from the original owner who had only updated the radio/cassette to radio/cassette/cd).

As for unusual seat positions, I'm 6-4, so it's all the way back and the seat back is reclined somewhat. No airbag, though, so I can't speak to that measure of seating position.

At the limit, the mirror just stops. I've tried using the gentle pressure, and I'm convinced the mirror has reached its normal limit if travel.

Thanks for the suggestions, but it seems to me that, short of breaking the mirror assembly or replacing it with a manually adjusted mirror, I'll have to become accustomed to using it as is.

[9FF]

I'll try and explain better what I said earlier. The gears inside are likely a little worn over the years and it is easy to jump a cog in there when you clean those mirrors putting the mirror at an odd position. You are at max electronic adjustment but the mirror is not in the correct position, so...

If you apply gentle but firm pressure on the outer edge you can sometimes get it to jump the gear cog back to where it should be. You will hear a click but nothing should break.

I've had to do this on mine after I "enthusiastically" cleaned the mirror.

[rschnvr]

9FF - Thanks. I'll try again. I really appreciate the help.

[tamathumper]

What's to keep you from removing the head assembly and taking a peek inside?

[9FF]

What's to keep you from removing the head assembly and taking a peek inside?

Nothing really except getting the door mirrors off our cars is a real pain. Just getting the mirror glass off those three plastic retainers either results in the mirrors or lugs breaking and removing the whole assembly requires special tools and is really awkward.

9/10 its just the plastic gear that's worn as its old and you cannot buy just the gear, so taking it apart is sort of pointless. The mirror will still work fine for years, a little noisy than new and maybe it will skip a cog now and then but most people just live with it like that. Or you can try your luck with a used mirror, probably with gears that are just as worn though.

Try my method if that doesn't do it look around for a better used assembly, they are relatively cheap and plentiful.

[tamathumper]

I think the three retainer setup was on the older 944's. Later models had the bayonet ring. Clark's Garage has a writeup on both styles under "Body-10".