Expert: William Forster - 10/15/2006

Question
2000 Dodge Neon ES: Repair loose side-mirrors

 Part Description: Both power side-mirror asseblies are very loose. It;s the kind of mirror assembly that can be moved all the way toward the car (facing inward), meaning both mirrors are not one piece, but 2 peices, the one thats directly attached to the car door by 3 screws, and the assembly that has the glass mirror, motor, etc. in it that sits one the first piece. More common on newer compact cars.

  I have a 2000 Dodge Neon ES and I need help repairing the loose side-mirrors without having to spend $45-99 to replace each of them. Every time I get into the car I have to change them so I can see, and many many times WHILE driving. They also rattle and make a lot of noise. Is their a srew or spring that I gan replace or something to tighten it?

Answer
Hello lucas! Is it the glass that is loose, or the mirror on the base? The mirrors you are describing are called break away mirrors. I usually just replace the mirror when they act  up, because some are nearly impossible to repair. The mirror housing is plastic, so repairing worn tabs, cracks or breaks is difficult at best. If it's the HOUSING that's loose, I suggest removing 1 of the mirrors, and flipping it upside down. Drill 2 holes in the base, from the bottom up. Insert 2 screws just long enough to fasten the 2 pieces of the mirror together, permanently. Use some loc-tite on the screws for a little extra holding power. The mirrors will obviously no longer "break away". Now, if the glass itself is loose, that is a real problem. Mounting tabs on the power motor may be broken, the plastic "screws" that move the mirror are stripped, or the pivot the glass snaps onto is broken. This will be impossible to repair, and the only cource of action is to rplace the mirror. Bill