When relocating a rear view mirror...

[BobR]

...gentle pressure should be enough to release the adhesive, right?

Wrong.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/bobr/windshield.jpg

I guess I can cancel that 760mi trip tomorrow - no use risking a further spiderweb. I'll have the mirror relocated when the new windshield is installed (not quite repairable). Oh boy.

BTW, that unit on the dash is an altimeter, not a Pep Boys tach. Hehe. The "redlines" shows the maximum I've reached so far (14,480').

Bob

[rustlerrider07]

dang. i've seen peoples rear view mirrors fall off. but it looks like yours is hangin on for dear life. lol. stinks about the trip. where were you gonna go? 760miles is alot for a 1 day round trip

[BobR]

Knoxville and back was the plan. I'm trying to decide between UTK and Georgia Tech, but need to see the UT dorm rooms before I can make my decision (I'm claustrophobic).

Arggh. :o

[stampede720]

Originally posted by BobR
Knoxville and back was the plan.
You aren't missing much. :p

[cands]

If you want have to waite to get it fixed, take a glass etcher and score lines at the end of each crack and that will stop it from going any further.

[rustlerbum]

Originally posted by BobR
BTW, that unit on the dash is an altimeter, not a Pep Boys tach. Hehe. The "redlines" shows the maximum I've reached so far (14,480').

Bob
So is it a car or is it a plane? make up your mind!:p :D :cool:

Where'd you go to get up to 14,480'?

[79driver]

That sucks. Hope they are able to replace it the first time. Last time i had to put a windshield in mine, it took them 6 days, 2 windshields (not including to original) and 3 gaskets. And they didnt even stick my rearveiw mirror on. :mad: Whay were you trying to take it off anyhow?

[BobR]

Originally posted by rustlerbum

So is it a car or is it a plane? make up your mind!:p :D :cool:
Where'd you go to get up to 14,480'?
That was at the top of Pike's Peak last summer. It's interesting to look down on clouds from inside your car. :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/bobr/PP1.jpg


Originally posted by 79driver
Whay were you trying to take it off anyhow?
It's a liability for me - I'm 6'4" and the mirror makes a large blindspot in the center of the windshield. I need to move it 2.5" higher.

[brokeitagain]

most new wind sheilds come with that mirror button already attached they are nearly impossible to remove without breaking the glass,i have had instances where i could remove them by gently shaking the mirror till it falls off. it took hours:D

[newfrontier45]

I thought I could do the same thing too. In the company truck I used to have, the mirror was not attached when I got it and you couldn't see out the rear window anyway. I just got used to it not being there and used only the side mirrors. Then some idiot at the shop reattached it when it was in for service. Aggravated me immensely, now it was in the way and no you still couldn't see anything in it. Reached up, pulled on it and pulled a whole plug out of the glass with it! Thankfully it didn't crack or leak.

[motorpede]

Originally posted by BobR


It's a liability for me - I'm 6'4" and the mirror makes a large blindspot in the center of the windshield. I need to move it 2.5" higher.

Uh oh...looks like I'll be having troubles when I turn 16. I'm already 6' 6" and still growing! I know that in our convertable (Sebring LXi) I have lots of trouble seeing due to the rear view mirror. The Expedition isn't to bad....yet....

[sumbum]

Should have taken a hair dryer to it. It warms up the adhesive, weakening it.

[Phroziac]

WOW lol! I watched my moms windshield get replaced before, they just ripped the mirror off the old one and stuck it on the new one basically.
Why do you need an altimeter? Are you jumpign it? :p

Are you sure there wasn't a small chip or crack or something behind the mirror, that let the windshield start to fail when you took it off?

Where are you relocating it? I'm assuming to the dash? What are you planning on doing about that adhesive spot? Lol, we rented a uhaul a month or two ago to move, and obviously a mirror on the windshield wont do much....they have an adhesive pad on the windshield, lol. Looks kinda stupid. You'd think theyd make the mirror adhesive an option, for example, tiny f350 straight trucks made out of vans? It was an F350 van by the way.

[Jeep4by4]

Originally posted by BobR
It's a liability for me - I'm 6'4" and the mirror makes a large blindspot in the center of the windshield. I need to move it 2.5" higher.

I had the same problem in my Wrangler. The mirror in that had a little set screw in it that I loosened and took the mirror off, leaving the little metal piece on the window. Much better view and the side mirrors made up for not having it. Besides, it's a JEEP, you don't need to see what's behind you, only in front of you. If you can't drive over it you're not doing it right :D


BTW, how do you keep the altimeter calibrated? Since it uses barometeric pressure to tell altitude won't it be off everytime the weather changes? Or does it have pressure adjustments like the ones in airplanes do? And if so what do you calibrate it with? All questions I've always wondered about the in car altimeters.

[Phroziac]

Originally posted by brokeitagain
most new wind sheilds come with that mirror button already attached they are nearly impossible to remove without breaking the glass,i have had instances where i could remove them by gently shaking the mirror till it falls off. it took hours:D
I just noticed this reply...I watched the glass guys replace the windshield on my moms car a while back...it had a big crack..
Well, they just kinda ripped the mirror off the old windshield, I don't remember hearing any breaking noises.

Flipping the car over and completely demolishing the windshield should do the trick too. In 1994 my dad rolled an 80s firebird and when we went to get our stuff out of it the next day, the mirror was hanging by the wires. Had those nice map lights in it..
They also loaded the car up on a flatbed and didnt close the doors..uhh..rofl? It never got taken out of drive either.....

I'm 6'4"...6'6"? thats rediculous. :p

[BobR]

Originally posted by Phroziac Are you sure there wasn't a small chip or crack or something behind the mirror, that let the windshield start to fail when you took it off?

Where are you relocating it? I'm assuming to the dash? What are you planning on doing about that adhesive spot?
The glass was in perfect condition. If you look at the bracket, it has a two sharp corners on the bottom. When I pulled down, all of the force was focused into those two points. Just simple physics that I was too foolish to consider, I guess.

I almost relocated the mirror to the dash, but mounting it higher provided a much better view. Besides, I wouldn't be able to see the little kids who play chicken when I back out of the driveway (dangerous, no?). I moved the bracket about 2" higher on the glass - problem solved. Unfortunately, that required the installation of a new wind$hield.

I've run into the same "mystery mirror" problem with motorhomes built on the Ford Econoline cab. It serves no purpose, but I think there's a DMV statute about all vehicles having a functional rear-view mirror. Just one of those things.


Originally posted by Jeep4by4 BTW, how do you keep the altimeter calibrated? Since it uses barometeric pressure to tell altitude won't it be off everytime the weather changes? Or does it have pressure adjustments like the ones in airplanes do? And if so what do you calibrate it with? All questions I've always wondered about the in car altimeters.
Yep, the barometric pressure can throw off the readings considerably, so I have to recalibrate the gauge from time to time. It's not hard, though - just rotate the faceplate until the arrow is on the correct reading (in my case, about 357' in the driveway). Voila!
I have a couple aeronautical gauges (1948 Aeronca and 1953 Cessna), but the scale isn't too practical for the Jeep. I won't be hitting 28k feet anytime soon.;)

[Phroziac]

What I was talking about was just the mirror adhesive pad/metal thing BobR, not an actual mirror. I've never seen a vehicle with a rear view mirror without an actual back window...

Also, atleast here, you only even need one mirror.

You sure you're not going to go to 28,000 with the Jeep? Not going to climb everest with it? rofl...

[bjoehandley]

Should have just given it time Bob, most of our Jeeps mirrors just fell off on hot days (on 3 out of the last 5 Jeeps). I'm 5'11" and that rear view always bugs me, yet I have a hard time driving without it. I don't notice that in Dad's '90 XJ like in my '98, I'm guessing that it also may be with the different interior design and my power driver seat in the '97-'01 trucks.


I've run into the same "mystery mirror" problem with motorhomes built on the Ford Econoline cab. It serves no purpose, but I think there's a DMV statute about all vehicles having a functional rear-view mirror. Just one of those things.

If I understand this right, you have to have 2 usable mirrors, and doesn't dictate which mirrors. so you could have one on the windshield or dash and one on a door, or both on the doors and none on the windshield. Maybe the Fords are built before that is determined, or it could just be Ford............................................

[Phroziac]

It is to be used in conjunction with smaller mirrors strategically placed so you can see if your coffee is done, without getting out of the drivers seat..

[BobR]

Originally posted by bjoehandley
Should have just given it time Bob, most of our Jeeps mirrors just fell off on hot days (on 3 out of the last 5 Jeeps). I'm 5'11" and that rear view always bugs me, yet I have a hard time driving without it. I don't notice that in Dad's '90 XJ like in my '98, I'm guessing that it also may be with the different interior design and my power driver seat in the '97-'01 trucks.

Whoa, how hot is "hot"? I've had paperback books fall apart in Death Valley and southern Mexico, but even then, the mirror was secure. Hmmm, we've racked up over a million miles on the Jeeps without a failure yet. Just my poor luck, heh.

If I'm not mistaken, the seat mounting brackets in '84-'96 XJs are slightly shorter than in later models. I considering swapping one on my driver's seat, but the mounting points are different too. Maybe that spare ZJ mount will work with some grinding...

[bjoehandley]

We've had them fall off my '94 Grand ( totaled around 88k ), my sisters '92 Briarwoody (177k ) and my current '98 Limited (79k) all during Chicago summers, Dad's '88 4.0l Base (totaled at 210k) and '90 Larado (276k and still kicking) hadn't lost their mirrors, but both have had badly cracked windshields (the '90 still does).