I just finished what should have been a simple mirror replacement on my 2005 Nissan Frontier.
I had a broken side view mirror on the driver's side, so I ordered a replacement online. It was not too bad a price, and it came ready to install. There is a small trim panel on the inside of the door that covers the seating of the mirror. Once removed, the replacement should be simple.
The panel comes off pretty easily considering the sticks of chewing gum (that's what they look like) that attach it, in addition to the clips. Sure enough, after three 10mm nuts came off, the mirror was free... almost. The mirror is now hanging by its cable and the connector is nowhere to be seen. The cable disappears down into the door panel and is totally secure somewhere down there.
After removing two door handle trim panels, the arm rest, three large mounting bolts, and the entire door panel with all the incident little plastic clips and studs, there was the connector securely attached to the interior bulkhead just in front of the door handle. The connector comes apart as intended and the new mirror can be fully installed in less than one minute using the three 10 mm nuts that were the first fasteners removed.
Then the panel goes back on with its 10 little plastic clips, the mounting bolts, the arm rest with its row of tight plastic inserts, and the two trim panels around the door handle. The first trim panel removed is pretty much incidental.
I suspect the designer was more concerned with having his little connector securely mounted in the models that do not have adjustable mirrors than he was with adding a half to three quarters of an hour to the otherwise simple task of replacing a broken mirror. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for the cost of labor in a repair shop!
This entry was submitted by Ted Kell and edited by Rob Spiegel.
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