Side Mirror - Memory Problems

[JMWarren]

Hi,

I've got a 2000 Deville that keeps screwing up the mirror position when ever the driver memory or reverse parking function are activated.

While it's not throwing codes for the vertical and horizontal position sensors, I've got a feeling that's what it is since it's driving the mirror past the stops.

Anyone know how to fix this? Can I replace just the sensors? Just the mechanics?

Thanks!

[JimD]

Is the glass seated in the housing properly? Has the mirror housing been shocked or banged recently? Is it possible someone tried to remove the glass and did not finish the job?

The glass assembly snaps on to the mirror housing and makes contact at three places; a center pivot, a vertical drive shaft, and a horizontal drive shaft. If the glass assembly is not firmly seated at all three places, the movement will be incorrect and the glass might not be able to reach the memory position.

If you are willing to use considerable force to be sure the glass is installed properly, I will try to find a few pictures to give you an idea of how it is supposed to be installed.

[JMWarren]

It looks to be seated fine and the mirror moves through the whole range. If I set the memory, then immediately press that memory nothing should move as everything is at its preset position. The thing is the mirror does move! This to me says the problem lies in the positioning sensors as the mirror shouldn't move if its in the proper position to begin with.

If I then tap the memory position again, it will move further out of alignment. This will continue until the mirror starts hitting the end stops.

[JMWarren]

On daylight inspection I suspect you're right. It looks like the center pivot and possibly the horozontal stabilizers are damaged. The question is how hard is this thing to disassemble? Assuming the damage is on the motor side and not the glass side whats the best course of action?

[JimD]

You will have to pop the glass out of the housing to see what, if anything, is broken. To remove the glass, cover a tool of some kind with a shop rag to protect the mirror housing paint (I use a file). Insert the tool between the housing and the back of the glass at the top and the outboard edge and snap out on the glass. I know, it sounds destructive but you will not damage the glass. See the 1st picture; you want to apply the pressure just off-center at the top and outboard edge to avoid pressing on the two spring steel pieces.

The two plastic drive shafts at 12:00 and 3:00 o'clock are holding the glass to the tilt mechanism.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/DSC02081.jpg

In the 2nd picture, you can see the where the drive shafts connect to the tilt motor drive at 12:00 and 9:00 o'clock. The motor end of these shafts has a small spring around the shaft circumference that holds the shaft to the motor. When you are installing the glass, you have to align the two drive shafts with the motor plus have the glass centered to align with the pivot. It is harder to describe than it is to do.http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/DSC02082.jpg

A jeweler's screwdrive is a handy tool to get everthing aligned before you force the motor drive shafts back into the holes in the motor. And it takes a good bit of force to snap all that back in place.

I could do it in less time than it takes to type these instructions .

[JMWarren]

Great Directions! Thanks!

I pulled the glass and sure enough, the center pivot is broken. I guess I'll have to pull a motor module from the parts yard.

Now I've gotta put the whole thing back togeather. The motor drives have a plastic sleve that I've got to get the shafts back into. That could be a little intresting.

Thanks!

[JMWarren]

Mirror is reinstalled, I'm just going to pull a motor assembly from a memory car and install that, should take care of the problems. Until then the memory function is shut off.

Any advice on pulling the motor? It looks strait forward, the door panel has to come off and it looks like it's just a few screws.

[OffThaHorseCEO]

mine has a similiar problem, however instead of going too far it "acts lazy" on entering reverse the mirror will dip down to let me watch my wheels and avoid curbing them, when i put it back into park it should return to the correct position

the mirror dips ok, however when i go back into drive, it will sometime just leave the mirror n the position its in. or will bring it halfway up or anywhere between no motion or halfway. i can push "1" on my memory panel and it will bring it up some more, i have to keep pressing one until it finally gets where it needs to be, it never goes too far