Door mirror adjuster

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Mk3alan
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Door mirror adjuster

Post by Mk3alan »

Having a spot of agro with my door mirror adjuster. Didn't work so gave it a good squirt of Servisol (contact cleaner and lubricant) which has restored up and down movement a bit but done nothing for left/right.
Looks like the switch would come apart by depressing 4 small lugs.
Anyone had one apart - and put it back together!

Alan
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Robsey
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Re: Door mirror adjuster

Post by Robsey »

Not had one of these apart, but shouldn't be too tricky.
Just be sure that you don't lose any small contact plates or springs.

Thankfully 80s / 90s technology is quite simple and crude to work on.

If the switch continues to refuse to work, try checking any soldered connections.
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Mk3alan
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Re: Door mirror adjuster

Post by Mk3alan »

I had my Astra mirror switch apart which got broke in the process! Looked like the joystick button was ultrasonically welded in after the case was assembled.
Anyway nothing to loose I set to it with a small watchmaker screwdriver and as soon as the case was parting company I had loose bits inside! Came apart ok and I could see immediately where the bits came from and decided they would be able to be reassembled.
Contact areas were green with verdigris. Plain copper contacts with silver plated cones that are moved by the joystick. It all cleaned up ok with very fine scotchbrite and debris flushed away with contact cleaner, tiny spot of synthetic oil on the joystick spring loaded plungers and it all went back together well and it feels much nicer.
Fit back tomorrow and feel sure it should be all good!
Probably have my fingers crossed just in case though!
Took a photo but not very good at that bit!

Alan
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Robsey
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Re: Door mirror adjuster

Post by Robsey »

I have literally just had mine apart...
It is a bugger to separate - you need a very thin flat lever to slip the casing off the little wedge shaped tangs.

Once opened, there are three little V shaped caps (like the stereotypical hat worn by Chinese ladies in the rice fields).
These caps sit on the tips of three finger-like projections built into the bottom of the round motor direction switch. Be careful that you do not drop and lose the little caps..

I was able to polish these clean with a cotton bud soaked in brake cleaner.

There is also a strange pair of rounded brass dumbbell type things under the mirror selection rocker switch.
A good polish with the soaked cotton bud cleans them up nicely.

The contact plates underneath usually only require a little rub with the cotton bud.
I spent ages looking for springs that I thought I had lost from the mirror selector switch.. but it appears that there were no springs in there to start with. - well I think so anyway, as it worked fine after reassembly without any springs.

The real problem area is the "box-like" contacts in the switch that the V shaped caps sit inside.
These get as manky as hell and fill with copper oxide and crud.
It is therefore a matter of cleaning up all the green sludgy verdigris that builds up on the copper contacts.
A good spray of contact cleaner, brake cleaner or even carb cleaner will help wash the crud away.
I also use a thin jewellers screwdriver or a taper tipped kitchen knife to scrape away stubborn bits and scrape the metal contacts clean and shiny.
Another quick spray clean and then mop / polish up with a cotton bud.

That will cure most faulty electric mirror switches.
Worked a treat on mine - awesome!!

EDIT - I have copied this post and added pictures to create a How 2. Hopefully the pictures make my waffle above, a bit easier to understand.

See Here -

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=16117
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Mk3alan
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Re: Door mirror adjuster

Post by Mk3alan »

Nice job - better than buying a new one, if you can find it!
I got mine open using a scalpel blade, seemed to work well. Can't believe all the muck inside - works well now though.

Alan
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Lowrider Dave
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Re: Door mirror adjuster

Post by Lowrider Dave »

Having finally fitted a working door mirror on the pass. side I find both mirrors are slow to respond or not working at all. Looks like I need to perform some surgery on my switch!
Lowrider Dave.

Archer 2.0 GLS
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Mk3alan
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Re: Door mirror adjuster

Post by Mk3alan »

Think all our switches being of a similar age all have a similar ailment!

Alan
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