New mirror passenger side

Fern70769 · 07-31-2010, 02:55 PM

I was cutting grass earlier this morning and inadvertently sent gravel flying towards my car, cracking my passenger side mirror. Its cracked and had a long diagonal split almost halfway the length of the mirror.

Question is: How hard is it to change out the mirror? Can someone walk me through it or is it best left to the dealership? I've got over 104K miles on it so no more warrantee for me

KIAZILLA · 07-31-2010, 03:16 PM

Use a heat gun and warm up the rubber surrounding the the glass(careful not to melt it) then use something like a thin putty knife( I used a thingie that you spread cake frosting with) and pry the glass out of the rubber, being careful not to cut the rubber. Installation is in reverse. If you have defrosting mirrors do not forget to plug it in before installing mirror. There is a seller on ebay that has the replacement mirrors reasonably priced.

1fastkia · 08-01-2010, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIAZILLA

Use a heat gun and warm up the rubber surrounding the the glass(careful not to melt it) then use something like a thin putty knife( I used a thingie that you spread cake frosting with) and pry the glass out of the rubber, being careful not to cut the rubber. Installation is in reverse. If you have defrosting mirrors do not forget to plug it in before installing mirror. There is a seller on ebay that has the replacement mirrors reasonably priced.

Or you can save the hassle, but a used mirror at junk yard or ebay.

Fern70769 · 08-01-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1fastkia

Or you can save the hassle, but a used mirror at junk yard or ebay.

Thanks guys!

Found this great video on youtube. Its for a Hyundai Sonata but it's almost identical to the Spectra.

YouTube - Hyundai Sonata Side Mirror Replacement

Now to start hunting at the junkyards

KIAZILLA · 08-01-2010, 09:41 PM

You might get lucky finding the right color and features mirror at a wrecking yard. Ebay is the same deal. If it is a power/defrost mirror tha price will be between $70.00 to $119.00. Just the lens $19.00.

1fastkia · 08-02-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIAZILLA

You might get lucky finding the right color and features mirror at a wrecking yard. Ebay is the same deal. If it is a power/defrost mirror tha price will be between $70.00 to $119.00. Just the lens $19.00.

For a used mirror? I got one for my saturn for 15 bucks at a local salvage yard.
Maybe on ebay they will be 70+ but unless your salvage yards are not like mine, mine want to get rid of parts. They already made there money on the cars with the scrap metal.

BarnesTO · 08-25-2010, 12:55 AM

I broke my driver's side mirror (the housing, glass, everything) last spring when I wasn't paying attention and hit something with it at about 80mph. Good thing it was JUST the mirror! Anyway, I was patient for about a month or so and was able to find a salvage one in Spark Blue that matched on eBay for $70 something. KIA would've charged an arm and a leg for one that didn't even match.

I realize you're just talking about broken glass, but I bet dollars to donuts there is no seperating the glass from the housing when it comes to selling it, at least if you have an electric, heated mirror (BTW, didn't even realize mine was heated until I broke it).

BarnesTO · 08-25-2010, 12:55 AM

PS-Changing it is really easy, a 15 minute job, at the most.

Fern70769 · 08-27-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarnesTO

PS-Changing it is really easy, a 15 minute job, at the most.

Thanks man! My mirrors are not heated. Actually I put that project on hold. I have it taped up with clear packing tape right now. Looks aweful tacky for sure but it works for now.

It was time to change out the timing belt so while I was having that done had them do the drive belts and water pump too. $647 and change.
Runs even better now. No noise whatsoever. Actually I didnt notice it was noisy til the noise was gone. Go figure

Next paycheck im gonna change out the spark plugs and wires. It's easy enough to do myself. Should probably change out the PCV valve too.

I guess if I didn't run my car nearly 600 miles a week I wouldn't have to do maintenance so often.

BarnesTO · 08-29-2010, 10:52 AM

I rolled around with duct tape on my housing and a cut down and glued on vanity mirror where the glass needed to be....so I know what it's like to be ghetto for a bit while you're waiting for a fix.

I just had my timing belt replaced as well....My dad is a mechanic so I drove it from AZ to KS, and while I was there he changed it and the A/C belt (which was on its last legs) at no cost to me, so that kinda made the trip worth it I think (that and five days of relaxing lake side while we were there!).

Everything else looked good....as he said, the car is "sterile" underneath....doesn't leak a drop of anything, and the water pump had none of the tell tale green stuff coming out, so it stayed in; he said it was up to me but a good, working factory piece was probably better than a replacement, according to him. I took his word for it because he's been at this for a LONG time....