2000 Mountaineer with auto lamp mirror

[koda2000]

The inside rear view mirror on my daughter's 2000 Mountaineer has come off the windshield. It's auto dimming w/auto lamp. I found it dangling by it's wire.

I know I have to glue the puck back to the glass and I've done this before. I'm looking at the back of the mirror and I see that the puck needs to slide out from the bottom of the mirror (or the mirror lifted off the puck), but there's a spring-clip that has to be compressed to release it. Any suggestions on the best way to compress this clip? I can't really use pliers on it and if I try to push it down with a screwdriver tip I'll need another set of hands to slide the puke out.

 

[scrivyscriv]

It just takes a little more patience and wiggling it. Push the clip up against the mirror, away from the glass and try to get the mirror to slide up. You could always shoot a quick squirt of WD40 or something into it.

 

[koda2000]

It just takes a little more patience and wiggling it. Push the clip up against the mirror, away from the glass and try to get the mirror to slide up. You could always shoot a quick squirt of WD40 or something into it.

The problem is the mirror is off the windshield and it's hard to press the clip and move the puck at the same time. I'm going to try to have my daughter help me with it tomorrow. WD40 may be helpful. I was just wondering if there was some trick to getting the puck out when it's already fallen off the windshield. It looks like one of those jobs where there's a good chance to stab yourself with a screwdriver.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, that was a pain when I did it in about 2004 with my 98 Mercury. I don't recall how I got it apart, but it took a few minutes of pondering tools and how to do it.

That assembly is heavy and I left off the front auto dimming unit, to save weight. Mine has had a slight vibration for many years. The mounting by the spring and force don't hold the mirror on as well as the old set screw style.

I wish there was a trick to getting the mirror attached more securely. Maybe the prying I did to get the puck out weakened the spring locking piece. So be easy with it to not hurt it, or yourself of course.

When you buy the mirror epoxy stuff, be sure it's a best brand. That is the magic to keep the mirror from falling off, don't choose a cheap brand(they had one back when I did mine).

 

[koda2000]

Okay. I got the puck out of the mirror base and bought a Permatex mirror mounting repair kit. I've marked the windshield with a Sharpie marker (on the outside) so I know where to place the puck.

One last question... The puck has a piece of plastic film on the side where it was originally glued to the windshield. Should I clean it with alcohol before applying the glue, or should I remove the plastic film first? To remove it I'm considering soaking it in acetone or using a razor blade.

 

[CDW6212R]

Well done, and the Permatex is one of the best brands, I've used that at least twice.

Clean the windshield well, that part left behind is the old adhesive material. Use a razor and do the final clean of the puck and glass with alcohol or acetone. The magic is the cleanliness and the quality adhesive. You've got it under control.

 

[koda2000]

Well done, and the Permatex is one of the best brands, I've used that at least twice.

Clean the windshield well, that part left behind is the old adhesive material. Use a razor and do the final clean of the puck and glass with alcohol or acetone. The magic is the cleanliness and the quality adhesive. You've got it under control.

Thanks. We'll see how it goes. That's one heavy-ass mirror.

 

[CDW6212R]

I forgot what that front sensor is for, I left that off of my Mercury over ten years ago. On my Lincoln it was an auto-dimming sensor, but these Explorers don't have that.

 

[koda2000]

I forgot what that front sensor is for, I left that off of my Mercury over ten years ago. On my Lincoln it was an auto-dimming sensor, but these Explorers don't have that.

One darkens the mirror glass at night and the other is for automatically turning on the headlights when in needed. No?

 

[CDW6212R]

The darkening sensor is in the glass itself, and I thought the light sensor was in the dash/top. I just haven't noticed any issues by having the front piece removed, but it could be the light sensor. That's in the dash of my 91 Lincoln, and that was the first car I had issues with the mirror falling off. The first time I think was when I used the kit brand I had never heard of, and the Permatex version solved that the next time. I knew the front sensor on the Lincoln was for headlight dimming(turns off your high beams when it senses light ahead). I never liked that feature because it doesn't sense light soon enough, blinding oncoming drivers. So I never use that since 1996 shortly after driving my first LSC. I had that front sensor of my Mercury in the glovebox for ages, I finally took it out at some point and don't know where it is. But it's been off since about 2004(100k miles).

 

[koda2000]

I think the thing on top of the dash is for the A/C system. IDK if it's for sensing heat or sunlight.

 

[koda2000]

Yesterday I soaked the puck in acetone to remove the plastic thing that was stuck to it. This worked great. After about 1 hour I was able to just peel it off. I also scraped the windshield area clean and further cleaned it with alcohol. Weather permitting (instructions say something like 50-70 degrees F) I will glue the puck onto the windshield and then let it sit for a day before putting the mirror back on.

A minor concern I have is regarding the plastic wire cover that clips into the top of the mirror. I'm thinking this may be difficult to do once the mirror is snapped onto the puck, because the upper end of the cover doesn't seem to move vertically and I don't know what its attached to under the headliner.

 

[CDW6212R]

Those covers don't fit very well. There is a little space or pocket up above in the headliner "hole." You can push it up beyond where it normally sets to install it. You won't have a problem with that.