Help with my driver side outside mirror!

[priusFTW]

This question relates to the driver side outer mirror. Recently I performed an audio upgrade, and when I removed the tweeter housing, the top metal clip remained in the square housing that it connects to. Well it eventually fell into that housing and the only way I could retrieve the clip, was to remove the driver side outer mirror. After doing so, I managed to retrieve the clip for the tweeter housing.

Anyway, when I was tightening the nuts back up onto the bolts that protrude from the mirror, the top bolt broke off. I must have tightened too tight, but the bolt came right off with the nut still connected to it.

To diagram the 3 bolts protruding from the mirror, it looks similar to a triangle like this:

0*

0 0

The top one with the astrisk is the bolt that broke off in the nut. I was able to retrieve the broken bolt and nut, and when i look into the top hole where the bolt came from there is still a piece of bolt in the screw hole. The mirror seems tight to the door, it has no movement really, but I am concerned. I don't like leaving it attached with only 2 bolts/nuts. Is there anyway that you know of that I can replace that bolt so that the upper portion of the mirror housing is really secure?

[bobc]

Ouch!

Have you found a solution yet? If not, here's a couple:

1) See if you can buy just that bolt from Toyota.

2) Email Steve at Autobeyours.com They specialize in Prius and he can sell you one cheap. He also sends stuff out very quickly.

3) Of the two remaingin bolts, unscrew the the bolt down low and closest to the rear of the car. Then, re-attach it to the top position. I would think that out of the three bolts, the most important bolt is the top one, then the one on the lower front (I'm thinking about pressure put on the mirror from wind...

You can remove the bolts from the plastic as they take the same 10mm socket, albeit a deeper one. Best to use a socket as the bolt head doesn't look like it would take mush to strip it with an adjustable wrench or a 10mm wrench.

I'm surprised that you broke the bolt. I would have thought the platic would have given way first....

The good news is that having taken the mirror off, you're well on your way to tackling the signal mirror mods!

[priusFTW]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bobc @ May 1 2007, 06:12 PM) [snapback]433534[/snapback]</div>

Ouch!

Have you found a solution yet? If not, here's a couple:

1) See if you can buy just that bolt from Toyota.

2) Email Steve at Autobeyours.com They specialize in Prius and he can sell you one cheap. He also sends stuff out very quickly.

3) Of the two remaingin bolts, unscrew the the bolt down low and closest to the rear of the car. Then, re-attach it to the top position. I would think that out of the three bolts, the most important bolt is the top one, then the one on the lower front (I'm thinking about pressure put on the mirror from wind...

You can remove the bolts from the plastic as they take the same 10mm socket, albeit a deeper one. Best to use a socket as the bolt head doesn't look like it would take mush to strip it with an adjustable wrench or a 10mm wrench.

I'm surprised that you broke the bolt. I would have thought the platic would have given way first....

The good news is that having taken the mirror off, you're well on your way to tackling the signal mirror mods!
[/b]

Thanks Bob, judging by the pic it looks like the bolt just screws out of the plastic? That would be great if that is the case. I emailed Steve and asked if I could buy a couple of bolts and some spare metal tweeter housing clips too. Thanks for the pic too btw! I really appreciate your help!

[bobc]

Glad that I could help ( i was also feeling kinda guilty that I had told you how easy it was to tear the doors down and then stuff ended up breaking....)!

Yes, the bolt does just screw into/out of the plastic piece. While it doesn't show up well in the above photo, the bolt doesn't have nice, flat edges for a wrench to get a positive grip on. I would think it would strip easy. While it doesn't have to be that tight, see if you can borrow a deep 10mm socket to put these on.

Cheers,

[priusFTW]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bobc @ May 2 2007, 12:05 PM) [snapback]433989[/snapback]</div>

Glad that I could help ( i was also feeling kinda guilty that I had told you how easy it was to tear the doors down and then stuff ended up breaking....)!

Yes, the bolt does just screw into/out of the plastic piece. While it doesn't show up well in the above photo, the bolt doesn't have nice, flat edges for a wrench to get a positive grip on. I would think it would strip easy. While it doesn't have to be that tight, see if you can borrow a deep 10mm socket to put these on.

Cheers,
[/b]

Well about stuff breaking, you shouldn't feel any guilt, lol. That darn metal tweeter clip is such a nusiance to remove because it doesn't come out (at least for me anyway) when u remove the housing, so it ends up staying behind in the square housing that it clips into. I tried retrieving it with a pair of tweezer, but I was not very good at the game "Operation" lol and it eventually fell into the mirror housing.

Thanks for your tip about Steve. I called him today after his prompt responses to my emails and I spoke with him over the phone. He is going to get me some bolts and I asked if he could dig up some metal tweeter clips. Such a nice gentleman, as yourself. Thank you for your great advice!

[priusFTW]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusFTW @ May 2 2007, 03:16 PM) [snapback]434153[/snapback]</div>

Well about stuff breaking, you shouldn't feel any guilt, lol. That darn metal tweeter clip is such a nusiance to remove because it doesn't come out (at least for me anyway) when u remove the housing, so it ends up staying behind in the square housing that it clips into. I tried retrieving it with a pair of tweezer, but I was not very good at the game "Operation" lol and it eventually fell into the mirror housing.

Thanks for your tip about Steve. I called him today after his prompt responses to my emails and I spoke with him over the phone. He is going to get me some bolts and I asked if he could dig up some metal tweeter clips. Such a nice gentleman, as yourself. Thank you for your great advice!
[/b]

Just to let everyone know, there was some question whether the bolts could be removed and replaced or not. I can tell you that they can be removed and replaced in models 2005 to 2007 anyway. Bobc helped me with this and I ordered some replacement bolts from the site that Bob recommended to me. Steve sent me the bolts and I was easily able to replace the one that I overtightened and broke off. Thank you Bob and Steve! My Prius is now as good as new!!