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What adhesive to glue on mirror heating element??

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by GoldPianoGarden, May 14, 2012.

  1. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Okay, I finally took the heating element (defroster) off the back of one of my side mirrors, with the intent of transferring the heating element from both sides to the blue mirrors I have. It was quite hard, actually! I dread taking off the 2nd one now! lol! Well, the heating element has some adhesive on the back of it still from where it was stuck on the stock mirror. It is not enough adhesive, though, to do a solid attachment to the blue mirror. The glue is kinda patchy (part of the adhesive is still stuck to the stock mirror). So, what type of adhesive will I need to use to attach the heating elements onto the new blue mirrors? And, do I need to remove the remaining adhesive from the backs of both of the heating elements before RE-adhering them to the new blue mirrors? If so, what in the world would I use to remove the adhesive that would be safe on the backs of the heating elements?

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  2. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Generally a "room temperature vulcanizing" or RTV silicone rubber compound is used to "glue" heating elements to glass. Silicone rubber is heat resistant. Some silicone RTV rubber compounds are designed to be used with high temperatures.

    Hope this helps.
     
  3. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    So, where would I go to buy such a thing as that?
     
  4. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    Hey goldpianogarden. I was in the same position as you a month ago when i tried to attempt removing the heated element to place on my blue mirrors. I end up damaging one side of thr element. The other side didnt work when i placed it on the new blue mirrors without any adhesive. It was so cumbersome that i just decided to purchase a set of blue coated jdm heated blue mirrors. Those blue jdm mirrors you can find a set on ebay for about $250. However from my understandig theyre only compatible with the canadian side mirror motor mechanism. It will not fit on a us prius side mirmechanism. I hope that helps
     
  5. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    any luck gluing the heating element back on ?
     
  6. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    So, could you see how you damaged the element? Mine appears to be just the same on both sides as it was originally....just with some spotty adhesive here and there still. I've been searching since last week about how to remove the adhesive safely so that I can put the heating elements onto the new blue mirrors with all new, fresh adhesive. All I seem to find are comments where someone HEARD of someone else soaking the mirror, with the heating element stuck on, in a bath of pure acetone to dissolve the adhesive.....after which the heating element came off w/out a hitch. But, I don't know how safe acetone is on the heating element. ????
     
  7. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Well, I just saw this post after I responded to your previous post! lol! I'm still battling the "how to remove the residue adhesive" before I run to town to start trying to figure out where to get adhesive for gluing the heating element onto the blue mirrors....
     
  8. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    it was messy, when I removed the heating element i think i tear a portion of it. The job was super cumbersome i used alcohol swabs to remove the residue.

    You can also try using a heat gun to melt the element when removing it
     
  9. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    btw, i really like your rear bumper, do u have closer pics of it and how did you customize it ?

    thnx
     
  10. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    i would just get these , saves you the trouble, however, I believe they don't fit on the US Prius side mirrors, the reason I know is cause I needed to replace my whole side mirror assembly and I thought I buy one on ebay from a US Prius salvaged car, it didn't work and I was super choked, so I ended up buying a brand new one from Toyota for retail price :(

    TOYOTA PRIUS 2009 2010 2011 Heated Rain Clearing Blue Mirror Set Japan JDM | eBay
    268wt_1037
     
  11. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    I saw those, but are those the ones you said wouldn't work (the defroster part) on the US Prius? My intent with all this is to install the running LED signal light that actually mounts on the backside of the mirror glass, so one way or the other, the defroster/heating element still has to come off the glass to install that part. If a person could just buy replacement/OEM heating elements, that would make everything a TON easier. That way, I could just put the LED part onto the back of the bare blue mirror glass, then put the new defroster/heating element on over the top of it. I wouldn't have to worry about the pain-in-the-butt job of doing all this rigging... Any idea where you'd buy the stock heating elements for our car that could be stuck onto any aftermarket mirror that you chose?

    Edit: Just reread your post and saw where you clearly said that you didn't think the eBay ones would work on the US Prius...
     
  12. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    I used one of my hottest hairstyling dryers (I 'do hair') on the back for a few seconds, and it made the glue SO stringy and sticky that it was even worse than using no heat. For me, it worked better just slowly peeling the heating element off a tiny bit at a time (over the course of about an hour) without using any heat.
     
  13. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    oh i see, did you buy those blue mirrors from Sakura ?

    now I know what you're talking about, isn't there a thread on that and a video of the install as well ?

    something like this right ?

     
  14. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Yeah, those are the ones I got; however, they don't make them WITH the defroster. You have to rig your old ones over onto these blue mirrors like I'm attempting...
     
  15. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Well, it was a work in progress! lol! I bought the FLEDERMAUS bodykit, and I pretty much liked everything on it except the rear bumper.

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    I already knew I was going to modify it somewhat to incorporate the LS460 rear exhaust tips, so we did that first.

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    Then, I wanted some more lights/reflectors on the back of the car, so I had them change it again to add in RX300 rear bumper LED reflector lights.

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    Then, I still wasn't quite happy with it. I ran across some rear pics of the AMUSE bodykit for a 370Z.....which I loved.

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    So, I had them incorporate that "look" into the rear of my bumper to tie together all the other stuff I'd done to it.

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    I got the wheels and coilovers and tires to go with the kit. I got the Tommy Kaira rear wing, the SilkBlaze top-of-the-hatch spoiler:

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    I bought the spoiler/bonnet from Tommy Kaira for the top of the hood, had the bodyshop combine it with a hood scoop from a Celica GT:


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    Don't know why that's the only pictures I have so far of it on my car! lol! (out-of-focus, hood not closed....)
    Anyhow, blah, blah.....so much still left to do before I ever get through!
     
  16. GoldPianoGarden

    GoldPianoGarden Bling Meister

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    Well, I called some mirror/glass shops today (national glass chainstore type places), and they said they use urethane. Hmmm...