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Rear View Mirror Fell Off

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ceemom, Jul 26, 2004.

  1. ceemom

    ceemom New Member

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    Has anyone else's rear view mirror fallen off?

    I guess I'll never know how it actually happened. Someone must have hit it, but no one will confess. The mirror is completely unblemished. Not a scratch or smudge anywhere on the body. The car was sitting in the driveway all day while my husband did some work in the garage. He says that in the evening he pulled it in and when he pushed the button to close the garage door the mirror wobbled. As he started to investigate, it fell into his hand. It was just hanging by the cable.

    It was easy to find the glue to put the mirror back on at Walmart so it must be a pretty common thing. My dealer says that they are 'break away' mirrors so that they won't hurt the passengers in an accident.

    The alarming thing is that my mirror did not 'break away'. Instead it took a good chunk of windshield with it. My dealer recommendes replacing the windwhield ($850). However, for now I just glued the mirror back in place using the special rearview mirror replacement glue at Walmart ($1.94). I used the Permatex glue. I was originally looking for the loctite version, but it was about 7pm on a Saturday so my local auto supply was closed.

    There is a good fit between the chunk of glass on my mirror and the mating hole in the windshield. In fact, despite the mirror's weight, if I pushed it up, it held itself up even without the glue. However, I couldn't adjust it or even open the garage without it coming down. There was no question about it staying put, but it was this good fit that convinced me to go with the glue instead of the new windshield.

    Unfortunately, some glass around the mirror base chiped out and landed on the carpet. This chip is visible from outside the car if you look for it.

    Anyways, it sure would have been easier if the mirror had separated fromt he glass. That would be a clean fix and the glue costs less than $2.
     
    #1 ceemom, Jul 26, 2004
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    You need to replace the windshield. Whether you can get Toyota to foot the bill or not I don't know, but it will shatter in the summer heat, a defect that large it will probably occur sooner rather than later.

    Very odd occurance. I have to suspect that there was a stronger blow to the mirror somewhere along the way, it's just too odd.
     
    #2 efusco, Jul 26, 2004
  3. jchu

    jchu New Member

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    Jeez,

    I thought you were just going to say it came unglued. Some have claimed on other cars that the heat trapped against the windshield by some parking sun shades is enough to melt the glue. So far hasn't happenend in the Prius with our "PC brand" Heatshield. (Weather now topping 100 deg. Fareheit.
     
    #3 jchu, Jul 26, 2004
  4. BobA

    BobA New Member

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    I would think that your Toyota dealer would step up and replace it as a factory defect... I'd be talking to the salesman, salesmanager, servicemanager dealership owner, Toyota regional service person... but that's just me
     
    #4 BobA, Jul 26, 2004
  5. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    It seems pretty bizarre that it took glass with it when it came down. That doesn't seem very safe. It should take more force to rip out a piece of glass than to snap the plastic on the mirror. I'd go the "factory defect" route.
     
    #5 bruceha_2000, Jul 27, 2004
  6. tms13

    tms13 Member

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    I'd replace the screen as quickly as possible. A glass replacement company may be able to advise you whether you have grounds for a warranty claim, so it's worth getting it looked at as soon as possible.

    I don't know the situation where you you are, but here a damaged windscreen is considered a safety defect significant enough to render a vehicle unroadworthy, like having illegally worn tyres or defective brakes. So you may be breaking the law by driving it.
     
    #6 tms13, Jul 27, 2004
  7. Fredo

    Fredo Junior Member

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    If you have comprehensive insurance on the car, it should cover replacing the windshield. There may be a $50 or $100 deductible, but he glass company usually waives it. And if the insurance company covers it, they can argue with Toyota.

    I agree, this is a safety issue. At minimum, it will be much more likely to crack.
     
    #7 Fredo, Jul 31, 2004
  8. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    somebody knocked it pretty hard to break off a piece of glass like that. it would be hard to imagine a windshield with a defect that alarmingly severe.

    glass has a very hard unforgiving molecular structure. similiar to diamonds that can be cut with precision as long as the cut is parallel to the grain but shatters into a million pieces if struck hard enough to break the grain.

    after the integrity of the glass is compromised, it has virtually no strength left. although it is safety glass and no real threat as far as injuring you, it is only a matter of time before the crack starts to grow.

    you will have a better claim with toyota if you jump on it now.
     
    #8 DaveinOlyWA, Jul 31, 2004
  9. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    It sounds lime someone hit the mirror real hard and broke the glass. If the glue had just given up the mirror should have fallen down and the glass would be intact. I doubt very much that Toyota will cover for replacing the windshield.
     
    #9 jamarimutt, Jul 31, 2004
  10. rbarksdale

    rbarksdale New Member

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    Yes, same thing happened with my 2010 Prius. Closed trunk door and rearview mirror "fell off," pulling a chunk of glass with it. I am looking into repair/cost/insurance/recall now.
     
    #10 rbarksdale, Jun 24, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yikes!:eek:
     
    #11 bisco, Jun 24, 2015
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    #1 I don't think the windshield is OEM, must have been a replacement
    #2 you can get a new one for free if you have full coverage insurance. "Most" insurance companies will replace damaged windshields for free
     
    #12 JC91006, Jun 24, 2015
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