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Removing outside mirror cover

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Doc Willie, Nov 23, 2009.

  1. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    I have new outside mirror covers to install. From the looks of them, there are hooks that hold them on, that look like a one-way trip. A search here says that you can (with difficulty) pull them straight off, another says you will have to take out the mirror and remove the cover from the back.

    I plan to install a set of phaser emitters on the old covers, and put them on for car shows, etc, so I will need to be doing this replacement often.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    They just pop off. By looking at the new ones, you'll see where the tabs are and where to squeeze. The plastic is surprisingly flexible. Strong hands are helpful, but it's mostly in the technique.

    Unless your phaser emitters are the new wireless variety, you may also want to look up methods for removing the interior door panels. ;)
     
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  3. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    The covers came off quite easily. Just pull them off from the top edge.

    What had me scared what the projecting hooks from the back near the center of the covers. Turns out they are not hooks, but wedges that go into slots.

    Phased energy does not need wires. Imagination and minor brain damage from watching too much Star Trek does help, though.
     
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  4. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Doc Willie, Hyo Silver,

    Thanks for the info, brief as it is, it is just what I needed.

    (Doc, it's been months since you've posted. Hope that all is well with
    you.)

    For stylistic reasons, I came to see the two red side view mirrors on
    Amapola, our Barcelona Red '08, as sticking out like sore thumbs.

    [​IMG]

    But, I wasn't sufficiently moved to buy new covers. Then last week,
    something/one whacked the driver's side morror hard enough for the
    mirror to fold forward and the cover to pop off (Don't understand the
    physics here ???) Before I discovered it, the cover was run over and
    smashed flat... road kill... unusable.

    So, what the heck, I ordered new black covers for both sides. All well
    and good, but for the life of me I could not figure out how to
    intentionally take a cover off. I searched all over the 'Net and finally
    found your posts -- lots of posts on replacing the whole mirror
    assembly, very little on the covers.

    Removing the cover was not physically that difficult. However, it took
    some gumption to poke around the upper edge of the mirror to open a
    small crack, and prod and poke with a hard thin plastic spatula to open
    it up, and finally grab and pull and twist slightly, with quiet groans of
    protesting plastic, to eventually get the cover off, maybe a 2 minute job.

    All's well that ends well, :cheer2: thanks to your brief posts. :rockon:
    Many thanks.
     
  5. valre77

    valre77 New Member

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    Where did you find the mirror cover at? I have ordered a replacement mirror but I cannot find the cover for it. I have a 2008 prius.
     
  6. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    I can't remember, but I think it was PriusParts online.
     
  7. bugly64

    bugly64 Junior Member

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    I am glad my search located this post. We replaced my right mirror and couldn't figure out how to get the wrong color cover off. Now my Super White Prius is all Super White again. Thanks!
     
  8. MagnusAG99

    MagnusAG99 Senior Member

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    Does the covers on the 3rd gen also pop off?
     
  9. molly2017

    molly2017 New Member

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    Gah. Anyone know if I can just pop a new one on? My entire mirror is still fine & functional but someone must have hit my parked car and didn't leave a note about it and knocked it off.
     
  10. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    Yes, it pops right on. There are a few tabs that are easy to line up. Then push it in all around the edges. Done.