Sorry if this is too newbie-ish of a question... but I've combed the internet all night and I can't find the answer anywhere. I'm a complete car-work newbie.

Someone hit my 1996 SE's driver's-side mirror (power, heated), so I bought a replacement from eBay and it arrived today. The old one is still firmly attached - only the glass and interior parts broke, so the housing is still completely intact.

I assume that the small black interior triangle piece, adjacent to the mirror but on the inside, conceals the main mounting screws. But how do I get this piece off? It bends slightly when I pry it, but it doesn't feel like it will come off gracefully. Do I have to remove something else first?

Thanks.

 

i never did it, but yea, that piece your talking about im sure needs to come out and then you will be ok. once you pop it out, you should see screws or bolts. maybe you have to pull off the door panel?

 

remove the whole thing on the door to get to the triangle piece on the inside.

 

I was afraid of that. Alright, thanks. This is the huge tutorial part that begins with the screw in the door handle, right?

 

yeah that, and like two screws on the bottom edge

 

1 - remove the door trim panel
2 - on power mirrors, unplug the elec connector
3 - remove the triangular cover over the mirror mounting
4 - remove the bolts and detach the mirror from the door
5 - install is the reverse of removal

Good luck

 

Thanks. It's pretty snowy tonight and I don't have a garage or anything, so I'll probably attempt it tomorrow.

 

Watch the plastic bezel around the inside door opening handle. Plastic cracks very easy when cold... It's a shame the corner sail cover needs a screw (with door panel removal). I know on the Altima, it pops right out. At least on the maxima, we have hinges on our mirrors... hit that puppy on an Altima and it is toast!

 

I know this now, three days after taking out the mirror.

 

I absolutely cannot get the door panel off. Am I doing something wrong?

I followed the guide in the FAQ, removing the handle-cup screw, then the two bottom-edge screws, then the door light. I popped out the panel, starting from the bottom and working my way up the sides (a few of the pop-out screws popped out). I could even get it to separate and pull out from most of the top edge.

But the top-right area, closest to the mirror, absolutely refuses to come off. It seems to be holding very well here:

(sorry for the crappy picture, I yanked it from an eBay auction)


I pulled REALLY hard, and it wouldn't really move at all. Is there something I'm missing?

 

you need to lift that part up and past the corner sail which may be holding it down. Otherwise, there is nothing in that corner holding it down. I assume you removed the trim around the door lever.

 

Nope. The guide didn't mention that. How do I do that? Just pop it out with a flathead or something?

That and the window/lock switch panel are still in. The guide seemed to imply that I should remove the window/lock switch panel after the whole door panel was detached.

 

That trim is easy to break. Be careful! I believe the tabs are top and bottom. If you pull on the whole panel, it may just pop free. I never had good luck trying to use a screwdriver. Sorry I don't know any tricks.

The door controls do not come out. You just undo the connectors once the door panel is free. IMHO, that trim (and not breaking it) is the hardest part of the whole deal.

 

Alright, I'll try again after work today. Is it possible that the little door-handle trim was holding in the entire door panel so firmly?

 

That did it. It was the handle.

Thanks for all of the help!