Auto dimming rear view mirror removal question

[dherrick]

I have a 2003 996TT with a failed auto dimming mirror. It's become all cloudy with the exception of a small clear area in the lower middle. I am planing on sending it to radar-mirror for repair however I have not been able to find any DIYs on how to remove the mirror from the mount.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? It looks like a simple ball and socket connection that would just pull out, however with the sensors and the pushbutton on the mirror I would expect there to be some wiring involved. The service manual proceedure seems to reference only the non auto dimming mirror which requires clamping the base with pliers and rotating 90 degrees. I don't see any way to rotate this mirror 90 degrees as it hits the upper console panel.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Loren]

Remove the old mirror by rotating the base 90 degrees counter-clockwise. I put masking tape (or a rubber hose) around the base and used channel locks and a firm grip to rotate the base 45 degrees. I continued rotating the base by hand another 45 degrees until it released.

[dherrick]

Thanks Loren. So I can't pop the mirror out of the socet joint and have to remove from the windshield. Got it.

Do I remove the plastic housing on the base? If so how? I can imgine cracking the plastic housing with the channel locks when trying to rotate.

Also there is a cylindrical tube the runs into the head liner that I assume carries the wiring, I don't see how that will allow me to rotate the base of the mirror?

[dherrick]

I was able to remove the failed autodimming mirror. Contrary to the service manual, It does not twist off like the non-dimming mirror. It slides downward, parallel to the windshield, ouf its bracket.

Here is how I did it.

1. I pried the cable covers apart and removed from the mirror base

2. using needle nosed pliers, I disconnected wire plug.

3. taped wires and led circuit board to windshield to keep out of way.

4. took a punch with the end wrapped in duct tape and with a hammer from over the top of the mirror, tapped on the upper portion of the mirror bracket as close to the base as possible. After about three taps the mirror slid downwards, out of the mount.

Its now off to radar-mirrors for repair.

I hope this helps somone else with the same issue.

[dherrick]

Attached is a photo of the mirror baracket wtih the mirror removed.

[chippiedog]

The above information was really useful since I could not find any YouTube information on this.  I found a few changes in dherrick's suggestions to be useful.  In step two, I could not pull the connector apart with a needle nose pliers so I used a broad blade screwdriver.  I placed it next to the flange on the connector and rotated it and the connector easily came apart.  As for step four, the mirror is held to the base with 2 broad brass clips.  Just insert a small screwdriver under one of the clips to pop it out of he base and the mirror comes right out. Now, by the time I get the replacement mirror, I hope that I remember the reverse order to put it back together!