Sun Visor -- Cheap Fix

[JimPDX]

If you have tried to repair the mirror door hinge mount on the sun visor only to have the little mount crack again you may wish to consider a relatively inexpensive fix.

The mirror insert itself is replaceable. You can choose the lighted ones (996-731-903-01-01C) for $48.00 each at Sunset or you can choose the unlighted mirror insert for $11.66 each also from Sunset (986-731-901-01-01C).

Simply remove the existing plastic insert and pop the new ones in. I choose this time to go with the unlighted ones. They are cheaper and if they break again, I'd rather pay $23.00 than $96.00.

If you go with the lighted ones you will have to splice into the existing wiring in the mirror assembly or solder the wires to the contact points in the mirror assembly.

The unlighted ones took 10 minutes to install and the lighted ones may take 30 minutes depending on how quickly you can solder.

Hope this is useful...

Jim :drive:

[jinijazz]

It IS very useful info for me, Thanks.

No more velcro...

[Stefan]

Unfortunately for me, the passenger visor on my 1999 Boxster is flapping and the problem is the main hinge on the sun visor (not the mirror flap). There is no quick fix that I know of.

(If you know of one, please let me know. I can't even figure out how to disconnect the hinge from the flap; they seem to be connected)

[SPR]

I tried to fix it with epoxy and it was ok for a while but broke again about a week later. Just go on ebay and buy whatever visor and then rip the mirror out and put it in your visor- that's what I did.

[Stefan]

The problem in my car is not related to the mirror, but the big visor itself. It would happen even if I removed the mirrors. And the whole visor assembley is very expensive.

[JimPDX]

The problem in my car is not related to the mirror, but the big visor itself.  It would happen even if I removed the mirrors.  And the whole visor assembley is very expensive.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edited September 2, 2005 by JimPDX

[JimPDX]

Unfortunately for me, the passenger visor on my 1999 Boxster is flapping and the problem is the main hinge on the sun visor (not the mirror flap).  There is no quick fix that I know of.

(If you know of one, please let me know.  I can't even figure out how to disconnect the hinge from the flap; they seem to be connected)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just replace the mirror insert. Unlighted ones are about 12.00 at Sunset and lighted ones are about 50.00. Install is a snap for the unlighted ones about a minute and the lighted ones about 10 minutes.

[1999Porsche911]

To tell you the truth, until I came across this thread, I have never even used my visors. I sit high in the seat, so I guess I never needed them. Tried them today and they work, but block my view.

[Paul Fraser]

Hope this is useful...

Jim :drive:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Only hugely, Jim.

I've had this as a fault on my 996 for about two years now and although it bugged me I grudged the cost of replacement sunvisors.

Recently, reading another thread I had a go at 'sorting' both my lit 996 ones and my unlit 986 ones. Only got one of the Boxster ones to repair. Both of the 996 ones stopped being 'flappy' when the visors were down but wouldn't click up enough to get the light to come on. Even though I've been fortunate to get a cheap lit pair on Ebay for around $55 I'll now be able to sort the remaining Boxster one.

Great tip, thanks a lot.

[Paul Fraser]

Unfortunately for me, the passenger visor on my 1999 Boxster is flapping and the problem is the main hinge on the sun visor (not the mirror flap).  There is no quick fix that I know of.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Stefan, I don't understand what part is broken. Can you describe it reference the picture below, please?

[Stefan]

The red arrow shows the part that I am concerned about. The entire visor flaps up and down when I go over bumps so the problem for me is not the mirror hinge but the visor hinge. There is some sort of spring mechanism in there but I don't know how to get at it. If I could separate the two parts circled in green I think I could figure out how to fix the spring mechanism.

[Paul Fraser]

The flap pulls off the hinge. It may be stiff. The hinge in mine is fixed and does not move. I think a replacement hinge would be inexpensive -- have you checked the two securing screws are tight?

Edited September 5, 2005 by Paul Fraser

[Paul Fraser]

UK prices from the OPC are £19.31, £32.59 both plus VAT.

As $11.66 is about £6.58 and $48 is £26.67 at the current exchange rate it would probably be cheaper getting them from the USA... I'll let others comment on the fact it is three times the price for a non lit insert here.

Edited September 5, 2005 by Paul Fraser

[Paul Fraser]

Stefan -- the part numbers on my hinges are:

986.561.607.00 (LH)

986.561.608.00 (RH)

The PET lists these numbers for '98 996:

996.561.607.01 (L)

996.561.608.01 ®

Anyone know what the difference is?

[Loren]

986.561.607.00 (LH) and 986.561.608.00 (RH) don't come up anywhere in my list. 986 561 307 00 A09(LH) and 986 561 608 00 A09 (RH) were the hinges for the Boxster.

[Paul Fraser]

Mmm... interesting. My copy of the PET also has the numbers you quote above but nonetheless that is not what is on the back of the hinges. I can post photos if you like.

One other thing that I've been wondering about is what is fitted in my 996 (a '97 car that was one of the first at the local OPC). From memory it doesn't have anything like those hinges, but the car is at my Dad's at the moment and I can't look at this/photograph it.

[Loren]

Could be they discontinued that number and it is not longer available. If you wanted new ones I'm sure you would need to order the 996... number (with the color code).

[Paul Fraser]

Do they actually delete numbers then? Not just add on another part number when it becomes available? OK, worth knowing if that is the case.

[Loren]

Do they actually delete numbers then? Not just add on another part number when it becomes available? OK, worth knowing if that is the case.

Yes, they remove numbers from PET. I think it is generally when existing stock is gone.

[Stefan]

Which securing screws? The ones that hold the whole mechanism to the windshield frame? Yes, I've checked those. Are there other screws that might contribute to the stifness of that hinge?

So if I just pull hard I should be able to get it apart? I did pull before but I got to a "it might break if this isn't how it's supposed to be taken apart" point and I backed off. I can try pulling harder.

[Paul Fraser]

No other screws apart from the two that hold it to the frame. Pull it to the left or right depending on whether is is the right or left one. It should come off.

Perhaps you had best check the cost of a new hinge before doing anything you might regret -- if yours is wobbling it may be cracked and will fail if you do this. However, they do come apart as I have showed you in the pic above. If you do decide to try immobilise the hinge with one hand while pulling on the visor with the other. Good luck...

Edited September 6, 2005 by Paul Fraser

[Stefan]

It is only a problem on really bumpy roads but it is annoying. I will investigate with this new information. Thanks a bunch!

[Paul Fraser]

I only hope you manage to get it sorted without too much aggravation.

[Paul Fraser]

The hinges below are the type I have on my 10/97 996. I guess these are the discontinued old style. Anyone upgraded to the new type?

[Paul Fraser]

Today I finally got off my fat backside and did some jobs on the car. Put the two twist-off-back tax-disc holders in the 996 and Boxster, and finally sorted the sunvisors on the 996. I removed the LH hinge from the 996 as the hinge cover was stuck on by velcro to the rest of the hinge, leaving it proud of the roof lining and generally unsightly.

It is on the right of the photo below beside a Boxster (and 996 Cab I suspect) hinge.

Here are the three parts of the 996 hinge: the hinge, the mounting screw and the cover.

My hinge was broken and I glued it together before reinstalling it.

I would have preferred to replace it but I could not obtain the hinge as a separate part from either the PET or my OPC. I wasn't going to buy a whole new sunvisor for this little part.

Has anyone any idea where Porsche have obtained this part from? I assume they have raided a major manufacturer parts bin for this -- the rest of the sunvisor has 'Made in France'. If anyone has seen a similar hinge on another car type I would be interested to know which one so I can try and obtain a replacement.

PS Both my sunvisors now stay up and the lights come on and go off -- that only took two and a half years to sort then!

Edited November 10, 2005 by Paul Fraser