How to lubricate a folding mirror that is getting seized up.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Relevant photos to follow here, soon I hope.....

great write up - would be useful if you could attach photos by the relevant stage on the write up and then we can make it a useful sticky for others to use - or upload photos and I can embed them in the right places if they are named

Thanks again

[HPsauce]

I'll try to do my best, as I obviously have one unit off the car I can take close-ups of that to cover most stages.
Much of the basics is covered in other threads/stickies/audipages (e.g. taking the glass out and covers off and the main door card) so I'll probably skip those.

[HPsauce]

1. Fold mirror, remove small phillips screw that is exposed in a recess in the end of the non-swivelling section.
This is a very fine-threaded screw into softish metal so take care, especially when reinstalling. The material around it is a soft foam plastic.
(if you don't do this first you'll just find the mirror is in the wrong configuration without power when you do need it removed )

[HPsauce]

This shows the triangular trim partly levered off. You may just see the clip and foam padding.
In retrospect this is probably a lot easier to get out (and definitely to put back) if the main door trim is released in that area - remove trim strip and relevant screw(s) behind and at corner.

[HPsauce]

7. Undo the two remaining screws that hold the exterior plastic trim onto the metal mounting plate. The 3rd screw outside near the pivot was removed in step 1.
These are typical coarse-thread self-tapping screws into plastic so do not overtighten on reassembly.

You can see the main electrical connector (for folding and heating) mounted on the unit and the 60cm cable for the secondary (memory) wiring.

[HPsauce]

8. Loosen the trim and manipulate it round (you can't take it off) until you can see the bottom of the main pivot. Turn the mirror unit so that it is upside down with the pivot (possibly only partially) on view.
(I don't actually remember if this is easier with the unit folded or open - the photo below was taken folded)

9. Liberally lubricate the pivot around the edges of the metal rings with WD40 3-in-1 oil etc. ensuring plenty runs through to the inside of the inaccessible gear mechanism.

I dripped lubricants into the small recesses you can see in the circular plate/washer adjacent to the central metal tube/pivot. They seemed to disappear inside and not drip out.
I did (partially) take the cover off the motor (on top, movement limited by cables) but that appeared sealed and not a route for lubricants.

[HPsauce]

11. Alternatively remove the unit completely and "exercise" it with a suitable 12v (or slightly higher, 14v or 15v) DC supply. The relevant pins are numbered 8 and 9 on the main connector. One polarity will open and the reverse will close.

I happened to have some small, insulated blade (faston type) connectors that fitted over the pins to facilitate wiring to my DC supply.

This picture is a bit blurred, but the relevant pins are clear enough, they are the central 2 in the row of 4. The numbers are moulded clearly into the plastic and visible by eye.
The pins are numbered 1 to 5 from left to right on the bottom row then 6 to 10 right to left along the top. Numbers 2,3,4 and 7,8,9,10 were present on mine.