Everything You Need To Know About Car Interior Mirrors

While the side rear view provides a look into the adjacent lane and object near the back of the car it fails to show the driver what lies exactly at the rear or behind the car. This is why most cars are equipped with Interior Mirror. These showcase plenty of objects at the back of the car providing that the rear windows are big enough.

A vehicular interior rear-view mirror system includes an attachment element adhesively attached at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle and an interior rear-view mirror assembly having a mirror head including a reflective mirror element.

There are basically two types of Interior Mirrors:

1. Standard Interior Mirrors: These are simply reflective mirrors being used in cars from a long time. They reflect the objects at the rear end of the vehicle.
2. Electronic Interior Mirrors: These types of interior mirrors have augmented and interacted functionalities such as backup camera, rearview camera, blind-spot detection, etc.. Some even tell the weather outside and temperatures of the cabin and have an auto-dim feature to reduce glare.

The functioning of the interior mirror is pretty straight forward - it reflects light to let you see what’s behind you. If there are drivers behind you at night with their high beams on, the reflection may be distracting to the driver. So, interior rearview mirrors can be dimmed with a small tab on the underside. There is a piece of glass in front of the actual mirror. With the advancement of technology, it is now possible to get more features in a compact structure and functionality that can drastically increase the usefulness of certain items in a car like the interior mirrors. Older cars and even many modern cars only feature a standard mirror that does the job of reflecting the rear end objects onto the mirror, but newer vehicles have integrated rear cameras and parking assists in the interior mirrors which can be of great help while parking and to completely get rid of blind spots at the rear end of the car.

Here are the commonly faced issues with interior mirror:

• The most common issue faced with the interior mirror is it coming loose with constant adjustments. These mirrors pivot about a structure which can lose its grip and stop retaining its position which can be detrimental to its proper functioning.
• They are attached with glue to the inside of the windshield. Now with constant exposure to the sun, the glue dries up and the mirror falls off.
• The electronics are prone to failure and before long they can start glitching and eventually fail.

If you face the following symptoms then it's time to chip in for a new interior mirror:

• Noticeable cracks on the glass or a completely shattered glass can potentially distort the image making them unusable.
• It has some sort of stain which cannot be cleaned. Sun can discolour the mirror with prolonged exposure or cleaning it with a substance not meant for glass, etc. there can be many reasons for this occurrence but if the stain distracts you while driving then the mirror needs replacing.

One of the most crucial functions is the auto-dim feature on rear-view mirrors. If it fails then the driver and the person following can experience a glare which can be very uncomfortable, not to mention unsafe. So if this functioning is broken then your best bet is to have it replaced.

In order to replace the mirror without damaging the windshield or other objects in the cabin, it is advised to use the right tools while doing the job yourself. Here are the tools you will need to install the interior mirror:

• Utility Knives
• Gloves
• Plastic Scraper
• Screwdrivers
• Heat gun

If you know which car parts brand suits the best for your Interior Mirrors, then it would save a lot of your decision making time. What we believe is that picking a particular brand would always be helpful in reducing the clutter, and at the same time would make it easier for the customers to find what they are actually looking for. That’s why we have listed out some top brands for Interior Mirrors below as follows:-

If you want to learn more about the other mirrors in your car or possibly replace them then you can get all the information right here:

• Side View Mirror Glass
• Side-View Mirror Covers
• Towing Mirror
• Stubby Trail Mirror
• Car Mirror Kit
• Rear View Mirror
• Car Mirrors

These mirrors are usually trouble-free and won’t break or get damaged unless caused by some external reason. To maintain them make sure to use a proper automotive cleaning agent to wipe the glass and not hand very heavy objects on the mirror or it may break easily. Electronic mirrors can be very expensive but standard mirrors can be available for around 15 to 35 $.

Before we begin replacing the mirror it is necessary to note that cold temperature is detrimental to glue, and it is advised to carry out the replacement in favourable temperatures from about 100C to 250C or the glue will not adhere correctly and you will need to start over. Here is a simple guide to replacing your interior mirrors:

• The mirror is mounted on a button that is glued to the surface of the windshield.
• Start by marking the location of the old tab with a crayon on the outside surface of the windshield or taping around the edges of the mounting tab on the inside of the windshield.
• To free the mirror from the button, loosen the screw on the front side of the button using the appropriate screwdriver.
• Now gently lift the mirror from the mounting button and the mirror is free from the mount.
• Heat the surface of the mounting tab with a heat gun to remove the button. If the button has already fallen off then proceed by cleaning the surface of the button with a utility knife.
• It is important to get rid of all the gunk in order for strong adhesion of the new glue.
• Now, clean the windshield surface where the old button was mounted. Make sure to use the utility knife with caution and in a direction away from you to avoid any injuries. You can use a heat gun to warm the glue so as to remove it with ease.
• Once all the surfaces are clean, use the given alcohol wipe to ready the surfaces for the application of glue.
• The rounded edge of the button will face up and the narrow side will stick to the windshield. Now paste just a single drop of glue on the mounting button. Realize the correct way of placing the button as you will only get one chance to install it and remove it once stuck can break the windshield.
• Wait for at least 60 minutes and up to 24 hours for a strong adhesion to take place.
• Once you have waited enough, proceed by placing the new mirror on the mounting button and tightening the screw to hold it in place.
• Reconnect any electrical connections and the installation is complete.