Wing Mirrors

[greeban]

I have a celebration 4.0 - does anyone know if I can remove a mirror without having to remove the interior door trim. I have managed to free off the driver's mirror so it can be rotated on its axis to fold it in when parked on the road. The nearside is corroded solid so need to get it off to be able to free it and I do not want to have to remove the door trim unless I really have to!

[ptjs1]

I don't think there's any way of releasing the wiring connector (which is different on these late cars) because you can't get access to it through the outside hole in the door. You might be able to access the plug without removing the whole door trim, through. You just need to get in through the front top corner.

I know this won't help you, but if you ended up needing to junk the mirror, I'd be interested in the wiring off it!!

Good Luck.

Paul
95 4.0 Convertible

[greeban]

I am sure once I have it off (the mirror that is!) either brute force or easing oil will sort it; so unlikley I will be junking it I'm afraid, but if I do....

Thanks for the reply. Kind regards.

[ng4xjs]

Removing the door card is so easy and straight forward. Two minutes no more. One screw under the front end of the arm rest. Two pozi-drives to release the interior light escutcheon plate. two small pozi-drive screws under the the door-pocket. Thats all, lift the clips from the door and lift the card upwards and off. Job done.

Nick

[greeban]

Thanks for that - sounds easy.

[greeban]

Bugger - got the mirror off and find that there is a metal collar that sits on the mirror shaft supporting the spring. This has corroded onto the shaft - a splendid design.
I am looking to see if I can find someone with a very small cutter/grinder that can cut a slot into the collar so I can force it apart and free it.

Has anyone else had a similar problem - have you checked yours!!?? I just dread some oik smashing against the mirror and being corroded could put a massive dent in the door.

[ptjs1]

Graeme,

The corroding collar is the biggest problem on XJS mirrors, either causing seizing or, alternatively, allowing a bit of play making the mirror head loose. I've tried removing the collar before and ended up ruining it.

I hope you manage to sort it, but you may end up having to live with it or buying another mirror. If you do have to do that, remember that late ones like yours have very different wiring connectors.

As a thought, there's a guy on ebay who's always selling brand new chrome mounting bodies and shells for the mirrors. This may or may not help you.

Good Luck

Paul

95 4.0 Convertible

[greeban]

Cannot believe it - we have a transport section at work and one of the mechanics was able to grind down the blade of a power saw enough to get into the shaft area and cut a groove in the collar - we were then able to prise it apart - it was a bugger to release.

I can now clean up the shaft and put some graphite grease on and re-assemble. Job done.

Hopefully many of you out there may find this information useful.

[greeban]

Ah - spoke too soon! Can't get the collar back on - the spring is very strong and the collar is not in the best of health.

Does anyone out there have experience of re-assembling a mirror - I may have to dismantle it completely i.e remove glass and wires so I can fit new collar etc. Where can I get new parts from?

I am going to try a valve spring compressor to see if this will do it but there is not a lot of room so not very hopeful .

[ptjs1]

Graeme,

How about using one of those one-handed cylindrical spring compressor things that one uses to compress the springs on rear brake shoe mounting points? You know the sort of thing I mean!

Paul

95 4.0 Convertible

[greeban]

Actually I don't! Do you have more information please??

[ptjs1]

Grame,

This is the sort of thing -

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8662

http://www.concepttools.co.uk/p/LISLE-B ... -1310.aspx

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNAP-ON-BRAKE-SPR ... dZViewItem

Paul
95 4.0 Convertible

[greeban]

Thanks - the snap on tool on ebay might just do it - a friend at work has a valve spring compressor for a VW designed to get to recessed springs so this might work as well. My only worry now is I have messed around with the spring collar so much that when I do get it compressed down to the locating groove on the shaft it will not hold. Dave Marks says these are no longer available from Jaguar .

Does anyone know of a source of spring loaded collars?

[ptjs1]

Graeme,

Expensive answer?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XJS-JAGUAR-LEFT-H ... dZViewItem

Paul
95 4.0 Convertible

[greeban]

Thanks to ptjs1 suggestion I bought a brake spring tool and managed to get the clip back on - at last, I have a sorted mirror. Phew - what a job; just got to fit it back on the door now!

FYI - bought a pair of mirrors on ebay - advertised as very good condition What a load of tosh! Same problem on both - shafts very badly corroded.
Watch out - I imagine most second hand mirrors now have this problem, unless one careful owner who regularly unscrews them and lubricates the shaft and spring.