Passenger wing mirror not folding issue

[Jillygumbo]

When I got in the bongo this morning I used the switch to open the mirrors as I always retract them when I park. Drivers side fine but passenger side motor makes a noise continually but the mirror stayed folded. I manually pushed the mirror casing fully back and forward, with ignition on and ignition off but no joy. It would retract in ok electrically but wouldn't open out. I had to drive it today after manually opening it but with the motor in it running all the time the ignition/engine is running.

OH says it was fine when he used the bongo first thing, but it wasn't fine when I went to work an hour later.

Taking it to auto electrician in the morning as the noise is frightening but has anyone any ideas please?

[Diplomat]

The noise is indeed frightening and it probably doesn't do the motor much good running continuously, either.

The drive to the mirror will have broken. Mine has gone on the driver's side, which is less of a problem as it can be folded and adjusted by hand through the window. Before I disconnected the feed to it, it was hit and miss whether you could trick the limit switch into stopping the motor by waggling the mirror. The problem would return as soon as I retracted the remaining working mirror on the other side as they both normally work together and need to have both sides opened and shut in unison. We've all heard the horrible click when one side has been opened or shut by hand and the motorised function has to re-synch.

The topic has come up within the last few months and the only lasting solution appears to be replacing the entire unit with one from a breaker. Repairs don't seem to last.

I wonder if the damage is done during a past incident of the mirror being whopped by a passing vehicle, or if it is a cumulative result of too many of those ominous loud clicks?


Frank

[Jillygumbo]

It's the continuous noise of the motor that made me make that appointment with the auto-electrician. I haven't knocked it and OH says he didn't either. Of course someone could have knocked it while it was parked in town early this morning.

I haven't manually pushed it back and forth for a long time, but I may try again in the morning.

If the auto-electrician can't find and fix, then I'll ask them to disconnect the motor for the time being, if that's possible, until a better solution can be found.

I did read your post from April but couldn't find exactly the same problem, ie the motor is continually whirring! Thanks for your reply.

[Diplomat]

Hi Jilly.

My motor whirred continuously until I found the correct off position by waggling!

The door card needs to come off to get at the plug. Also, you can't remove the mirror unit by unscrewing only from outside. This prevents theft of good working and unbroken mirrors!

Good luck, hope it gets sorted out and maybe is repairable. Mine has remained on the 'to do' list. It's just too nice this summer for anything more that swimming and sunbathing!


Frank

[Jillygumbo]

Thanks Frank. That's helpful.

[mikeonb4c]

Both mine went and good repairs didn't last. I managed to get replacements and ever since I fold them to avoid them getting wrenched which is what did for the original ones.

[Jillygumbo]

Auto-electrician couldn't mend it, so disconnected the motor for me. On the list to find a replacement wing mirror but I can move it by hand in the meantime.

I also always fold the mirrors in when parked, and also in a tight squeeze passing traffic in a narrow lane! Still I can still do this on the driver side.