Automotive rearview mirrors are attached to the windshield with a strong two-part glue. To save money on repair bills, many people choose to replace their own windshield mirrors whenever these items are loose or broken. An adhesive kit is available from your favorite auto parts store that comes with glue, an adhesive booster, a scraping blade and a list of helpful instructions. There are various brands of automotive mirror adhesive kits on the marketplace. The mirror repair kits that include an adhesive booster will reduce your necessary drying times into an overnight process.
Position the vehicle into an outside location that will cause the windshield to be warm. Cold windshields should face the sun to warm up. Hot windshields should cool off to warm in the shade.
Remove the rearview mirror from the attached window support baseplate with an Allen wrench or screwdriver when necessary.
Stick masking tape on the outside of the windshield where the used mirror glue is showing on the inside of the glass.
Scrape the used mirror glue off the inside of the windshield with the supplied scraping tool or a razor blade.
Scrape the used rearview mirror glue off the mirror support baseplate.
Rub the cleaned windshield area and mirror baseplate with a paper towel that has been dipped into rubbing alcohol.
Bend the primer or adhesive booster vial to allow the inner liquid to saturate the application tip. Apply a liberal amount of the primer or adhesive booster liquid to the inside windshield area that is marked with the masking tape. Allow this liquid to dry for five to 10 minutes.
Hold the mirror attachment baseplate in your hand and apply a liberal amount of the liquid primer or adhesive booster liquid to the attachment side of the mirror baseplate. Allow this liquid to dry on the mirror baseplate for five to 10 minutes.
Cut the glue tube open at the tip with the supplied scraper or a razor blade.
Apply an extra-large bead of glue to the attachment side of the mirror baseplate. Press this baseplate to the inside of the windshield glass in the location that the mirror is going to hang. Hold the mirror baseplate firmly against the windshield glass for three to five minutes before letting go.
Dry the mirror baseplate overnight in an undisturbed location for best results. Roll windows down 2 inches to ventilate the vehicle while the mirror baseplate is drying. Repeat Steps 1 to 12 if the vehicle is moved before the mirror baseplate is dry and it falls off the windshield.
Scrape any dried excess glue off the interior windshield glass with a razor blade.
Reattach the rearview mirror to the mirror baseplate with an Allen wrench or screwdriver. Plug in the electric mirror-dimming cord if your vehicle comes with this device.
Remove the masking tape from the outside of the windshield.
