The rear-view mirror in most vehicles is held up by a special glue that bonds to the windshield and supports the weight of the mirror. Over time, the glue will dry and weaken, causing it to lose the bond with the windshield. The rear-view mirror will only take a few minutes to reinstall. The longest part of installing is the wait for the glue to dry. To ensure this task is done properly, you can purchase the rear-view mirror repair kit at your local parts store. This will contain the proper mixture of adhesive glue and an activator.
Disconnect any wiring that is connected to the rear-view mirror. The harness will have tabs that can be pulled out. This will ensure the connector separates from the harness.
Loosen the rear-view mirror from the end. Loosen the screw with an Allen wrench. The rear-view mirror will slide off. There will be a metal button sticking to the windshield.
Trace the spot where the button is sitting with a crayon. You need to mark it so you will know where to reinstall.
Scrape the button off the windshield with a putty knife or razor. Ensure you use limited pressure; you want to work the glue away slowly. Too much force will cause the windshield to crack. The button will fall off when the glue is carefully scraped away.
Scrape the windshield smooth where the rear-view mirror was sitting. You will need to clean the area with alcohol to ensure there is no debris present.
Clean the button with alcohol. Allow it to dry for five minutes.
Apply the activator to the button. This will be in a vial that needs to be broken. The cotton swab in the vial will soak with fluid once you break it. Paint the fluid onto the button. Squeeze one drop of glue onto the button to mix the two liquids.
Place the glue side of the button to the windshield. Hold it in place for about 60 seconds to allow the button to form a bond with the glass.
Allow the button to sit for more than an hour. This will ensure there is a proper bond between the button and the glass.
Affix the rear-view mirror to the button. Slide the back of the rear-view mirror onto the button. If the button is still loose, remove the mirror and give the button another hour.
Tighten the Allen screw to the button to secure the mirror. Adjust the mirror to your desired position.
Attach any wires to the mirror if applicable.
