Power side mirrors not behaving! - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

mcow · 03-21-2019, 10:56 AM

Hi all, I have a '15 GT86(I'm in Taiwan) clocking 70k km in mileage. So just after my warranty expired, my side power mirrors started to not retract or extend as I press the button. It's always random, sometimes the left doesn't move, sometimes it's the right side. Sometimes both work and sometimes both quit. It's happening more and more often so I've simply quit hitting the button altogether.... but it's just not cool. I've seen local owners having similar problems, but either they are within warranty and the dealer just replaced the whole unit, or they are out of warranty and decided to live with it. Some said just lubricate the motors and mechanical parts inside. Well, I'll have to dismantle it to get to the inside. So I still have no clue to what could be the problem. Google search, surprisingly, isn't helpful. Or perhaps I am missing something out there? So if it will be awesome if I can get some pointers or help here, and thanks in advance!

Tcoat · 03-21-2019, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcow

Hi all, I have a '15 GT86(I'm in Taiwan) clocking 70k km in mileage. So just after my warranty expired, my side power mirrors started to not retract or extend as I press the button. It's always random, sometimes the left doesn't move, sometimes it's the right side. Sometimes both work and sometimes both quit. It's happening more and more often so I've simply quit hitting the button altogether.... but it's just not cool. I've seen local owners having similar problems, but either they are within warranty and the dealer just replaced the whole unit, or they are out of warranty and decided to live with it. Some said just lubricate the motors and mechanical parts inside. Well, I'll have to dismantle it to get to the inside. So I still have no clue to what could be the problem. Google search, surprisingly, isn't helpful. Or perhaps I am missing something out there? So if it will be awesome if I can get some pointers or help here, and thanks in advance!

We don't have them in North America so not sure how much help we can be beyond the normal maintenance suggestions. If the switch is door mounted I would start with checking the contacts on the switch. They could just be dirty. The next step would be to clean and lube the mechanisms. Unfortunately I don't think there is much you can do for either without pulling the door panel.

mcow · 03-21-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I would start with checking the contacts on the switch. They could just be dirty.

Just to also mention that sometimes, the mirrors seem to want to move for a little bit but doesn't, so I have doubt if it's electrical issue. I think the motors are getting the signal, but something isn't allowing them to do their job.

Sapphireho · 03-21-2019, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcow

Just to also mention that sometimes, the mirrors seem to want to move for a little bit but doesn't, so I have doubt if it's electrical issue. I think the motors are getting the signal, but something isn't allowing them to do their job.

Any way you could hit them with some electrical cleaner and maybe some electrical grease without taking the car apart?

humfrz · 03-21-2019, 12:16 PM

OR, just do it the old fashioned way, reach out and push on the glass part -

humfrz

Tcoat · 03-21-2019, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

OR, just do it the old fashioned way, reach out and push on the glass part -

humfrz

He has mirrors that swing in and out for parking. He isn't looking to just adjust the glass.

mazeroni · 03-21-2019, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcow

Just to also mention that sometimes, the mirrors seem to want to move for a little bit but doesn't, so I have doubt if it's electrical issue. I think the motors are getting the signal, but something isn't allowing them to do their job.

Sounds like you narrowed things down. Either the mechanisms are dirty or the motor is failing. Cleaning it would be the obvious first step. Can you get to the mechanism by pulling off the mirror caps? Youtube has videos and it looks easy. From there, spray cleaner on it and test it again. You may also want to bring a toothpick or something to check that nothing is clogging it.

humfrz · 03-21-2019, 12:51 PM

Oh, OK -

Well, if you park that close, how does one get out of the car -

humfrz

HKz · 03-21-2019, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, OK -

Well, if you park that close, how does one get out of the car -

humfrz

think the difference in average waist sizes between Asia & NA has something to do with it

Brink · 03-21-2019, 02:37 PM

@ChrisJ might know something about this.

Sasquachulator · 03-21-2019, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKz

think the difference in average waist sizes between Asia & NA has something to do with it

86 in Asia = This car is too damn big!
86 in NA = this car is too damn small!

mcow · 03-22-2019, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazeroni

Sounds like you narrowed things down. Either the mechanisms are dirty or the motor is failing. Cleaning it would be the obvious first step. Can you get to the mechanism by pulling off the mirror caps? Youtube has videos and it looks easy. From there, spray cleaner on it and test it again. You may also want to bring a toothpick or something to check that nothing is clogging it.

Yeah I need to find an easy way to get to the inside. I hate taking door panels apart, and I don't really have a place to do it either.

mcow · 03-22-2019, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, OK -

Well, if you park that close, how does one get out of the car -

humfrz

Couple of reasons. Here the parking lots are much tighter than in the US. Also we have millions of scooters zipping all over the road, especially towards the outside of the lane. We therefore tend to fold our mirrors when parked on the street to avoid mirrors getting hit. Thirdly, some roads are rather narrow here, so there are times when I have to retract my mirrors as I inch pass traffic to get through.

mcow · 03-22-2019, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

86 in Asia = This car is too damn big!
86 in NA = this car is too damn small!

Very true. One of the most popular cargo van here has a smaller foot print than the 86. And it really HAULS!

03-21-2019, 10:56 AM	#1
mcow Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Drives: Blue Location: Taiwan Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 35 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Power side mirrors not behaving! Hi all, I have a '15 GT86(I'm in Taiwan) clocking 70k km in mileage. So just after my warranty expired, my side power mirrors started to not retract or extend as I press the button. It's always random, sometimes the left doesn't move, sometimes it's the right side. Sometimes both work and sometimes both quit. It's happening more and more often so I've simply quit hitting the button altogether.... but it's just not cool. I've seen local owners having similar problems, but either they are within warranty and the dealer just replaced the whole unit, or they are out of warranty and decided to live with it. Some said just lubricate the motors and mechanical parts inside. Well, I'll have to dismantle it to get to the inside. So I still have no clue to what could be the problem. Google search, surprisingly, isn't helpful. Or perhaps I am missing something out there? So if it will be awesome if I can get some pointers or help here, and thanks in advance!

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03-21-2019, 12:16 PM	#5
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,866 Thanks: 28,787 Thanked 31,813 Times in 16,424 Posts Mentioned: 708 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	OR, just do it the old fashioned way, reach out and push on the glass part - humfrz

03-21-2019, 12:51 PM	#8
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,866 Thanks: 28,787 Thanked 31,813 Times in 16,424 Posts Mentioned: 708 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Oh, OK - Well, if you park that close, how does one get out of the car - humfrz

03-21-2019, 02:37 PM	#10
Brink Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Drives: 2017 BRZ Location: CA Posts: 665 Thanks: 200 Thanked 392 Times in 236 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	@ChrisJ might know something about this.

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