Floppy Mirror

[SLITHYTOVE]

Have a 92 SVX with a floppy interior rear view mirror. Need to remove it but don't have instructions. Has anyone had experience with this problem??
Thanks

[CorSVXette]

Originally Posted by SLITHYTOVE

Have a 92 SVX with a floppy interior rear view mirror. Need to remove it but don't have instructions. Has anyone had experience with this problem??
Thanks

Yea. I got the same problem with my 95. Mine pretty much stays where I put it but it is very loose. Don't know how long it will last before I have to fix it also. Hope we get an answer.
Paul.

[crazyhorse]

Must be a Subie thing. My '97 Leggy has the same problem. The stereo wil actually vibrate it downward. & I have no amp, or subs!

[billb]

I had this problem and bought a new one on ebay. It's easy to remove the old one. There's a plastic cover that pops off. Under the cover are the bolts holding the bracket. Use a small screwdriver to pop off that plastic cover. Be gentle. You don't want to break the plastic tabs.

I never did find a way to tighten up the old one.

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Must be a Subie thing. My '97 Leggy has the same problem. The stereo wil actually vibrate it downward. & I have no amp, or subs!

On the 97, an allen or torx wrench should tighten that up just fine.

[SLITHYTOVE]

I think I have a solution to the floppy mirror problem. Mine is caused by cracked plastic socket, if you pull hard enough the metal ball will pull from the socket. Fitted some thin rubber ( I used a piece of rubber membrane material from an old TV remote control) place the piece at the back of the socket and push the ball end back in. Still easy to adjust but stays firm.
Ron

[shelfy]

Originally Posted by SLITHYTOVE

I think I have a solution to the floppy mirror problem. Mine is caused by cracked plastic socket, if you pull hard enough the metal ball will pull from the socket. Fitted some thin rubber ( I used a piece of rubber membrane material from an old TV remote control) place the piece at the back of the socket and push the ball end back in. Still easy to adjust but stays firm.
Ron

i will try this before i throw my original one out.

[paulmeisterpk]

I'm going to try that too. That's been bugging the crap out of me!

[subru92svx]

I just installed an autodimming mirror with a built in compass from a 2002 Forester in my SVX. I believe I spent about 80.00 on it brand new off Ebay and just installed it myself. I am really happy with the way it looks and works.

[Hocrest]

Originally Posted by subru92svx

I just installed an autodimming mirror with a built in compass from a 2002 Forester in my SVX. I believe I spent about 80.00 on it brand new off Ebay and just installed it myself. I am really happy with the way it looks and works.

Did it have three wires? Do you have the pinouts for it?

[YourConfused]

Ooh, I want a auto dim one. Details please.

[subru92svx]

Alllll the details are going to make one long post.

[YourConfused]

locker, pm or email? I want details if an svx-er can give them. Please.

[SVXBart]

Details PleaSe!!!

[subru92svx]

I had wanted one for awhile and had been doing a lot of research, but all the universal autodimming mirrors I found on ebay and different websites were either odd shaped or the compass lit up blue. I wanted one that lights up green to match the rest of the dash lights, clock, etc. I finally got the bright idea just to use an actual Subaru mirror when I saw them for sale at my local dealer as upgrades for a lot of the newer Subaru cars. The one I actually used is part #H5010LS001 from a 2002/2003 Forester - so the box says. I'm sure you could use just about anyone you wanted though. I also had to order the metal mounting clip that has to be glued to the windshield since that's how the autodimming mirrors mount in the new Subaru's.

First I removed the cover that is over the screws holding the stock mirror onto the ceiling. Then I removed the stock mirror, but I didn't want the spot where it was removed from to be noticeable so I cut the stock aluminum L-shaped mirror bracket just big enough so I could remount it on the ceiling with the stock screws and short enough so that when the plastic cover was clipped back up it would hide the mounting screws and the piece of the old bracket which is what the plastic cover clips to. I measured and remeasured spending quite awhile figuring out exactly where to place the mounting tab on the windsheild so that when the mirror was installed it would be perfectly centered between the sunvisors and on the windsheild. I had to also make sure the sunvisors would not hit the mirror when they were pulled down. I finally found out exactly where to mount it and marked the spot with a sharpie. Then I ran up to Autozone and bought one of Permatex mirror glue kits(big mistake). I followed all the directions exactly, but as soon as I let go of the tab after two minutes of holding it in place it just fell right off the windsheild. The second time I tried the glue one more time and this time it stuck to the windsheild, but as soon as I tried to mount the mirror it fell right off again. I finally went to a local auto glass replacement and window tinting shop that used some glue they had. They glued it right in the spot I had marked for them. The glue they had worked really well. I don't think its ever going to come off now. I finally got the mirror mounted and then all I had to do was wire it up.

The wiring harness consist of three wires (Green, Blue, and Black). The wiring harness has connectors at both ends. One end plugs into the back of the mirror and the other would plug into a connector that the newer Subarus have tucked away up in the headliner behind the map lights so that upgrading to an auto-dimming mirror is just plug and play, but since the SVX doesn't have that connector just waiting for an auto-dimming to be installed I just cut that connector off. Then I removed the sunroof controls/spot lights and worked the wiring harness up behind the headliner starting at the top of the windsheild. I reached through the hole in the headliner where the sunroof/spot light controls used to be and pulled the harness back until all the extra wire was pulled up into the headliner. I decided to get my power source from tapping into the sunroof/spot light power source. I used my multimeter and started probing around to find a constant power source, an ignition controlled on/off power source, and a good ground. It's been awhile so I can't remember exactly which wires I spliced into, but I could check mine out soon so all the testing with a multimeter is not needed on your part.

Once all the wires are hooked up and everything works properly you need to calibrate the compass to have it read the right direction. I called the dealer to find out how, but they said they had no clue so I finally found out how on NASIOC. I would tell you how myself If I could remember exactly how. I believe you just drive the car in two or three circles and it calibrates itself.

All my friends that have seen my mirror say that it looks like the car came with it and that it looks really good. I have a few pics, but I never have much luck getting them posted in a thread at a good viewable size. I could email them to someone and then they could try and post them. I hope this little how-to description helps everybody interested in doing the swap. Sorry this post is so long. I just wanted to make sure I mentioned the problems I ran into so as to save someone else from having the same ones.