12 February 2013

Car repair

I am a blossoming car mechanic. Years ago I already prided myself in changing my tires and replacing a smashed blinking light when I had smashed the original one. But now I added another feat to this list! The last time I needed wing mirror repair, when someone had kindly kicked both off, I went to the garage and had them do it. One of my caving mates said it isn't very hard to replace them yourself, and he offered to help. But I wanted it done fast: a vandalised car attracts more vandalism. The garage fitted two shiny new mirrors.

Only months later I was again confronted with a dangling mirror; this time probably an accident. I decided to have a try myself. I phoned around to some local car scrappers, but none had the right type of mirror, so I ended up buying another new one. It's a bit silly: a 19 year old car with the newest possible mirrors, but well, what can one do.

What it was like first

Improvised repair

On Friday I googled how one replaces a wing mirror. Looked simple! On Saturday I bought my mirror. On Sunday I fitted it. It is quite easy! Even though it's awkward; the padding of the door, and the steering wheel, and all sorts of other car parts get in the way. But I have a mirror again, that doesn't need tape to stay in position! I did keep the old one; thanks to the tape, it is able to stay up. One never knows when the next helpful citizen thinks my car makes an excellent recipient for random frustration. I hope it won't be soon...
Step 1: getting the plastic cover off.


Step 2: getting the whole thing off. Looks very naked!


Step 3: putting the new one in!

1 comment:

  1. If you own an auto, you are likely to more often than not need to have auto body repairs made sooner or later. The good news is, it is possible to try to find several auto body repair shops on the internet to refurbish wrecked vehicles immediately after traffic collisions and other car accidents.

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