Drivers side folding mirror issue

[H4wkeye]

So, I locked the car today, the mirrors folded normally. Then later when I unlocked, the passenger mirror unfolded but the driver one didn't. So I used the hand to gently unfold it. It feels like it fell out of socket or something? It feels very loose and I can wiggle it back and forth on the folding axis a little with no resistance (the other one has resistance and can't easily move by hand). If I fold the mirrors, I can hear the motor start up for a sec.

Can I do something myself, or do I run to a garage? Cheers.

[darbuck]

It sounds like your motor is toast you could try and replace the motor or just get a new mirror from a breakers yard and swap it out.

[H4wkeye]

Cheers. I will take it to a car electrician to check it.

[H4wkeye]

Update: Checked again during the day, heard the motor actually works, so I used my hand to "help" it and the window folded normally. Then it unfolded fine as well. Seems it got stuck last night and then fell out of socket or something? Nudging it a bit helped it "reengage". Will keep an eye on it.

[GiveMeABreak]

They are designed to disengage to prevent some damage if knocked out of alignment, so can be manually moved 180 °. Moving the mirror manually and then operating the remote several times will resynchronise them, assuming the plastic gearing hasn't worn down.

[darbuck]

Great to hear you got sorted, interesting to hear they're designed to do that.i had suspected the gearing was damaged from your description.

[H4wkeye]

They are designed to disengage to prevent some damage if knocked out of alignment, so can be manually moved 180 °. Moving the mirror manually and then operating the remote several times will resynchronise them, assuming the plastic gearing hasn't worn down.

Ah, I did not know that Marc, thanks! Yeah, so far it seems to be working fine. I engaged the lock, pushed the mirror a bit towards the car to help it and it engaged and closed. Then unlocked, it opened. Relocked, it closed.

Great to hear you got sorted, interesting to hear they're designed to do that.i had suspected the gearing was damaged from your description.

Same. I thought the gear inside fell out of alignment or something, or broke. It's interesting that you can indeed move it 180 degrees freely. There are limiters but you just push it a bit more and it goes over it and then can move all the way outwards.

[darbuck]

Hmm I must remember that.

[H4wkeye]

Well it stopped working yet again! Guess I gotta have it checked. Its like its being jammed by something. The motor will engage for a sec and then disengage.

Is it possible that it needs cleaning or something? Like can dirt or whatever get inside and clog the mechanism?

[GiveMeABreak]

On our previous C3 I used a load of silicon oil spray in the swivel part to lubricate the mechanism. It was getting stuck where one mirror occasionally wouldn't open. It took some weeks to work through but gradually improved it and eventually returned to normal performance.

I can't say if this will help in your situation. It may be that the gearing is starting to wear in some parts of the mechanism.

[H4wkeye]

I actually have some silicone spray. Can I just spray it as is, or does it need the plastic removed? I guess I can try that and if it doesn't work, take it to a car electrician.

Edit: Also is there a difference between silicone OIL spray and just silicone spray?

[GiveMeABreak]

I used the directional plastic tube to try and target it where I can. Not perfect, but there was limited option and I wasn't prepared to attempt a mirror dismantle.

As for the product It may have different names - but I suspect it is similar.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GT85-Spray-Lub ... 36679&th=1

[H4wkeye]

Yeah it does appear similar. I will attempt the spray method as well. Thanks for the suggestions Marc!

Also can the folding function be disabled? I remember something about turning the ignition on and holding the folding button on the door for like 5-10 seconds. Not sure if it was for X7 though.

[GiveMeABreak]

It can be deactivated from the fob via Diagbox, but here's an extract from the manual that can prevent automatic folding and unfolding:

[H4wkeye]

So if I understood it right if you lock the car so that mirrors fold and then unfold the mirrors via control switch they will stay unfolded? Until you reengage them with the control switch again.