My rearview mirror fell off.

And I'm crying over it.

from JoeUser Forums

I'm sitting here crying hot tears of frustration.

My rearview mirror fell off on Friday, and I can't get it back on. 

The whole entire thing fell off, and I have tried silicone glue - that didn't work - and one of those 2 step epoxy kits - that didn't work either.  I can't get it to stick back on.

And it has reduced me to a blubbing mess of estrogen fueled femininity.

I'm the girl who assisted in a felony methampehtamine arrest.  I'm the girl who tackled and took down a woman twice my size.  I'm the girl who talked 6' tall 250lb drunk assholes out of fights and into handcuffs.  I'm the girl who, gun in hand, cleared empty buildings when she found them unsecure, not knowing if there was an intruder inside or not. 

I did all that without fear, without tears...but a fucking rear view mirror has me bested.  It has me crying.  What the fuck??!! 

Can someone please explain to me just how this can be?  And additionally, what I'm doing wrong???  Why the stupid thing won't stick?

 

misc
9,890 views 32 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Not wanting to sound like too much of a redneck, but not being able to avoid it.. have you tried duct tape?

I can't rationalise or try to explain why it's got you down to tears (my guess would be just frustration at it)....

You did clean off the mirror and the glass before applying the glue right?
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
double sided sticky tape. The foam kind. That's how a lot of them are attached. You can find it at any office supply store.

-- B
Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Seems like maybe you might have hit a mental brick wall, and the mirror is the vent point for all that frustration...

Salaam. Maybe it's not the mirror, but something else. Think about it. The other bloggers seem to have worked out your mirror problem itself, but is there another problem you might have on your mind?

On Angel's Wings,
RFeathers
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

M - Yes, i scraped with a razor blade and cleaned with alcohol.  It still won't stick!  I had thought about duct tape, but I refuse to go that route...

Froggy...I'm just going to go buy a whole new mirror and bracket today, and start over again.  this one has fallen off 3 times in 3 years..I think it's time to replace it.

Razor - there's a lot of other life-altering stuff going on, so your analysis is probably correct.  This was the one thing that I had control over and I can't get it to work for/with me...incredibly frustrating.

Thanks, dudes, for your advice!

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
This was the one thing that I had control over

If this was the only thing you had control over, you're worse off than I thought.

Hang in there.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

Thanks, I think, Pseudo.

That's not really the only thing I had control over, but it was the focal point at the time.  I still don't have a lot of control over the rest of the garbage...it seems that the major decisions in my life have been made for me by the military for the past few months...but that's the way things are around the military, as you well know.

It doesn't help that I'm PMS-ing right now either (I know, that was more info than you needed right? ).

Screw it, I'm getting new tattoos and a new mirror today.  That'll make everything all better.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dharma -

Having been completely crap over the weekend and not answered anyone's comments on my blog, I'll answer your's here.

PMS is an evil bitch. I hope you feel better soon. I dropped a slice of ham the other day and cried for the waste of a poor little pig - now that's f**king rational! You know you're a clever clogs and you know you're just having a hard time right now. The mirror is just the proverbial straw, isn't it?

*hugs*

Suz xxx
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Awww Dharma, I know how you're feeling. You're a wise chick, you'll figure it out. Sometimes when things are bugging you but you find it tough to find an outlet for them, the little things allow you to vent. I know, doesn't make much sense, but since when did emotions make sense! You've got lots of exciting and new things coming up, enjoy them, and don't let them stress you, things will end up wicked.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Karen: I have been there! Ok, so it was the side mirror, not the rearview, but it would fly out on the highway and I would have to stop and go back for it. I tried everything, but finally a combination of superglue and double sided foam tape did the trick--but only after loads of tears and swears--and after the mirror had cracked in two and I was missing the bottom portion...

hang in there!
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Karen, not to sound like a smart ass, but you took the mirror off the bracket before trying to epoxy, right?  The weight of the mirror is too much for it, so it will fall off.  (Even the new one will, which will probably cost more than you want to spend).

Clean the glass really well, then wipe with alcohol. Clean the bracket with alcohol. Let them dry completely.  Use the epoxy kit made for rear view mirrors and attach only the bracket.  Now, the important part- let the bracket cure on the glass for at least 48 hours before attaching the mirror back on.  Glass is hard to bond to, so you really need it to cure or it'll pop back off.  For added security, apply clear silicon around the edges of the mirror once it is on the bracket pushing the silicon into any gaps then let it dry overnight before driving.

If that doesn't work, it's more likely a weak spot in your glass that has warped slightly versus the actual mirror.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
"Why the stupid thing won't stick?"

When I read about your mirror problem, the word "nailgun" popped into my mind.

As you've said, and I can guess, a lot of shit is happening in your life. So, don't mind a bunch of crying. Just let it all out. You'll feel better afterwards.

"Screw it, I'm getting new tattoos and a new mirror today. That'll make everything all better."

Grab a margarita(or other preferred mixed drink) too. That usually works.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

Karma...yes, I scraped all the old residue off and wiped it with alcohol.  I'm trying to adhere just the button to the glass..and it just won't stick.


I got a new mirror ensemble for $17 at the parts atore, and I'm going to try again in a slightly different spot on the glass tonight once it's cooled off a bit.  I don't think there's any point in trying to do it in 100 degree temps, that's just asking for failure!


No tattoos today....it's rally week and prices have jumped up, so I'm going to wait until we get to St Louis.

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dharma! I have been having the worst week this week. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I could sure use a couple rounds right about now! Have one with me, eh?

I resolved a long time ago to never ever buy a car that has the rearview mirror stuck to the glass. That's the deal breaker for me. Last year I bought a civic and the rear view mirror is attached to the ceiling. My previous car, a corolla, was too. Never a problem. (The new corollas don't do this; that's why I didn't buy one!) I know it's hindsight, but maybe when you buy a new one, you'll remember, you have options!

These last-straws are the worst. It's always the little things that break us.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top

Shulamite...I'll have a beer for you later on tonight!


You're correct in thinking the next time I go buy a vehicle I'm going to look and make sure that the rearview mirror isn't stuck to the glass! These things are a pain in the rear!


I've been successful thus far.....I reattached the button is a slightly different spot, and it's sticking!!  Yay!!  I'm going to let it 'cure' the rest of the afternoon and hope that when I go out there this evening to hang the mirror it stays stuck!

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

NONONONONOoooooooo

Let it cure 48 hours or prepare to cry again!


Ok!!  OK!!! 


'The Imperial Dragon'....I'll check it out.  Ya know, I don't mind paying for ink, but...when I got my infinity symbol done in March, I was charged $80 for it.  Now I go in and want a smaller tatt with less detail, and the price has jumped to $130 +...all because it's rally week.  The motel rooms are the same way..you can get a single room for $35 a night any other time of year, but anytime in August will cost you $99 and up for the same damn room!


*sigh* I'm going to go look at my mirror button again.....

Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

Dont you touch it! Gahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Yes, mom!

Whoo hoo!  Party at Sabrina's!

Seriously, what did you think of each other when you first saw each other in the flesh?  Was it odd or strange?

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think you're crying because you're so capable of all those things that are scary to other people...taking down large women, securing buildings, etc...a rearview mirror should be a piece of cake, right? Don't put so much pressure on yourself...no one expects you to be perfect (except, probably you...)
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hang in there Karen, It is always those little things that bite us in the ass.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I got a new mirror ensemble for $17 at the parts atore, and I'm going to try again in a slightly different spot on the glass tonight once it's cooled off a bit. I don't think there's any point in trying to do it in 100 degree temps, that's just asking for failure!


That was going to be my suggestion, dharma...do it in the evening when it's as cool as you can get.

Also, try to park in the shade and get one of those window shade thingies. This is a very common thing in the summer; basically the heat of the sun melts the glue.

You also might want to try icing that spot on the windshield from the other side before applying. Get the windshield nice and cool and give it a few hours to set.

(My guess as to why you're so upset over this probably has to do with the absence of your husband. It's usually the kind of thing wives hand off to husbands and say "here, you do it", and in those little things you tend to miss him. But that may be just the psychologist in me talking [sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, right?])

Anyway, good luck. Let us know how it turns out.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

I fixed it!!!  Yay for me!!! 

Gideon...you're right.  It IS the kind of thing that, had I failed, I'd have given to Dave to fix.  But here's not here, and it's just me...and i'll be damned if i'm going to go asking other people for help with a rearview mirror!

Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top

Yay, dharma!  Glad it worked!  Glass is odd.  There are tons of debates over if it is a solid or liquid or neither (their are scientist who put glass in its own catagory).  It's odd stuff because it can warp or erode in odd places.  I do stained glass work, and I've seen some really odd glass over the years.

If I failed at a rear view mirror like project my husband would probably just give me some "tips" and walk away.  He doesn't care about "small" stuff like that, but it's the small stuff that drives me crazy.  I've learned a lot of skills that way though, !

How long until Dave's home?  Maybe you're just getting nervous and want everything to be "right" when he returns. 

Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sometimes, when things dont stick together again, let them just take a clean break, what do you say, DG ?
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

How long until Dave's home? Maybe you're just getting nervous and want everything to be "right" when he returns.


10 days, and yes, I am nervous.  I dont really care about everything being 'right' because my house is full of boxes and half-packed stuff...which only adds to my frustration!  I just felt helpless, I guess...and I detest feeling like that because I'm not.  I'm not going to be one of these girly women who asks for help with everything and is afraid of breaking a nail!

Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top

Sometimes, when things dont stick together again, let them just take a clean break, what do you say, DG ?


That's very profound...

Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
I find that pretty interesting. Last week, my brother's van rear view mirror fell off, and bro just glued it on using some kind of glass glue (designed for rear view) and let it set for just 10 minutes. It's still attached now.