Rear view mirror and windshield

[thayercroft]

My mirror fell off yesterday and while screwing around with gluing the plate back on I managed to crack the windshield. So two questions: Does anybody know how to detach the mirror form the power cord as it's just hanging there right now. And; I'm afraid to ask about the availability of windshields for Elans here in the States, anyone done it recently?
Thanks.

[wayne]

replaced 1 a few years ago and from what I remember you have to take the trim panel off above the mirror and it just unplugs.

Afraid I can't help with the windscreen in the US. I once ordered 1 from the UK from paul mattys was well packaged but the shipping was $$$

[tigerdog]

I think I remember once reading the windshield is common with the late 80s Isuzu Impulse. I'll try to find that online reference and take this out of the realm of unconfirmed rumor.

[DeanG]

Call a local glass shop & Dave Bean Engineering but not necessarily in that order.

[thayercroft]

Thanks,
I figured removing the mirror might involve taking the trim panel off.
As far as the windshield goes; Golden Gate Lotus has the '91 Isuzu Impulse windshield listed as a replacement cross reference, but I haven't found anything on this forum to confirm that. It would be great as the Isuzu glass is only about $300.
I'll probably end up getting in touch with Dave Bean which is local to me.

[tweetdriver63]

Thanks,
I figured removing the mirror might involve taking the trim panel off.
As far as the windshield goes; Golden Gate Lotus has the '91 Isuzu Impulse windshield listed as a replacement cross reference, but I haven't found anything on this forum to confirm that. It would be great as the Isuzu glass is only about $300.
I'll probably end up getting in touch with Dave Bean which is local to me.

Personally, I'd say there's no way in hell the Impulse windscreen is the same glass. I had a '91 Impulse for many years, and it's windscreen didn't have near the curvature the Elan's does. Of course, there are stranger things than are dreamed of in my philosophy. It probably couldn't hurt to see if your local glass shop can get you the Impulse glass to check it out. If it ain't right, I'm sure they'd just send it back to their supplier, but I think there is approximately zero percent chance it's the same.

Whatever you do, if you don't get the glass from the Lotus supplier, make sure you do your homework and don't get cheap stuff. The windscreen glass is an important part of the strength of the car's structure in an accident. For example, the so-called support the windsreen frame is supposed to supply in the event of a roll-over (by roll-over, I of course mean, "your death") is dependent on the glass being the proper type, and properly installed.

[tigerdog]

...Golden Gate Lotus has the '91 Isuzu Impulse windshield listed as a replacement cross reference...

I knew I wasn't imagining this!

[thayercroft]

Given the shape and angle of the windshield I can't imagine the Isuzu is a replacement either. I have the Sekurit number off of it so I'll eventually call a glass company and see if they match.

[Pascal]

Hello everyone,

my central rear mirror fell down this afternoon.

the history is :
- when I bought the car 2 years ago, the windscreen was cracked (at Mirror location), and a Ford fiesta light Mirror was glued in place.
As the crack was evolving, i had the screen changed last year.

- I was then wondering about the original mirror (the car seller gave it to me as spare) : it is heavy, on a long arm and its pad is small ...
I was not very confident having it glued again.
( I remember my other cars, 20 years ago, loosing their glued mirror for the same reason)

- finnally the professional who changed the screen fixed the mirror.
After 8 monthes, it fell down today.

Have you got this problem, did you replace the Mirror for another lighter one (or with a wider pad) ?

I just hesitate to fix it again, and maybe risk to loose it again or - worse - crack the screen ???


Thanks for info,

Pascal from France.

[wayne]

Hi Pascal

I had my windscreen replaced adout 12 years ago. I re attached the mirror pad with a glass adhesive I purchased locally.. still stuck to the windshield after 12 years Make sure you clean the pad and windscreen well before attaching. Also make sure you place it correctly. Once attached. It will NOT come off.

I noticed it in the local shop a couple of weeks ago
Happy to post you some over if you can not get it locally. Providing you can wait a couple of weeks.
I'm in Austria untill the 15 March.

[rip]

I tried several adhesives when my mirror dropped off.
I gave the mirror & glass a good clean with meths before each attempt..

Mirror adhesive - held for a few minutes
Superglue - held for a few minutes
Superglue gel - same
Evostick Impact adhesive - no good.
False nail adhesive (suggestion of Dapinky) - Completely useless. It was like water.
Superglue (2nd attempt) - still there after 18 months.

Holding the mirror still for long enough for the glue to set is harder than it sounds...but I think it is the key to making it stick.

[rip]

Personally, I'd say there's no way in hell the Impulse windscreen is the same glass.

The Impulse was not a UK model but having just viewed it on the net, I agree with you.

[Jeemy]

I had this a few weeks back, and decided the best thing for sticking a heavy rear view mirror on would be 2-part clear epoxy. Its held firm so far.

[Pascal]

Thank you,

has anyone faced a cracked screen at this point ?

When I bought the car, I noticed that a bit of glass was missing there, wondering if some material broke and followed the pad.
Alternatively i was wondering if the previous user could have grinded the glass with Dremmel to stick with 2C époxy or whatever else.

The result was a vertical crack, 7 inches long, ans slowly but surely progressing down. I decided to replace the screen when 9inches approx.

Pascal

[Pascal]

Jeemy,
did you hold the pad the whole night or did you put the car upside down ?

Pascal

[wayne]

Thank you,

has anyone faced a cracked screen at this point ?

When I bought the car, I noticed that a bit of glass was missing there, wondering if some material broke and followed the pad.
Alternatively i was wondering if the previous user could have grinded the glass with Dremmel to stick with 2C époxy or whatever else.

The result was a vertical crack, 7 inches long, ans slowly but surely progressing down. I decided to replace the screen when 9inches approx.

Pascal

When I removed the pad from the old screen it was very difficult to remove and still had some of the glass stuck to it. I had to grind this from the pad before re attaching it to the new screen.

[Jeemy]

Jeemy,
did you hold the pad the whole night or did you put the car upside down ?

Pascal

It was fine mate! I used very cheap 2-part epoxy from B&Q. The pad virtually stuck on straight away, I let it cure for a minute or so before applying, and made sure the surfaces were clean. I held it on with masking tape and let it cure for an hour and a half, thats all I had, then I stuck the RV mirror on and drove 700 miles.

[Pascal]

I finally used the mirror -screen Loctite, designed for that use.
It is expensive ( 11 GBP approx) ,
a small tube of glue is delivered, with a thin but stiff cloth you have to cut at the pad dimension and glue between in.
I think the cloth has two functions,
1° to compensate the dilatations when sunny
2° to set an accurate an regular thickness of the glue film.
(3° they also write it contains a catalysor)

This product looks serious. Holds in place after a couple of minutes.

If you do so, i advise to cut the cloth a bit wider than the pad ( + 1mm all around) because when gluying you (I did) slide a bit and loose some contact surface - and the pad is already too small.

Of course i shall let you know after a couple of weeks if or .
Pascal