Rear View Mirror - Detaches From Windshield
Article No.94-17-2
08/24/94
REAR VIEW MIRROR - DETACHES FROM WINDSHIELD - SERVICE TIP
FORD:
1990-94 TEMPO
1990-95 CROWN VICTORIA, ESCORT, MUSTANG, TAURUS, THUNDERBIRD
1992-95 PROBE 1995 CONTOUR
LINCOLN-MERCURY:
1990-92 MARK VII
1990-94 TOPAZ
1990-95 CONTINENTAL, COUGAR, GRAND MARQUIS, SABLE, TOWN CAR
1991-95 TRACER
1993-95 MARK VIII
1995 MYSTIQUE
LIGHT TRUCK:
1990-95 AEROSTAR, BRONCO, ECONOLINE, EXPLORER, F-150-350 SERIES, RANGER
1993-95 VILLAGER
1995 WINDSTAR
ISSUE:
The rear view mirror assembly may detach from the windshield. This may be caused by:
^ High humidity conditions, which may cause the production adhesive to fail
^ Improper cleaning of the glass and the mirror button during repair process may cause the Rear View Mirror Adhesive service chemical to fail, resulting in repeat repairs
^ Use of expired or improperly stored service kits
^ Improper use of service kit.
ACTION:
Review the service kit expiration date, and use the revised cleaning and application procedures. Refer to the following procedures for service.
WARNING:
USE WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION. AVOID EYE CONTACT AND CONTACT WITH SKIN.
SERVICE KIT STORAGE AND EXPIRATION PROCEDURES
1. Avoid prolonged storage of Rear View Mirror Adhesive kits. Over time, the adhesive performance will degrade. Excessive storage temperatures and exposure to sunlight will also degrade the unused material. For these reasons, Ford recommends:
^ Rotating stock, using the oldest material first
^ Storing the adhesive kits in a cool, dry, dark place
^ Avoiding placement of display racks in direct sunlight
^ Using only repair kits that are less than one (1) year old.
2. You can determine the age of the material in the kit by checking the date code crimped in the plastic seal at the bottom of the adhesive squeeze tube. The date code format is shown in Figure 1.
^ The first character is a digit representing the last digit of the year the material was manufactured.
^ The second character is a letter representing the month of manufacture.
^ The remaining characters indicate the location where the material was produced.
This date represents the date the material was manufactured. Ford recommends that material older than one year old not be used to install interior rear view mirror assemblies. To enable dealership personnel to more easily determine the suitability of the material, the individual kits and the shipping box will be stamped with a "Use By" date. The new "Use By" label will be on all products made after June, 1994. Figure 2 shows the location of the "Use By" date on the back of each individual blister card and the shipping box.
SERVICE PROCEDURES
NOTE:
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES SUPERSEDE THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BACK OF THE ORIGINAL REAR VIEW MIRROR ADHESIVE PACKAGE.
NOTE:
THE MIRROR BUTTON IS OFTEN CALLED A BRACKET, AND THE WINDSHIELD IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS GLASS.
1. Make sure glass, bracket, and rear view mirror adhesive are at room temperature (65-75~F, 18-24~C).
^ If possible, the repair should be performed indoors. Do not perform the repair in direct sunlight.
^ If you must work outside, park the vehicle in a shaded area out of the direct sunlight.
^ The adhesive will not bond at temperatures less than 45~F (7~C), and will bond too quickly in direct sunlight.
2. Mark original location of bracket on outside of windshield with any appropriate marking tool (e.g., crayon, magic marker) before you begin.
NOTE:
SURFACES MUST BE CLEAN FOR PROPER BONDING TO OCCUR.
3. Use the following steps to ensure proper cleaning of glass and button:
a. Carefully remove thick layers of the old adhesive from the glass and the mirror button using a single edge razor blade.
b. Using a clean cloth saturated with isopropyl alcohol (obtain 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol locally), rub the glass and the mirror button to remove any remaining old adhesive. Soaking the mirror button in isopropyl alcohol may speed the adhesive removal process.
c. Rub the mirror button and the glass with a non-abrasive bathroom cleanser (obtain locally) to ensure all traces of the old adhesive have been removed.
NOTE:
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT NO TRACES OF CLEANSER OR ADHESIVE REMAIN ON THE GLASS OR THE MIRROR BUTTON.
d. Wipe the glass and the mirror button with a new, clean cloth saturated with isopropyl alcohol (or rubbing alcohol).
4. The accelerator vial contains a priming agent which speeds the adhesive curing process.
a. Grasp the paper wrapper around the vial and squeeze until the vial inside the paper wrapper breaks, releasing the accelerator to the felt tip on the end of the cylinder.
b. Cover the entire bonding area by applying a barely visible, but uniform, film of accelerator to an area larger than the mirror button "footprint" on the glass and to the entire mirror button bonding surface.
c. Let the accelerator dry for 3 minutes.
NOTE:
DO NOT TOUCH THE PRIMED SURFACES.
5. Squeeze only three (3) drops of adhesive in a line from top to bottom on the mirror button (Figure 3). It is not necessary to spread the adhesive.
NOTE:
MAKE SURE THE BUTTON IS POSITIONED PROPERLY FOR STEP 6. REPOSITIONING THE BUTTON, ONCE IN CONTACT WITH GLASS, WILL CAUSE THE ADHESIVE TO FAIL.
6. Position the mirror button in its proper location on the windshield (the rounded edge is pointing up). Press firmly for one full minute to ensure complete bonding. If mirror button is not firmly attached after more than one minute, remove button and repeat Steps 2 through 5.
7. Allow 5 minutes for adhesive to cure (with temperatures above 65~F, 18~C) and install rear view mirror to button. If temperature is between 45-65~F (7-18~C), use masking tape to firmly hold the button to the windshield and allow the adhesive to cure for at least 15 minutes.
PART NUMBER PART NAME CLASS
D9AZ-19554-CA Rear View Mirror Adhesive B
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Basic Warranty Coverage For 1990 Luxury; 1990 And 1991 Non-Luxury, All Others Eligible Under The Provisions Of Bumper To Bumper Warranty Coverage
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
941702A Re-Attach Rear View Mirror 0.5 Hr.
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
17698 03
OASIS CODES: 102000, 103000, 107000