So Fix it

Seatbelts are an essential tool to staying safe while driving. Statistics show a 50% increase in survival rate when wearing a seatbelt during a crash. However, a seatbelt or belt buckle that is damaged in any way wont provide the protection you need. Do not attempt to repair damaged seatbelts or belt buckles, they should be replaced by a professional mechanic at a trusted auto body shop. Heres how to go about setting up repair of your seatbelt buckle.

Instructions

Getting your seatbelt buckle repaired

1

Stop by the auto body shop you use and show them the damaged buckle.

2

Set up a time to have the seatbelt/buckle replaced. If you have the time, have the belt replaced that day, as it may take a couple hours. Otherwise, make an appointment for another day.

3

The shop will make the repairs.

4

Pick up the car and pay any costs you owe.

The plastic side mirror on the Chrysler Town and Country attaches to the small electronic motor mounted inside the large plastic mirror assembly bolted to the side of the door. A broken mirror breaks in two different ways. The mirror cracks but stays intact or the mirror completely shatters into pieces. The process for replacement differs for each situation.

Instructions

Cracked

1

Push one side of the mirror into the plastic assembly. If you replace the driver mirror, push the right side of the mirror into the assembly. If replacing the passenger mirror, push the left side of the mirror into the assembly. This pushes the other end of the mirror out of the assembly.

2

Slide your fingers behind the plastic mirror and press your thumb against the front of the mirror. Pull the mirror out of the assembly. The mirror attaches to the motor with four metal clips. As you pull on the mirror, the clips spread apart and the mirror comes off the motor.

3

Place the new mirror into the assembly. The tight tolerance of the assembly forces the metal tabs into the correct location for mounting the mirror.

4

Push on the center of the mirror to spread the metal tabs around the motor. You will feel the mirror seat onto the motor.

Shattered

5

Remove the pieces of the broken mirror from the assembly. The mirror is plastic so there is less chance you will get cut by the plastic shards.

6

Sweep the remaining small pieces of plastic out of the assembly. Any sized piece of plastic could wedge between the mirror and the assembly and cause the mirror to get jammed inside the assembly. This prevents you from adjusting the mirror. Use a sweeper with a hose attachment.

7

Place the new mirror into the assembly. The tight tolerance of the assembly forces the metal tabs into the correct location for mounting the mirror.

8

Push on the center of the mirror to spread the metal tabs around the motor. You will feel the mirror seat onto the motor.

The side view mirror on most late-model domestic and import vehicles connects to an electric motor located inside a larger plastic mirror enclosure that bolts to the side of the door. The enclosure is made of highly durable ABS plastic to help reduce the likelihood of breaking the mirror if struck by a passing car. On occasion, the mirror, not the enclosure, takes a direct impact and the mirror cracks. If this happens, you can replace the mirror without replacing the enclosure.

Instructions

1

Push one side of the mirror into the enclosure. If changing the driver mirror, push the right side of the mirror into the enclosure. If you are changing the passenger mirror, push the left side of the mirror into the enclosure. This pushes the other side of the mirror out of the enclosure so you can reach behind it.

2

Grasp the mirror by wrapping your fingers behind the mirror and pressing on the face with your thumb. Pull the mirror out of the assembly. The mirror glass has a metal clasp on the back that holds the mirror onto the mirror motor inside the enclosure. Pulling on the mirror releases the clasp and allows the mirror to pop off the motor.

3

Place the new mirror into the enclosure with the same side pushed into the enclosure. Pop the clasp back onto the mirror motor by pushing on it until you hear it snap into place.

Jeep introduced the Wrangler model in 1987 and continued the YJ version until 1995. The door panel on the 1994 Jeep Wrangler can be removed to access the interior components of the door. Speakers and door lock assemblies often need maintenance, and removing the door panel is the only way to access them. The panel in each model-year of Jeep Wrangler is identical and removed the same way.

Instructions

1

Remove the two Phillips head screws that hold the interior door handle in place. There is a screw at each end of the handle.

2

Remove the Phillips head screw on the door handle lock mechanism.

3

Pry off the plastic panel from the metal surround with a flat head screwdriver. Place the screwdriver between the plastic panel and the metal door and slide it in between until each plastic clip has been removed. Work around the door in a clockwise fashion until the panel is removed.

4

Disconnect the locking rods from the interior door handle. The locking rods connect to the handle and need to be pulled up through the bracket manually to be removed.

5

Remove the panel and place it on a flat surface. If the panel needs to be re-installed, do so in the reverse order of removal.

Replacing a damaged or non-working powered mirror on the passenger side of a 2005 Toyota Camry requires removing the interior door panel to access the wire harness connection. Removing the panel and replacing the mirror is a fairly benign procedure that can save do-it-yourself enthusiasts both time and money. After-market mirrors may fit the Camry directly, but do not come painted (if the Camry is equipped with painted mirrors). Paint it prior to installation, or order one from the dealership with the correct paint code.

Instructions

1

Open the passenger door and then power down the window. Turn the ignition key into the Off position.

2

Pry off the sail trim piece (opposite the side mirror above the door panel) using the plastic pry tool.

3

Pry off the door handle trim piece (surrounding the door handle) using the plastic pry tool.

4

Pry off the small rectangular trim panel in the arm rest pull cup with the plastic pry tool.

5

Pry off the small, round vanity plug from the door panel (located near the top front section of the interior door panel) with the plastic trim tool.

6

Remove the five screws from the interior door panel with the Phillips head screwdriver. One is located under the small, round vanity cap (removed), one is located in the door handle assembly, one is located in the arm rest pull cup (revealed from trim removal) and the last two are located at the bottom of the door panel (visible).

7

Pry the window control module upward away from the arm rest of the interior door panel with the plastic pry tool and then unplug the wired connectors from under the module. Squeeze the plug clips to release it from the mating plugs of the module.

8

Remove the last screw holding the door panel (revealed underneath the window control module) with the screwdriver.

9

Pry the door panel away from the door frame with the plastic pry tool. Start at the bottom and then work up the left and right side of the panel to unseat the hidden panel clips from the door frame.

10

Pull slightly upward on the door panel, but do not try to remove it. Pull it far away from the door frame to reach behind and disconnect the door handle rod and locking mechanism near the door handle. Remove the door panel and set aside so no damage can occur to it.

11

Disconnect the wire harness coming from the powered mirror (approximately 4 inches below the mirror).

12

Remove the three mirror nuts from the studs with the 10mm nut driver, but brace the mirror with one hand (through the open window area) when removing the last one. The mirror may stay connected (stuck) to the door, but if it does fall loose, bracing it will prevent if from incurring damage to the exterior door and paint.

13

Install the new mirror and then replace the interior door panel by reversing the procedure.