I have a 2000 Ram Van 1500. Today my rear view mirror fell off the windshield. I've searched for information on remounting, but my hardware is unlike others described on remounting kit sites. Mine is a steel mount tab with a clear plastic flexible film-like sheet that fits between it and the windshield. When it came off it left no adhesive residue on the glass, none obvious on the film sheet on the glass side, and maybe a little on the film sheet on the steel mount side. It's like this thing stayed put by suction for ten years, but I doubt that could be. My guess is that I need to retain the clear plastic film, clean it, and add adhesive to both sides of it and remount? None of the kits I've located are designed for this hardware type -- clear plastic film sheet between steel tab and windshield. Can anyone help please?

 

i would throw some crazy glue on it and be done with it

 

i'll guess that what appears to be clear plastic film is actually the old glue.
try to locate the original spot from being clean or dirty and mark it
use the windshield kit, put new glue on your metal piece and stick it on.

 

When I say film, it has a substantial uniform thickness, about the width of a dime, or just a bit thinner. This clear plastic "film" must be a clear double-sided tape? The adhesive just died and is gone with no trace. It peeled off the glass on one side, and peeled off the metal tab on the other, like a post-it note peels, leaving no trace of adhesive. And it no longer is adhesive. The challenge here seems to include selecting another shock absorbing substance between the glass and metallic tab. It just seems to me that trying to mount a metal object to glass with a drop of glue will be tough. Maybe double sided tape would work?

 

Any auto parts store will have rear view mirror adhesive and there will be instructions on the package.

 

I already bought one, then watched a Youtube on the product, and I don't think it will work. The products I've found all seem to be designed to mount a plastic-like tab to glass. Some come with an activator wipe for glass and tab, others also include sand paper to rough up the tab. The ones I've seen so far all ultimately use a drop of glue. What had me confused was the clear tape that was used in my installation. I'm thinking now that I need to use a double-sided tape just as appears to have been used in my factory installation. Guess I'll try first using a 3-m double-sided tape that I used to mount small wide-angle mirrors on my large side mirrors. Hope the tape can handle the weight.

 

Loctite rear view mirror adhesive. That's what it's made for.Simple as that. Tape will not work,the sun will soften the glue on the tape and the thing will just fall off.

 

When my inside rear view mirror falls off, I just leave it off...... Got a better view thru the windshield, and no one is tempted to hang silly things like air fresheners from the mirror, witch are a distraction to the driver. (yes, I am ****. Sue me. )

Law here says you MUST have TWO rear view mirrors. It does NOT specify where those mirrors have to be.

 

When the mirror fell off my Dakota it also left a film that that just peeled off. Just use the mirror glue and be done with it, you're overthinking something that's rather simple.

 

And tape did not work. Wouldn't hold. Locktite looks good. From: http://www.thistothat.com/faq/mirror.shtml

Rear View Mirrors

We are amazed at the number of rear view mirror to windshield requests we get regularly, and for this reason, we researched this exact bonding challenge.

It is a difficult one; firstly because glass does not have adherent qualities, also due to the awkward angle a clamp is impossible, and ideally a glue that does not break down under UV is preferable. What we would like to know is why the automobile manufacturers have not addressed this problem?

After testing several products we recommend:

Loctite 349 Impruv

for the windshield to rear view mirror dilemma because we know it is UV rated and optically clear. We tried Seal-All but were less impressed.

Another tip to keep in mind when you buy your next car... some have the rear view mirror coming from the ceiling of the car.

A This to That reader adds...

A couple days ago the dealer suggested (and I bought) Loctite Professional Strength Rearview Mirror Adhesive. It's the glue they use in the dealership to adhere mirrors that have fallen off. It is listed as a GM part number, Ford part number, and Chrysler part number. Manufacturer is Loctite Corp, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

This tube is allegedly "ODC Free" - whatever that is. However, it contains a warning that it is "extremely flammable" and contains hexane, acrylic acid, and methacrylate ester. Another note says the State of California has found that one of these chemicals is carcinogenic.

We suspect this is is just Loctite 349 with another name - and what a fine name!

Another fine reader tipped us off that ODC is Ozone Depleting Chemicals. Thanks, interesting.