Auto Fold Option on Outside Mirrors Stopped Working

[JCMSr]

It appears that the automatic fold option for both of my outside mirrors has stopped working. Took it to the local Chev dealer and all they said it that the motors are "worn out" and I should replace the entire mirror assemblies. At the price quoted this is not happening. I have searched everything I can find on the GM site and looked at all of their parts diagrams for this mirror. There seems to be basically 6 parts that make up this assembly: The Gasket, Housing, Actuator, Mirror Glass, Courtesy Lamp and Lamp Bulb. I was told by the dealter that the fold motor is part of the housing and is located in the "stem". They further stated that the actuator only controls the up/down and left/right features of the power mirror. GM Parts tells me that the actuator also controls the fold feature. Who should I believe. The actuators can be r.eplaced for around $210 for parts while I can but after market mirrors assemblies for both mirrors for around $300. My current mirrors are color coded to my paint (White Diamond). If I change the entire assembly my options are Black, Chrome or Primed. Not wanting the added expense of painting the covers I would like to just either purchase the actuators or if I have to buy the full assembly I would look into swapping out appropriate parts and using my original housing. Has anyone else out there run into this problem and would care to offer a solution?

Thanks,

Jack

Mirror Assembly Part #25788564 Opions: Automatic Power Folding, Turn Signal Indicator in mirror, Blind Side Indicator, Heated, Memory Settings, Puddle Light. Approximate Cost (parts only) $493.40

Glass Actuator Part #25808705 Approximate Cost $108-$150 each

 

[mikez71]

@Doubeleive can tell you!

But the mirror actuator and the folding motor are two seperate actuators.

 

[Doubeleive]

It appears that the automatic fold option for both of my outside mirrors has stopped working. Took it to the local Chev dealer and all they said it that the motors are "worn out" and I should replace the entire mirror assemblies. At the price quoted this is not happening. I have searched everything I can find on the GM site and looked at all of their parts diagrams for this mirror. There seems to be basically 6 parts that make up this assembly: The Gasket, Housing, Actuator, Mirror Glass, Courtesy Lamp and Lamp Bulb. I was told by the dealter that the fold motor is part of the housing and is located in the "stem". They further stated that the actuator only controls the up/down and left/right features of the power mirror. GM Parts tells me that the actuator also controls the fold feature. Who should I believe. The actuators can be r.eplaced for around $210 for parts while I can but after market mirrors assemblies for both mirrors for around $300. My current mirrors are color coded to my paint (White Diamond). If I change the entire assembly my options are Black, Chrome or Primed. Not wanting the added expense of painting the covers I would like to just either purchase the actuators or if I have to buy the full assembly I would look into swapping out appropriate parts and using my original housing. Has anyone else out there run into this problem and would care to offer a solution?

Thanks,

Jack

Mirror Assembly Part #25788564 Opions: Automatic Power Folding, Turn Signal Indicator in mirror, Blind Side Indicator, Heated, Memory Settings, Puddle Light. Approximate Cost (parts only) $493.40

Glass Actuator Part #25808705 Approximate Cost $108-$150 each

If you have some basic tools and a little patience, you can fix the power fold in about 45 minutes per side.
what happens is the little gear inside splits/cracks then it just spins in place... so you just need to replace the little gear, (you can verify by pressing the fold button and either listening carefully or have a helper either listen close to the mirror or have them press the button while you listen. if you hear a grrrrrr noise you know the gear is cracked
i recommend this china replacement for one because it is a direct replacement, when you get into all metal ones it's a problem such as fitment is just not "right" and if using all metal can ground the motor out and blows fuses and you may have to spend time grinding and screwing around.
this one is fine and you need 2 of them one for each side mirror
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184616350666?_skw=Power+Folding+Rearview+Mirror+Side+Gear+for+Chevy+GMC+Cadillac+SUV+Truck+07-14&epid=17031310118&itmmeta=01JJD3Z30Y3H5R9QRESHSKEPSZ&hash=item2afbfdf3ca:g:YJMAAOSwzRhhCwri&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAABEHoV3kP08IDx+KZ9MfhVJKmEmb4bbh88mnQikxr5i1IrOjEqtLQF+4dEI/Wm1jiLMPNxlEsQi4hQ6dNaROLgDpa6DDqkakSO4VGJEXfk30nB1sBwOLaJxlLmCwMQmtVZm5gPTBNkh/cYh7pH1b6Fki25+dCma52HcrkqmIeAE09Z+dNb3fTEBY0RUWgoRTtjyTPvmjqFWb641uSj4Zwta2BX5yaLtKFqYdp47IkPo5agfWMWEzL6hbFytk75L5rCzulM8oM8qEswYS9T7WjbgrKMy1UaNLTJ8yoFylFqsFomjGD71QbC9QmTg3mziaWQTbo/UDy03SaF3LQlwIo9FxDJo3yRGje6rBLeOn5RM4qG|tkp:Bk9SR-Sw_KOTZQ

****if you use the costly gruven part as he suggest's in the following video, your going to be doing extra work I can assure you, just use the one I linked above

***ALSO BE AWARE, due to age the plastic mirror cover (the painted one) tends to become pretty brittle over time and it's 90% likely some of the little clips will break when removing the cover so try your best to be very careful pulling it off, in most cases it will go back on ok and stay on even with a couple broken clips but just a heads up.

and this video is a basic rundown of how to do it, if you are just replacing the gear you do not need to go beyond replacing the gear, just take out the broken one and put in the replacement and put it all back together.
test the fold once you have the motor back on the spindle before full reassembling in case you did something wrong

 

[Doubeleive]

BTW, the dealer will not sell you this part (they do not have it) and nor will they do the repair, this is all DIY or simply pay-more
they will gladly take your money for a whole assembly though

 

[j91z28d1]

great into.


mine didn't work when I got it, replaced the plastic gears with metal ones off ebay for a few $. only thing you gotta relieve is the oem motors in there are grounded thru the motor case, and that will short out with the metal gear. there's a small tab on the case you cut with a knife to break that ground. and alls good.


theres some youtube videos on it. I didn't watch first so I did it the hard way by removing the mirror from the door. then found out it's totally not needed. you can just pop the mirror off the base to get to the motor and gears while still on the door. I wasted time pulling the door panel off and unbolting the mirror.

 

[JCMSr]

BTW, the dealer will not sell you this part (they do not have it) and nor will they do the repair, this is all DIY or simply pay-more
they will gladly take your money for a whole assembly though

You are correct that the dealer does not sell this part nor do they even admit that they are available elsewhere. The price they quoted me was $1600 + to replace both mirrors because they said they were "worn out". The only thing not working is the automatic folding option and after following your recommendations and reviewing the video you provided a link to, I decided to replace the entire motor assembly and purchase from Gruven. When i activate the switch both motors make a low growling noise for only a second or two and then shut off as if they are in a bind. Rather than waiting to see if the original assembly can be repaired by replacing the screw gear I decided to upgrade to the stronger motor and brass gear assembly Gruven offers. I am waiting on a delivery schedule confirmation before taking things apart just in case there is a delay in shipment of the parts. Worse case, I will replace the entire mirror assemblies for $250 - $300 depending on which finish (black or chrome) I decide on. Realistically I rarely use the folding feature on these mirrors but cannot stand having anything not working that can be fixed at a reasonable cost. My vehicle is a 2011 Tahoe LTZ with just over 120,000 miles and looks and runs like new. People stop me on the street to tell me how nice the truck looks and can't believe it when I tell them it is 15 years old.

Thanks to Doubelive/Wes and j91z28d1 for your comments and suggestions. Your information was spot on and very informative. I'll post back when I receive the new motors/gears and let everyone know how the replacement went.

Jack

 

[Doubeleive]

You are correct that the dealer does not sell this part nor do they even admit that they are available elsewhere. The price they quoted me was $1600 + to replace both mirrors because they said they were "worn out". The only thing not working is the automatic folding option and after following your recommendations and reviewing the video you provided a link to, I decided to replace the entire motor assembly and purchase from Gruven. When i activate the switch both motors make a low growling noise for only a second or two and then shut off as if they are in a bind. Rather than waiting to see if the original assembly can be repaired by replacing the screw gear I decided to upgrade to the stronger motor and brass gear assembly Gruven offers. I am waiting on a delivery schedule confirmation before taking things apart just in case there is a delay in shipment of the parts. Worse case, I will replace the entire mirror assemblies for $250 - $300 depending on which finish (black or chrome) I decide on. Realistically I rarely use the folding feature on these mirrors but cannot stand having anything not working that can be fixed at a reasonable cost. My vehicle is a 2011 Tahoe LTZ with just over 120,000 miles and looks and runs like new. People stop me on the street to tell me how nice the truck looks and can't believe it when I tell them it is 15 years old.

Thanks to Doubelive/Wes and j91z28d1 for your comments and suggestions. Your information was spot on and very informative. I'll post back when I receive the new motors/gears and let everyone know how the replacement went.

Jack

far far more than I want to pay, good luck. be careful with those mirror covers or it's another $300-400 down the drain. new covers+painting

 

[petethepug]

I don’t have the link, but there’s a guy that’s had a refurb buss for mirrors as long as Gruven has been manufacturing the gears. He does the rewire to get around the motor grounding issue too.

 

[j91z28d1]

the rewire was a utility knife for mine haha. well the 2nd side the first side burnt the case ground itself after a few times trying to figure out why it only went one way haha.

they don't have a limit switch, the module actually uses the amp load of the dead headed motor to know it's fully open or closed and then cuts the power. so by the time I remembered the case ground while looking into why it only one kne way, turns out the ground is really thin and just clearanced itself.