Notices
Series I Do It Yourself Forum Wanna save some coin or time/money in the shop? Read up on Do-It-Yourself custom mods and repairs & post your own here.

DIY: Sun Visor Fix

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 09-14-2009 | 02:31 PM
  #26  
cyclone1208's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, TX
I'm visorless as of now the weather is too hot in TX....LOL
Old 09-14-2009 | 02:46 PM
  #27  
amberlayne's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Where can you buy new visors? We threw ours away they were beyond fixable. The dealer wants like 250. a piece for them anyone know where you can them cheaper??
Old 09-15-2009 | 11:35 PM
  #28  
gmr.cornell's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by amberlayne
Where can you buy new visors? We threw ours away they were beyond fixable. The dealer wants like 250. a piece for them anyone know where you can them cheaper??
Ebay lists them @ 119/piece. So if you fix it yourself, you should save a packet..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...QQcmdZViewItem



cheers,
Mohan
Old 09-16-2009 | 07:44 AM
  #29  
amberlayne's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by gmr.cornell
Ebay lists them @ 119/piece. So if you fix it yourself, you should save a packet..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...QQcmdZViewItem



cheers,
Mohan
mines is in the trash !! We have been riding with no visors.
Old 10-28-2009 | 11:37 PM
  #30  
Ross_Dawg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered Toker
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,545
Likes: 1
From: Bend, OR
I believe the new visors that you buy from Mazda are an "updated design". Maybe they have fixed the problem, maybe not Anybody want to chime in that has had their visors replaced in the last couple months?
Old 10-28-2009 | 11:49 PM
  #31  
Omega8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, MN
When I got my new '8 in early 2007, the driver's side visor failed by mid-summer that year. I brought it in and as soon as I walked up to the service counter, the guy took one look at the visor and said "you must have an RX8". They replaced it and it has been perfect ever since. So, either I've been lucky with the replacement, or I have the "new design".
Old 11-28-2009 | 08:36 PM
  #32  
agood's Avatar
agoodrx8
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
When i went to the dealer they had the 04 visor for $250 or you could get the 07 visor for $75 the only difference is the airbag label.....
Old 01-02-2010 | 10:23 PM
  #33  
wmitz's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
One thing i did, which was even easier was to drill a small hole for an 8-32 screw (≈3/4 in) just below the metal bracket. Then with two washers on the screw, i just tightened it to squeeze the visor tight. This repair was to stop the visor from not being tight enough to stay up against the window, and, although the screw is visible, it's not very noticeable. If anyone needs a picture of where the screw is, just let me know.
-wayne
Old 01-29-2010 | 10:09 PM
  #34  
cfm251's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Sac CA
They have Gorilla glue available in white now its less obvious and suppose to dry faster too. If you have any excess glue you can just shave it off with a razor-blade.

Great DIY ive been running with my fully functioning visors for 2 weeks now thanks!
Old 03-12-2010 | 01:23 PM
  #35  
db_8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: ewa beach, HI
thanks for the fix! that metal clip inside was a major PITA... i'm using the binder clip to clamp it while the super glue dries. i love this club!
Old 03-30-2010 | 01:20 AM
  #36  
AngelKiha31's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: The Cold West of the USA.
Ok... this finally convinced me to register.

My passenger visor broke in the last few months of 2008. I left it off for quite a while, but my passengers always were complaining about sun in their eyes. So, early spring I set out to fix it.

Oddly enough, the spring loaded arm wasn't seized. It seems that the plastic was just shredded inside the visor, and was almost jamming the arm.

I fixed the visor a little differently than the DIY says. I didn't have to remove the spring, and my visor still snaps and stays up. Plus, I didn't take the whole visor apart. I just worked in the crack in the corner where the arm is.

If you can, spread the crack far enough to get the arm out. Once done, remove any little plastic pieces in the crack and on the arm. Try to get as many out as possible, even if it means cutting them out. They're pretty much worthless. Once you've done that, replace the arm. With the visor sitting on a solid surface, press down fairly hard where the arm is and try moving the arm in and out of the "snap" point. If you're pressing hard enough, the visor shouldn't separate when entering/leaving the snap point. If you are incapable of moving the arm, try the opposite direction before doing the original DIY.

In my case, I got the arm to enter/leave the snap point. I didn't really like the grease so I added a little bike chain oil to the arm without removing the grease.

To glue the crack together, I used some 5 minute epoxy gel with a 2000PSI rating ((blue and clear conjoined dual plunger dispenser)). Mix it up, apply inside to/around a plastic alignment pin that's a little deeper than the arm's slot, and along the edges. Make sure to NOT glue your arm in one place. And be sure to glue as much as possible without gluing the arm. I tried to get glue as far down the crack as possible, and to throw on as thick of a coating as possible. ((I think I put about half of the epoxy in the visor))

***Let the epoxy set up (24 hours) before trying to move the arm.***
**Any less time may break the bond with the visor before it's at its strongest.**

The only other thing I can think of is that I used one of those large triangle clip things to hold the visor together during curing. I decided to leave it on, after removing the handles, as additional support. So far the visor has held, and it works as well as original.

Angel
Old 06-07-2010 | 08:17 PM
  #37  
motron3030's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Wisco
Mine just broke.....found this...total fix time 20 min.....minus the overnight to make sure the glue dries. great write up....and thanks for your infinite visor wisdom
Old 06-18-2010 | 02:10 AM
  #38  
Dangly's Avatar
Rotary Fan
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Thanks for the posts! mine broke out of nowhere, my girlfriend was just sitting there and it flew down. I will try these tomorrow, my temp fix was to just clean it out and not use it anymore. its stuck up right now but doesn't hug the roof.
Old 06-28-2010 | 01:19 PM
  #39  
Tayninh's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Mine broke too. I just picked it up at the dealer this morning. Cost me $238 for a piece of holy plastic. Thanks Mazda. I told the dealer it looks like Mazda did a cost savings here and went all plastic. To try and make me feel better he said they replaced one visior on a Nissan last week and it cost $465. My extended warranty is not in their computer database so that is really helpful. So now I will not use a window shade and the windows will be lowered down some. They were when the visor failed too. Mine is an 04 with 22,000 on it. Nice thanks Mazda.
Old 07-06-2010 | 12:35 PM
  #40  
BatFish's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, SC
SC sunvisor fix

Our '04 visors broke on both sides. I removed the black clip without seprating the visor in half, drilled a 1/4 inch hole through the visor right at the corner where it split. I put in a cosmetically attractive pan head phillips machine screw and tightened it down with a thin nut and SAE washwer on the back side. Painted the screw to match the interior. Looks like it came from the factory if you didn't know better. No glue to fuss with and I can go back in later if required without prying it apart.
Old 07-06-2010 | 12:56 PM
  #41  
BatFish's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, SC
Originally Posted by BatFish
Our '04 visors broke on both sides. I removed the black clip without seprating the visor in half, drilled a 1/4 inch hole through the visor right at the corner where it split. I put in a cosmetically attractive pan head phillips machine screw and tightened it down with a thin nut and SAE washwer on the back side. Painted the screw to match the interior. Looks like it came from the factory if you didn't know better. No glue to fuss with and I can go back in later if required without prying it apart.
It turns out I did have to go back in and lube the shaft and replace the metal clip. The clip is there to hold the visor tight at different positions. At least I didn't have to pry it apart due to the glue.
Old 07-21-2010 | 09:44 PM
  #42  
nanciscom's Avatar
TechBeach
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Red face thanks

thanks for that article on repairing the rx-8 sun visor. I have a 2005 I just bought. Right away that split in two. I feel sure the seller "rigged" it previously, but thanks to your repair guide, I was able to fix it, but of course I am a Chick.

Thanks again.
Old 07-22-2010 | 04:35 AM
  #43  
Dangly's Avatar
Rotary Fan
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
finally got around to the whole fix, letting glue set overnight. hopefully it holds up. i live in arizona so it gets hotttttt
Old 07-22-2010 | 07:13 AM
  #44  
FastFreddy61's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Europe
"spread the crack far enough to get the arm out." Ive seen this on Redtube.
Old 07-22-2010 | 07:14 AM
  #45  
Spinning Sushi's Avatar
I <3 Sushi
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,967
Likes: 4
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by FastFreddy61
"spread the crack far enough to get the arm out." Ive seen this on Redtube.
That's pretty horrific... I like it.
Old 07-26-2010 | 09:34 AM
  #46  
mzbenz's Avatar
MizZ Murdrd 8
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, currently Miami
Originally Posted by arattle
Great DIY, one comment only: My visor was only split near the left corner, so I didn't have to take it apart, just kind of pulled out the hinge and the metal part came out, still connected via the vanity light wire. I removed the black metal part, loosened it up as per your instructions, and slid it back in. Ended up not having to glue the whole thing together, just the corner. Thanks!
dangit i could have done that too wish i would have read your comment
Old 07-26-2010 | 09:42 AM
  #47  
mzbenz's Avatar
MizZ Murdrd 8
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, currently Miami
Originally Posted by BatFish
It turns out I did have to go back in and lube the shaft and replace the metal clip. The clip is there to hold the visor tight at different positions. At least I didn't have to pry it apart due to the glue.
it usually helps to lube the shaft
Old 08-20-2010 | 01:00 AM
  #48  
livi's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
funny thing is as soon as i red this... mine broke. fixed it thanks to the starter guy.
Old 08-31-2010 | 03:42 AM
  #49  
Tamas's Avatar
Registered Lunatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,581
Likes: 38
From: SF Bay Area, California
Originally Posted by wmitz
One thing i did, which was even easier was to drill a small hole for an 8-32 screw (≈3/4 in) just below the metal bracket. Then with two washers on the screw, i just tightened it to squeeze the visor tight. This repair was to stop the visor from not being tight enough to stay up against the window, and, although the screw is visible, it's not very noticeable.
After almost seven years, my driver's side visor split too.
This is exactly how I fixed mine... one bolt, one nut and it keeps the visor nice and tight together again. Will see how long this solution lasts, but it looks OK and not very noticeable.
Old 09-01-2010 | 08:41 AM
  #50  
Mazzy1977's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Sun Visor

I have removed my entire visor and am going to try and fix myself. the only thing is the circular shaped tabs that are supposed to go round the metal bit (with the silly black bit) are all mashed up. will I still be able to fix this???? Mines is a 56 plate PZ.......bought 3 months ago with 3 years extended warranty - will I be covered??????


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: DIY: Sun Visor Fix



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:17 AM.