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Rear view mirror has two joints & may be adjusted higher for better view out the windshield

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by 2009Prius, May 20, 2010.

  1. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    This is probably known to most people but I only realized it after owning the car for a year: as the title suggested, once I moved the mirror up higher, the view out of the windshield has become much less obstructed:
    [​IMG]

    The joint closer to the windshield is very tough to move and I was afraid of pulling it off the glass when I was adjusting it. I just noticed the little metal pin when uploading the picture. Is that a mechanism to lock/unlock the joint?
     
    #1 2009Prius, May 20, 2010
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  2. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    That's part of a retainer spring that holds the windshield
    attachment to a bracket underneath that's actually attached to
    the glass. You can pull the ENTIRE assembly upward and it'll
    slide right off a little wedge-shaped mounting point, leaving
    only that on the glass -- completely harmless, clips right
    back on.
    .
    Now, flip the mirror *upside down* and you can not only push
    it up even farther, it gives a better view out the back, too.
    .
    _H*
     
    #2 hobbit, May 20, 2010
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  3. Bill1

    Bill1 New Member

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    +1

    Highly recommend for taller driver. I am about 6-2 and have plenty of headroom in my Prius, but the mirror in the standard position was too low and obstructed my vision. During the test drive, I turned it upside down and pushed it up as high as it can go. Works great - better vision front and back.
     
    #3 Bill1, May 20, 2010
  4. BAllanJ

    BAllanJ Active Member

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    Flipping the mirror may not work well for the OP since he has the manual day/night flip lever... I did it and recommend for tall drivers w the auto dim mirror.
     
    #4 BAllanJ, May 21, 2010
  5. dtuite

    dtuite Silverback

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    Tried it on my 2010 with mechanical-flip mirror.

    If I reverse the elbow, the mirror points down.

    If I invert the mirror, the flip-lever hits the windshield before the mirror can be made to point backward.
     
    #5 dtuite, May 21, 2010
  6. ibnird

    ibnird New Member

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    I just did it on my 2010 with the manual adjustment. I removed it by just pushing it hard up, not touching the clip, just a hard pull. It came off suddenly, so be careful.
    I turned the mirror around 180 degrees so the flip lever is on top and reinstalled it. The flip lever comes nowhere near the windshield and the mirror is now higher, giving a better view out the front.
    Drawback may be that it will be harder to flip the mirror for headlights from behind, but given the small window in back and that I have yet to use the flip function, I don't think I'll mind.
    This is great! Thank you everybody for the idea and instructions!:)
     
    #6 ibnird, May 22, 2010
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