I’m trying to replace my right mirror on my 1999 Pontiac firebird but I can’t take off the door panel

I'm trying to replace my right side mirror but I can take the door panel off

My car has 88000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Removing the door panel requires a set of broad flat bladed clip tools (screw drivers are too narrow and will crack the plastic). In the Factory Service Manual, there is an illustration showing where all the clips are located so you are not working blindly. There are a couple screws holding the arm rest/power window assembly, too, that must be removed. I suggest you request door mirror replacement and let an experienced certified mechanic who has done lots of these get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

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you can just remove the outside of your mirror without removing anything else door panels and anything like that so thank you for watching see you guys next time.
You don`t have to replace the entire side view mirror assembly just because the glass is broken. Replacing the mirror glass is a do-it-yourself project that is usually inexpensive. Several manufacturers offer precut glass mirrors to fit vehicles of all makes and models.
The classical schools tend to recommend against a mirror facing the front door do so because for them, the reflection of a mirror reflects energy back. Therefore, a mirror reflecting the front door pushes away energy, rather than welcomes qi into the home.
In fact, the mirrors of your car are often specifically designed for their location and therefore cannot be replaced with an ordinary household mirror. For example, the passenger-side mirror is a convex mirror.
Passenger-side vs Driver-side Mirrors

Passenger-side mirrors are curved slightly outward (convex), while driver-side mirrors are flat. Passenger-side mirrors are convex in order to give the driver a wider field of view and minimize blind spots.

So, if your state`s traffic laws require that a car have one or two side-view mirrors, and one of your side mirrors is broken, you can be pulled over and ticketed. Fortunately, if it is just a matter of a broken side mirror, many states allow officers to issue “Fix-It” tickets.
Your best bet is an epoxy glue for car side mirrors or any other glue or adhesive that`s labelled for use on mirrors, such as an automotive silicone mirror adhesive. Silicone adhesives are a good choice due to their strength and elasticity.
Car side mirror repair typically entails one or more of these parts: the base (mirror assembly), mirror glass, cover and the turn signal (if equipped). And while many of these individual components can be repaired depending on the extent of the damage, oftentimes complete side mirror replacement is necessary.
It is not illegal to drive with a single broken mirror, but you do need to be careful. The mirror needs to be secure to the vehicle so that it doesn`t fall off. You also want to make sure that the glass is stable enough so you won`t be leaving broken glass all over the place.
Luckily, modern cars make replacing the glass of a broken wing mirror easy – and changing the mirror glass is what we`re going to deal with here. In fact, in many cases you can do the job of replacement wing mirror glass in minutes without any tools at all.

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the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I’m trying to replace my right mirror on my 1999 Pontiac firebird but I can’t take off the door panel
ANSWER : Removing the door panel requires a set of broad flat bladed clip tools (screw drivers are too narrow and will crack the plastic). In the Factory Service Manual, there is an illustration showing where all the clips are located so you are not working blindly. There are a couple screws holding the arm rest/power window assembly, too, that must be removed. I suggest you request door mirror replacement and let an experienced certified mechanic who has done lots of these get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

The right rear window does not work from the drivers door panel nor from the right rear door panel.
ANSWER : Hi There,
This is usually a problem with the power window motor, the regulator or the fuse. The power window motor is what actually operates the window up and down when you push the switch. The regulator is what actually moves the windows up and down which is powered by an electric the motor when you use the switch inside the vehicle. The fuse is designed to protect the entire electric power window system in the event of a short or some other electrical failure. In the event that the fuse blows, this will cut the power to the electric power window motor, rendering it inoperable. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your power window system to determine what may be causing not to work properly.

Door unlocked alarm, no power window or door lock on driver door only, interior light comes on with L turn signa
ANSWER : Hi there. In general, wiring harnesses are sold by the manufacturer as a whole harness; not individual wires. It is much easier, cost-efficient and safer to replace the entire harness if it’s determined that it is faulty and the source of your alarm / door issue. It would be best to have one of our mobile mechanics come to your location and complete an electrical problems inspection though, as it’s possible that this issue is related to an error code trapped in the ECU. If this is the case, simply clearing the code will resolve the problem. If the issue is determined to be the wiring harness or an exposed wire, they can recommend and most likely complete the repairs as well.

Doors wont lock or unlock with fob or switch?
ANSWER : Hello. Further testing should be done to help solve your problem. Being that the door unlock reprogramming procedure has already been done and the fuses have been checked there’s not much left it could be. When you hit the unlock button you should hear a little noise in each of the doors. If you hear the noise that means that the motor inside of the door actuator is working therefore it is likely the actuator itself as the problem. Though if you do not hear any noise that means it is likely the motor inside of the actuator. The actuator motors are very common failure on Lexus. The Lexus Community is almost an uproar because the a L in Lexus should also stand for luxury but there have been widespread simple problems reported such as this. A technician such as those we have here at yourmechanic will be able to diagnose your door lock issue for you firsthand. But if you consider following the test I suggested that should help you narrow down to a solution as well.

It may also be a beneficial to take a door panel off and probe a multi meter to the door actuator connectors to ensure they are receiving the proper power and ground when the buttons are pressed. If they are that only leaves two things that can be at fault. The door actuator or the motor inside of the door actuator.

body panel replacements, and an easier way to do it on a budget?
ANSWER : Hi there Unfortunately, body work is not a service that we are able to offer mechanical advice or recommendations; since our mobile mechanics don’t offer this service. I think your best bet is to search for online forums where fellow car owners and private mechanics offer tips for body repair services.

The door latch mechanism seems to be broken and will not allow the door to open. How do I open the door to replace it?
ANSWER : Hi! You can access the lock mechanism by removing the inner door panel. This should allow you to open the door. This may be difficult to do! If you are looking for some extra help, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to scope out the door problem and follow through with any needed repairs.

Front passenger door lock is frozen.
ANSWER : Hi there. The door lock cylinder and actuator is not working and needs replaced. You can remove the door panel with the door shut, it just will be a little harder with the lack of space. If you need the door open, you can pop the door panel off from the inside of the car enough to get a screwdriver or a tool to manually turn the door lock and the actuator. Then the door should open and you would be able to remove the door panel all the way and replace the actuator and door lock cylinder. If you need further assistance with the door not unlocking and being stuck, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

I’m curious how long the vacuum pump replacement will take on my VW Beetle
ANSWER : I will not get into the "misinformation" aspect but the engine most certainly does not have to be removed to replace the vacuum pump in a Beetle or any other VW product with the same 2.5 ltr 5 cylinder. We have a 2.5ltr equipped VW in the family and the pump was replaced last year. While the repair manual may say that the transmission has to be separated from the engine in order to access all of the vacuum pump mounting points, there are other methods to replace the pump that should not take more than a few hours – without removing the transmission. The typical failure point is the seal which causes the oil leak. The seal on the replacement pumps has been redesigned over the years in order to reduce the chance of future leaks.