My painted part on my passenger mirror rattles, how can I fix it?

ANSWER : This is difficult to diagnose without physically inspecting the vehicle. While this is somewhat normal on many cars, the degree of "normal" depends on the severity of the rattling. The rattling can happen when rubber bushings vibrate loose or fall out. I would suggest taking it to the dealer to see if there are any recalls on this or if it may be under warranty.

ANSWER : Hi There,
What you have peeling off is the clear coat. This is a clear coat of lacquer that is applied on all cars after they are painted. This is an additional coat that is added to give the the paint job both a shine and a protective layer. Over time, depending on the quality and the age of the paint job, this may peel off as you have noticed. Unfortunately, the only way to correct this is to have the car repainted. I would suggest visiting your local body shop to obtain a quote on having the clear coat reapplied.

ANSWER : The problems you are having with your paint on your CRV is not isolated to just your vehicle. There are other owners with less mileage on their CRV vehicles that are having similar issues. The paint used on automobiles is put on in multiple layers. First the metal is cleaned and then a rust preventive coating is applied. The next level is primer paint, which differs depending on the material it’s meant for. The primer is a special paint that is supposed to have a high adhesion to the material it covers and provide a good adhesion to the next color coat of paint. Finally the coat of your chosen color is covered in a clear coat to protect the color finish. The clear coat is subject to the outside elements and is there to protect the color coat. Even with proper maintenance of the top clear coat, it does wear, and once compromised, will need to be repaired promptly to avoid damage to the color coat. Now if any of the layers of paint are not applied correctly, through use of defective paint or not prepping before next coat was applied, it can cause premature failure.

ANSWER : A technician with an advanced scan tool can verify the issue. The mirror system is complex and involves many modules. The Body Control Module is a possible cause, but it’s doubtful; replacement requires reprogramming, which requires special equipment. I would check the driver’s and passenger’s door modules; toggle or move the switch on the driver’s side to see if it causes the problem, and ensure that the mirror glass itself is not loose on the passenger’s side mirror assembly.

Without diagnosing the problem with advanced equipment, the issue is hard to diagnose. A qualified YourMechanic technician can show up to the location of your vehicle with a scan tool to inspect and diagnose your power mirror issue.

ANSWER : Hi there, this issue generally comes up often when we see a power window that does not work on the passenger switch, but still works with the driver’s master switch. It means that the passenger side window switch has failed. The fact that the drivers switch operates the window properly lets you know that the window components all function properly as that the problem is probably electrical.

A technician that is diagnosing this would use the wiring diagram to find the proper wires to test and check for power when the window is rolled up to see if there is power present when the window is commanded to roll down with the switch. Given that you are still under warranty, this scenario should be something the dealership would resolve free of charge as part of the warranty. If the vehicle is only under powertrain warranty and not the full warranty, the technicians at YourMechanic are able to provide diagnosis for your window and can perform a power window switch replacement for you if necessary.

ANSWER : Since your vehicle has a V shaped engine, it will likely have two catalytic converters. Since the engine is mounted transversly in the vehicle (because it is front wheel drive) there will be one converter on the front and one on the rear. If you had one replaced, it is likely the issue is coming from the opposite converter. I would recommend having your exhaust system inspected by a qualified professional who has experience in exhaust system diagnosis and repair.

ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. Cutting the wires to the regulator in a door will not affect the way the engine operates. The vehicle could have an intermittent issue with a stall out or the brakes applying. Now, it also could be the wires in the door going to ground causing a short making the computer cut on an off.

I recommend getting the parts to the regulator and your mirror to fix the job. In the meantime, you can put electrical tape on the cut ends of the wires to protect them. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to assist you with your vehicle.

ANSWER : If you cannot use the paint stripper to get off the paint, try letting it dry then sand it smooth and then put on another coat of paint. First let the rims set in the sun to dry and harden completely. Afterwards, sand off the wrinkles and then paint them again using light coats. Let them dry for at least 10 minutes between adding the next coat.