Lubricating side electric mirrors?

[NissanMaxima]

Do folks bother with every trying to lubricate the mechanism on side electric mirrors? I was peering into mine and it seems you can see a bit of the mechanism and was wondering if folks do anything about them as a maintenance item. I suppose removing them would be the best way to really do it properly but not sure it is necessary or even recommended - risk of breaking something, etc. Would a quick shot of white lithium grease with the red straw be a good idea, or just "exercise" them once in a while to hopefully restore the lubrication with what I'm assuming is some sort of factory grease on the mechanism inside?

Thanks!

 

[Donald]

Does anyone get bee nests behind the power mirror? I see bees in that area. So not sure.

 

[nthach]

AFAIK, those mirrors use special grease. Either silicone based(Molykote 33) or PAO based(Molykote YM-103, sold as Toyota Body Grease W). If it's a regular non-power folding unit, I'd leave all to be unless it's sticky.

If it's a power folding one, it's gonna be hairier to lube it up.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

You really can't lubricate them, instead just keep the exposed sliding surfaces free of dirt.

 

[NissanMaxima]

Thanks folks. It is a folding electric kind on my 95 Maxima but our 2015 Corolla also has folding electric. I'm always good about carefully using a quick shot with my hose in there especially during winter and cleaning up the area where it "fold" in.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted by NissanMaxima
Thanks folks. It is a folding electric kind on my 95 Maxima but our 2015 Corolla also has folding electric. I'm always good about carefully using a quick shot with my hose in there especially during winter and cleaning up the area where it "fold" in.

If possible, I'd seriously consider deactivating the folding function in winter.
Just another thing to break when the temps get cold and plastic becomes brittle.

 

[NissanMaxima]

I may have misled folks on the "folding" term. I meant they fold mechanically in case you clip the side of a garage or something. Or oftentimes I fold them in just to get around in the garage better without knocking into one! The "fold" function is not electric. Didn't even know electric fold existed!

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted by NissanMaxima
The "fold" function is not electric. Didn't even know electric fold existed!

Lol, oh yes, it exists. Been around for over 20 years too.
I see it on all the newer cars where i live. Mostly on higher end MB's, BMW's etc.
There's a few Honda products I've seen it on too.

The first vehicle I seen it was a mid 90's Isuzu Trooper.
That one had a actual button on the dash (near the power mirror adjustment switch) you pushed to get the mirrors to fold (with the use of small motors).
Later versions have it so they automatically fold as soon as you turned the car off, or lock the doors etc.

 

[The_Jeff]

I would definitely exercise the things through their full ranges.

 

[azjake]

Originally Posted by Lolvoguy
Originally Posted by NissanMaxima
The "fold" function is not electric. Didn't even know electric fold existed!

Lol, oh yes, it exists. Been around for over 20 years too.
I see it on all the newer cars where i live. Mostly on higher end MB's, BMW's etc.
There's a few Honda products I've seen it on too.

The first vehicle I seen it was a mid 90's Isuzu Trooper.
That one had a actual button on the dash (near the power mirror adjustment switch) you pushed to get the mirrors to fold (with the use of small motors).
Later versions have it so they automatically fold as soon as you turned the car off, or lock the doors etc.

It's not just higher end luxury vehicles. MY 2019 Kia Niro EX has the electric folding mirrors that fold when you lock the vehicle. It also
has a button on the driver's door to fold them when pulling into a tight parking spot.

 

[GSCJR]

My '07 Maxima has electric folding mirrors. I was surprised to see that when I bought the car last year; Thought only German vehicles had them.