What is the reason for one side of the rearview mirror not being able to fold?
2 Answers
The electric folding function of the exterior rearview mirror fails. Excluding mechanical and electronic control reasons, the common cause of the electric folding function failure is the battery being disconnected or out of power. Here is the relevant introduction: 1. Function: As the widest component installed on the vehicle, the rearview mirror is most susceptible to impact in the event of a collision. To minimize scratches, the rearview mirror needs to have a folding function. Rearview mirrors with a folding function can be retracted when passing through narrow sections, improving the vehicle's passability. When the driver leaves the vehicle, the rearview mirrors can also be folded, not only protecting the mirror surface but also reducing parking space and effectively avoiding scratches. In most cases, the rearview mirror folding button is located in the electric switch area on the driver's side door, but some models are exceptions, such as the gear shift base area. 2. Product features: Nowadays, rearview mirrors on mid-to-high-end vehicles are basically foldable. The folding function is divided into two types: one is manual, where the driver must reach out of the window or get out of the car to fold it, which is both inconvenient and unsafe. This type of folding rearview mirror is now rare. The other is electric folding, which is more common. Its advantage is that the driver can fold it from inside the car, and the rearview mirror will automatically open when the vehicle is started.
I've been driving for a while when suddenly the left side mirror stopped folding automatically, always getting stuck when parking, which was quite frustrating. Later I found out this issue usually has several common causes: For power-folding mirrors, it could be a burnt-out motor, jammed gears, or debris blocking the movement path; loose wiring connections or blown fuses can interrupt signals, and poor contact in the control switch isn't uncommon. For manual folding mirrors, broken internal linkages or rust are the main culprits. Forcing it will only cause more damage - better not to brute-force it and just take it to an auto repair shop for professional inspection. Sometimes temperature changes cause thermal expansion/contraction jams too - cleaning out dust and applying lubricant can prevent this. Only after fixing it did I realize this affected reversing safety - definitely not something to take lightly.
