Side Mirror Rattle
 

Does anyone else have this annoying rattle when you close the door that comes from the side mirror. The passenger side door sounds like a fine automobile when you close it, but the drivers side should like crap, and I have pretty much traced it down to the side mirror. Do you think Mazda will replace the mirror assembly because it rattles?

Did you buy the car new or used? If you bought it used, you might be in the same boat as me - with a previously wrecked car. You can take it to your Mazda service center and they will be able to tell you if it has been replaced before. If you bought it new, it is most likely somethign they will fix/replace.

/gC

i thought my driver's side mirror was rattling, but i found it to be my window. only when the window is all the way down.

No the window is all the way up, and I am pretty confident that it hasn't been wrecked as I am a perfectionist and I know every square inch of my car and the paint and what not, everything matches too well for it to have been wrecked, as well as talking to the previous owner.

I bought my 8 new and my driver side mirror just started rattling when closing. I have 14K miles.

Brice, maybe its 04 Black 6mt? :)

i have the same problem ...
it rattles when i pump up the music mostly... will dealership fix this?

You can tighten the screws that secure it to the door. Or have the dealership do it - if it's loose. If you're wondering how to look inside the mirror housing, the glass part just pops off - carefully press the inside edge of the mirror all the way in (the part closest to the door). Take a large flat blade screwdriver, and look at the back centre of the mirror - you will see a plastic ball joint. Insert the flat blade screwdriver against the ball and cup and carefully twist the blade to force the ball out of the socket. There is another ball and socket for the adjuster. You have to keep in mind there are wires (heater) on the back of the mirror so don't put any strain on them. The mirror will hang safely on the wires, allowing you to inspect the housing for loose screws etc.

This method ensures you don't put any strain on the glass - just the plastic glass holder. As I recall, if the housing is loose on the door, the screws are accessed by removing the plastic part on the inside of the door.

Solution found!

I had side mirror rattle that made a "pronggggggg" noise whenever I closed my door. I took the mirror off by popping off the ball joints on the inside. Let the mirror hang by its heating element wires. Locate the three tabs holding the painted cover on, pop it off. Here is where I popped the mirror back on and closed the door a bunch of times. No noise. This proved to me that it was that little painted plastic cover that was making the noise. I stuck some leftover pipe insulation foam ,from the A/C DIY, between the outer plastic shell and the mirror assembly. Now the rattle is gone!

Glad you found the fix. Thanks for that info, just in case mine rattles.

I just traced my door rattle to my mirror yesterday, both when the music is too loud and I shut it! Will be playing with it tomorrow. Thanks for the tips

This worked perfectly for me. However, I did not remove the mirror, I used the following steps:

1. I used these interior trim tools to pop off the outer plastic cover (top) from the mirror assembly:
2. I did not remove the entire plastic cover, just popped it off so that I could expose the top of the mirror housing.
3. Cleaned the top of the housing with some rubbing alcohol.
4. Used felt strips with adhesive backing, cut a slim piece to fit - around 2.5 - 3 inches - and stuck it to the top of the housing.
5. Align the plastic cover tabs back into the assembly, then push back into place firmly.

Takes about 5 minutes.

DUDE, you are my hero. I literately just walked out sided, pulled off the mirror on and stuffed a piece of a cut up drink coozie in between the plastic and the housing.
Annoying prong noise gone!

Really glad to come across this thread. I was about to dismantle the entire mirror assembly to find the source of my mirror rattle!

I managed to remove the mirror cover by pulling it off with my fingernails, starting on the inboard side. This photo shows my method of stopping the rattle - duct tape :>)

Nice fix! Wish I would have known this before I sold mine. The new owner even noticed that rattle!

I located rattle when I realized that holding the painted portion of the mirror stopped the rattle.

I did the same as above, pulling off the cover with my fingertips, inside to outside, and then used adhesive foam sheet in strategic places. Nice and firm now, when I close the door, or drive on dirt roads. Thanks, doodz.

Mine doesn't rattle but thanks to this thread I now have an easier way to paint the cover. I didn't know I could take it off, so my original idea was to take out the whole side mirror. Although a word of advice, don't use to much force. I broke one of the prongs (not sure what they're called) while trying to take the cover off. It still goes in but now its easier to pull off.

Just fixed our driver side mirror rattle. Take mirror off as previously instructed. Remove shiny plastic top cover on outside of mirror by releasing tabs on inside of mirror housing. We used double sided foam tape applied across the whole top of outside of mirror where the shiny plastic cover would rest. Did not remove the plastic from the top side of the double sided tape in case we had to remove it again. Popped plastic cover back on. Slammed door, no rattle. Fixed.

^Ditto, worked great for me as well.

I'll be damned. 5 minutes and 5 cents worth of duct tape, and the one thing I LOATHED ENTIRELY about this car has been rectified. This site rocks.

+1. I know I'm bumping an extremely old thread, but just like RXeligion above, 10 minutes of my time and the driver's door rattle is completely gone. RX-8 Club FTW :boink: