Passenger side outside mirror glass fell out of the housing while driving. Can it be 'snapped' back into place?

Hello, yes the glass can be replaced. you will need to see your local GM dealer for the glass. real simple to replace.

Carefully push the outside rearview mirror face on the inner edge, near the front door window glass, to allow access.

Insert a large flat-bladed screwdriver in the slot between mirror lens and the mounting base.

Grasp the mirror face firmly and pull it from the mirror body.

Remove the outside rearview mirror case from the outside rearview mirror housing and disconnect the heater wire, if equipped.

Using the palm of your gloved hand, press firmly on the center of the glass until the case seats onto the motor.

The mirror will make a snapping noise when properly seated.

Inspect the mirror for proper operation.

- Adjust the mirror so the mirror glass is in as far as it will go (meaning if you were looking in the mirror you would see the side of the truck)

- Look inside the mirror housing
- Locate silver clip
- Using a flat screw driver, push the clip in
- Lenses will pop out on the outside
- Remove bulb
- Replace bulb
- Snap back together when new bulb in place.

You can usually just replace the mirror, any commercial auto-glass store has the glass you need. sometimes it is necessary to replace the mirror and its backing (a plastic frame which snaps into the adjustable motor) you don't need to replace the whole mirror unless the housing is broken.

Please rate this answer. Thank you.

i just replaced the passenger side on mine and this is what i did.

1. on the back side of the mirror housing is a half moon shaped plastic piece. gently remove that from the housing, exposing a portion of the back side of the mirror.

2. disconnect the two wires (remember rt and lf). carefully, with a pry tool, apply pressure on the center of the back side of the mirror, it will pop loose.

3. once the mirror is off there should be a round plastic piece attached to the back side of the mirror. on the passenger side there is a tab in the upper left side. lift up on the tab and slide the plastic piece down...it should slide off.

4. once you have the plastic piece off it goes on the back of the new mirror in the opposite way. you line up the four cross tabs and slide the mirror up until the tab grabs it.

5. put the mirror back in the housing by lining the circle (on back side center of mirror plate) with the center of the mirror housing. genlty apply pressure on the center of the mirror (i had to hit it firmly with the palm of my hand) unitl it snaps into place.

6. once it snaps into place you can reconnect the two wires to the back of the mirror and install the back side plastic housing......DONE

the Glass element or the glass and backing assembly? if just the glass it is just glued on, Scotch two sided tape works as well, if the Glass and backing fixture it just snaps in and out of the drive motors.

i don't have aviator. here's explorer, should be the same.

You will see a small rectangle where the screwdriver goes in. You are pryingtowards glass. The retention is about a 3 inch rectangle that has a lip around it that snaps onto a rectangle on the mirror body.

SECTION 501-09: Rear View Mirrors 2002 Explorer/Mountaineer Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Exterior Mirror Glass Removal
NOTE: Exterior mirror glass is serviceable only on vehicles built after July of 2001.
NOTE: Passenger side exterior mirror shown, driver side exterior mirror similar.
All mirrors

1. Position the glass in the full up position.

1. Locate the notch at the bottom of the exterior mirror glass.

1. Release the exterior mirror glass.
   1. Insert a long flat-bladed screwdriver in the notch.
   1. Push the screwdriver into the notch until the glass is released. (and pull screwdriver towards glass)

Heated mirrors

1. Position aside the exterior mirror glass.

1. Disconnect the electrical connectors.

All mirrors

1. Remove the exterior mirror glass (17K707) passenger side or (17T675) driver side.

Installation
Heated mirrors

1. Connect the electrical connectors.

All mirrors

1. Position the exterior mirror glass on the exterior mirror motor.

1. Place a hand against the back of the exterior mirror housing and a hand flat against the exterior mirror glass. Press the glass in place until fully seated.

are you trting to tighten the mirror glass or the mirror where it attaches to the body? I don't think glass is removable in 99. Only can try to press on glass to seat if unseated. not too hard.

1. Remove the front door trim panel; refer to Section 501-05 .
2. go to car-part.com for a used mirror. Page with * is cheapest seller.

1. Remove the speaker.
   1. Remove the screws.
   1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
   1. Remove the speaker.

1. Remove the outside rear view mirror (17682).
   1. Disconnect the power mirror wiring clips.
   1. Remove the outside rear view mirror nuts.
   1. Remove the outside rear view mirror.
      • Feed the power mirror wiring through the opening in the front door (20124).

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SECTION 501-09: Rear View Mirrors 2001 Explorer/Mountaineer Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Exterior Mirror Glass, 2001 model Removal
NOTE: Exterior mirror glass is serviceable only on vehicles built after July of 2001.
NOTE: Passenger side exterior mirror shown, driver side exterior mirror similar.
All mirrors

1. Position the glass in the full up position.

1. Locate the notch at the bottom of the exterior mirror glass.

1. Release the exterior mirror glass.
   1. Insert a long flat-bladed screwdriver in the notch.
   1. Push the screwdriver into the notch until the glass is released.

Heated mirrors

1. Position aside the exterior mirror glass.

1. Disconnect the electrical connectors.

All mirrors

1. Remove the exterior mirror glass (17K707) passenger side or (17T675) driver side.

Installation
Heated mirrors

1. Connect the electrical connectors.

All mirrors

1. Position the exterior mirror glass on the exterior mirror motor.

1. Place a hand against the back of the exterior mirror housing and a hand flat against the exterior mirror glass. Press the glass in place until fully seated.

you will need to install those screw looking parts in the mirror back then you line it all up and push straight in, and yes you could break the mirror just push over the whole area and not in one place and it should snap back in. Having it warm is better than really cold of course (which might be an issue this time of year).

If you do break the glass then stop by an auto glass shop and have them get you just the glass. Snap the backing plate in first then glue in the new mirror. (hopelly you will not need this step)

here's 2003, don't have 2008

Removal
NOTE: Left-hand dual arm mirror with heat shown, non-heated and aero mirrors similar.
All exterior mirrors

1. Position the exterior mirror glass in the full down position.

1. Grasp the top and carefully pull the exterior mirror glass away from the mirror housing.

1. Disconnect the electrical terminals (if equipped) and remove the exterior mirror glass.

Power exterior mirrors

1. Remove the jack pins from the exterior mirror glass backing plate.
   • Use pliers to grasp the jack pins at the base to remove.

Installation
Power exterior mirrors

1. Remove the sealing boots from the exterior mirror motor.

1. Install the jack pins in the sealing boots.

1. Install the jack pins and sealing boots.
   1. Hold the legs of the jack pins and push the jack pins back into the exterior mirror housing.
   1. Install the sealing boots so the boot shoulder is under the mirror collar and turn each jack pin until the head of the jack pin is aligned with the slots in the sockets on the backing glass plate.

All exterior mirrors

1. Place the new exterior mirror glass assembly down on a smooth firm surface.

1. Align the friction pins vertically to the exterior mirror glass backing plate socket and push down to snap the pivot ball into the socket.

1. CAUTION: Do not over heat the exterior mirror glass backing plate. Heat only until backing plate is warm to the touch.
   Using the special tool, warm the main pivot sockets in exterior mirror glass backing plate.

1. Loosely install the glass.
   1. Connect the electrical wiring to the electrical terminals (if equipped).
   1. Position the friction pins in the mirror housing.
   1. Align the jack pin locating tabs to match with the mirror glass back.

1. Using a flat hand, press on the center of the mirror glass until seated on the center pivot of the mirror housing.
   • Press the mirror glass toward one of the jack pins until snapped in place.
   • Repeat for second jack pin.

Power exterior mirrors
NOTE: If the jack pins do not engage, they may not be aligned correctly. Remove the exterior mirror glass, align the jack pins to the slots in the sockets and repeat the installation procedure.

1. NOTE: The jack pin should click while manually adjusting the exterior mirror glass.
   Tilt the exterior mirror glass to the full outboard position and then press on the outer side of the class until the in/out jack pin snaps into the socket on the exterior mirror backing plate.

1. NOTE: The jack pin should click while manually adjusting the exterior mirror glass.
   Tilt the exterior mirror glass to the full down position and then press on the outer side of the class until the up/down jack pin snaps into the socket on the exterior mirror backing plate.

It should snap out and the new one snap in. Most auto glass companies can order just replacement glass from burco mirror. http://brokencarmirror.com/replacement/mirrors/