2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Tow Mirrors

[Ozymandias]

Please keep us updated on that, how it works out. 1AAuto is usually a good on customer service.

 

[garylmoore]

I still had not heard from 1A Auto yet today so I looked at the mirror description again and down near the bottom it says "If towing mirrors were not originally equipped on this vehicle, you must buy the reinforcement bracket kit for proper installation."
So I called in, the kit is $45 shipped and it's supposed to be here thursday.

 

[garylmoore]

After buying the reinforcement bracket kit, 1A Auto sent an email asking for pictures of the mirrors I purchased so they could match the brackets. This was a bit confusing as to why, because they have the part numbers of the mirrors purchased.
I had only opened one of the boxes because I originally thought they were the wrong mirrors.
When I took the second one out of the box for the, picture the reinforcement bracket for that mirror was inside the box. Maybe it was a mirror from long ago when the reinforcement was included?

 

[garylmoore]

I then recieved another email which was the answer to my oringinal customer service ticket.
I was told the replacement with tow mirrors was not possible if they were not fit originally.
I disputed rhe comment citing the note in the ad concerning the reinforcement kit. I also noted that I had already purchased the brackets from 1A Auto.
I was told I would receive a response in 1 to 3 working days.
Hopefully, if the brackets get here quickly, they will be installed by then.

 

[Ozymandias]

What? You have one mirror with a bracket and one without?

 

[garylmoore]

Yes I do.

 

[garylmoore]

If you want to understand this post, you might want to start at page one of this thread.
Last I spoke to A1, they wrote to ask which mirror came equipped with the reinforcement bracket that I needed to upgrade my stock mirrors to tow mirrors. I told them Driver side had a reinforcement bracket, the passenger side did not. They said they would search stock for a replacement.
So, I thought, " OK, they are going to send me the passenger reinforcement bracket".
At this point, I had already purchased a set of reinforcement brackets from A1, because it plainly says in the bottom of the ad that the brackets would be needed for aTow Mirror upgrade, and it was my fault for not seeing that on the original order. What I saw was "These mirrors will fit your 2001 Dodge Ram 2500" and I bought them.
The reinforcement brackets I had purchased came in, and I was waiting for the passenger bracket to come in tonight. That would give me 4 brackets and I would then return the purchased set (2 brackets) and get my $45 refunded.
Instead... they sent two more of the (same part number) tow mirrors. The idea of returning the original mirrors never came up as there was no need to do so, one bracket was all that was needed. I have no idea why they did this.
So now, I have 2 sets of tow mirrors and 3 reinforcement brackets.Maybe I'll get lucky and find a RH reinforcement bracket in the New set and I can return the brackets I purchased with the extra set of mirrors they sent.
Regardless, mirrors will be installed this weekend

 

[petersonj]

Reminds me of this,

- John

 

[GSP7]

All the kids put tow mirrors on their trucks and drive around extended and never tow anything cause they think they look cool like they are a "big rig" driver

 

[garylmoore]

Well. I can't say I am dissatisfied.
I called today, explained the situation, and they told me to keep the second set of mirrors and they refunded the bracket set I purchased.
My reply was "But they just could have sent a single bracket for the right side".
"That's not how our system works.
Keep the brackets, resell, or give away the mirrors, whatever you want to do.
We apologize for the delay."
Bizarre.

 

[petersonj]

"That's not how our system works.

I had a similar situation with Napa Auto Parts recently.

My brake hyraboost unit started leaking power steering fluid. I wanted to replace the unit with new - not re-manufactured. Couldn't find one in time for a planned trip, so I went with a re-manufactured unit from Napa locally because it was in stock and there was 20% off sale, a savings of $52.00.

So, I have the old one and the new (re-manufactured) one on the bench and the first thing I notice was that the new one has very limited travel on the pushrod and the pushrod is sticky. The pushrod in my old unit is smooth and travels freely from stop to stop.

It is a Saturday, so I return the unit to Napa and demonstrated the issue to the counter person. I was credited the full amount, not the 20% off sale amount. I pointed out that Napa would lose $52.00 in the transaction. The counter person said because I bought it on-line, "This is how it works." I pushed for me getting credit for the lesser price - the price that I actually paid - but to no avail.

I get home and finally find a source for a new hydraboost and order it. Sunday morning, I am thinking about that faulty hydraboost and all of a sudden it hits me. I'll bet there is nothing wrong that unit! I realized that I never removed the three protective caps in the ports while I was trying to move the pushrod back and forth. I go out to shop and block the return line of my old unit on the bench. Sure enough, the pushrod hardly moves and is sticky. Napa is closed on Sunday, so I call them first thing on Monday morning.

I explained what had happened and that I believed their unit was perfectly fine, AND, that it was ME who made the error and drew the wrong conclusion. I told them this so they would not have to return the unit as being defective. The long-time experienced counter person told me, "That's not how it works" (familiar phrase?). He said that once they receive a customer complaint about a part being defective, they have to return the part to the manufacturer to be tested and then Napa will receive an email regarding the results of the test. I said that I would willing to come right to the store and show them how my conclusion was invalid. He said that it wouldn't make any difference because the "the customer claimed the part to be defective", so they have to follow through and return the part. I said, "But I'm the customer and I telling you that I drew the wrong conclusion and the part is not defective." He said that it doesn't matter, "That's not the way the system works."

So, in the end, I make $52.00 and a perfectly good part gets sent back to the manufacturer for failure analysis. @garylmoore , you used the word "Bizarre". I agree.

- John

 

[Ozymandias]

Well. I can't say I am dissatisfied.
I called today, explained the situation, and they told me to keep the second set of mirrors and they refunded the bracket set I purchased.
My reply was "But they just could have sent a single bracket for the right side".
"That's not how our system works.
Keep the brackets, resell, or give away the mirrors, whatever you want to do.
We apologize for the delay."
Bizarre.

I told you, great customer service.

 

[garylmoore]

I tried putting the first mirror on today (by myself, not a good idea btw) and after five tries, called I called it a day with the mirror uninstalled.
It seemed to be a clearance problem because I never had more than 3 threads on the mounting screws to start the nut and the top mirror did not fit flush with the door.
I examined everything I was doing as I went along, making sure the wires were not being pinched, I removed a small wire retaining bracket to make sure it was not hitting the mount position on the door, and ran the wire in different ways trying to solve the problem. At the end, I compared the old and new mirrors side by side and found no differences. I did ended up finding one of the mounting studs was installed noticeably off center. Could that have been the problem? I guess it's possible.
Good thing having a spare.
Im getting a friend over Sunday to hold the thing in place for me and try the 2nd batch RH mirror, hopefully with better results.

 

[garylmoore]

I have the mirrors installed. It did take 2 people to do the job. Part of the problem was, unlike the original mirrors, the base where it touches the door, is not the same. At one point, using feeler gages, I have a gap of more than 65mm. Neither mirror really had a gasket where the body meets the mirror, only a piece of foam which is supposed to help minimize vibration.
This may be because my inch pound torque wrench was not functioning correctly and I had tightened as far as willing without feedback from the tool. A new inch pound torque wrench should be here Wednesday.
If the correct torque figure does not straighten the mounting surface, does it matter? I see little chance of water getting past the fasteners and both mirrors function fine otherwise.
thanks

 

[Ozymandias]

I never used a torque wrench for the installs I did, torqued them down and called it a day. When it sits flush it's good, I always wiggled them to seat'em while turning the nuts on with the ratched.

 

[petersonj]

At one point, using feeler gages, I have a gap of more than 65mm.

2.5 inches? You must have really large feeler gauges.

- John

 

[garylmoore]

2.5 inches? You must have really large feeler gauges.

- John

Umm. I dropped my decimal point. .65mm
Boy, is my face red

 

[garylmoore]

I never used a torque wrench for the installs I did, torqued them down and called it a day. When it sits flush it's good, I always wiggled them to seat'em while turning the nuts on with the ratched.

I was afraid of pulling the stud out of the mount. I'm not sure if I am high or low.

 

[petersonj]

Umm. I dropped my decimal point. .65mm

I was wondering if that might be the case. At first, I was concerned that you were testing us - you know, like what's a "mm"?, or what's a "cubit"?, etc. You almost snuck it by us!

- John

 

[Ozymandias]

I was afraid of pulling the stud out of the mount. I'm not sure if I am high or low.

You'd strip the nut first but anyway you don't need crazy torque there, just common sense for this 6mm bolt.