I have a 2002 Acura TL. I saw some posts while scrolling through the forum about the rear view mirror potentially exploding/leaking chemical fluid and was wondering how can I tell if mine has been replaced to the fixed version? And is there a way to maybe cover it with something so if it were to happen it wouldn’t go all over me/ the interior. Thanks for any help

 

I think someone is pulling your leg. There is no liquid or chemicals (ok, a little grease) in the rear view mirror.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1...ispreloading=1
here is the link, there’s quite a few other ones like it

 

 

Well if it is true I stand corrected. I had to replace my mirror as the plastic cracked and it wouldn't hold its position. I did not see any liquid other than a little grease around ball joint. If it does contain mercury it will outgas at room temp. If you are concerned I would replace the mirror with one where you can verify the list of materials.

 

yeah I mean a little concerning but i feel like it can’t be that common since that post is a long time ago. Where did you get the replacement mirror from? And did it look identical to the old one?

 

If anyone has anymore information, or maybe a place to get a mirror with no auto dimming feature that fits right on, it would be greatly appreciated

 

I bought the mirror on eBay a little over 2 years ago. It was identical to one I had, I believe the part number fits 99-08.

76400-SEP-A02ZA replaces 76400-S0K-A01ZA, 76400-S0K-A01ZB, 76400-SEP-A01ZA

 

hey man so sorry but I have one more question. On the back of your rear view mirror that you got from eBay, is the branding on the back “Donnelly” or just “magna” this will help me know if I need the new one

 

I would check for you but I sold my 2002 TL about five years ago to friends, and they recently got rid of it on the recommendation of their mechanic (too much corrosion). The car was badly showing its age. My original rearview mirror "exploded" on a very hot day. The liquid didn't go everywhere; it only dripped onto the plastic shifter plate. I don't know if the shifter plate was damaged as a result of a chemical reaction or if the liquid just hardened like plastic onto it, but the dried result looked really ugly. I went to a body shop, and they sanded and repainted the shifter plate and made it look like new again. I discovered the mess the day after it happened. I'm really sensitive to chemical smells, and to be honest I didn't notice any unusual smells or anything concerning at all other than the cosmetic damage to the shifter plate. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about this--at least based on my own experience. Especially if your car is garaged, I think you'll be okay. My car was parked out in the hot sun in an urban area when the mirror failed. In any case, can't you tell from the part number whether you got the new model or the old one?

 

Sorry missed the question. I checked the back and there is no markings to indicate mfg.