F-150 - Side View Mirror Replacement 🚙

Got it—you want to replace the side mirrors on your Lariat. I’ll walk you through the OEM-style process for the front doors.

Quick Questions Before We Start ❓

• 🔧 Do your mirrors have power fold and/or memory (they fold in with a button and store seat/mirror positions)?
• 🔧 Do they have BLIS (blind spot warning) and/or turn signal / puddle lamps in the mirror?

If you’re not sure, I’ll give the full “loaded mirror” procedure that covers all wiring—just plug in what you have.

Tools & Supplies 🧰

• 🔧 Socket set with:
  • 8 mm socket (mirror nuts)
  • 7 mm socket (door panel screws)
• 🔧 Ratchet and short extension
• 🔧 Trim removal tool (plastic pry tool to pop clips without scratching)
• 🔧 Small flat screwdriver (for electrical connector locks)
• 🔧 Torx T20 driver (for some door handle screws if needed)
• 🔧 Painter’s tape (to protect paint at mirror base)
• 🔧 Magnet pickup tool (handy if a nut drops inside the door)
• 🔧 Safety glasses and mechanic gloves

Safety & Prep ⚠️

• ⚠️ Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and turn ignition OFF.
• ⚠️ If your mirrors are power fold / memory / BLIS, disconnect the negative battery cable (10 mm) to avoid any electrical glitches or short circuits.
• ⚠️ Keep the window fully up so you don’t hit the glass when working near the top of the door.

F-150 - Door Panel Removal (Front Door) 🚪

You need the door panel off to reach the mirror wiring and mounting nuts.

1. Protect the paint 🙂
   • Apply painter’s tape around the mirror base on the door outside. This helps prevent chips if the mirror shifts while you remove it.
2. Remove the sail panel trim (small triangle inside by the mirror)
   • Use a plastic trim tool and gently pry the small triangular cover at the top front of the door panel (inside, near the mirror).
   • Pull straight toward you; it’s held by clips. Set it aside.
3. Remove door panel screws
   • Behind the interior door handle, pop off the small trim cover with the trim tool; remove the 7 mm screw behind it.
   • In the door pull/armrest pocket, remove the rubber mat and the two 7 mm screws underneath.
   • On some trucks, there may be a lower edge 7 mm screw—check along the bottom of the panel and remove any you see.
4. Release the door panel clips
   • Starting at the bottom corner, slide the trim tool between the panel and the metal door.
   • Gently pry outward to pop the plastic clips. Work your way around the sides and bottom.
   • It will sound “poppy”—that’s normal.
5. Lift the door panel off
   • Once all clips are loose, lift the panel straight up to unhook it from the top edge by the window.
   • Support the panel with one hand; don’t yank it away yet—wires are still attached.
6. Disconnect wiring and cables
   • Unplug the window/mirror switch connector (press the tab and pull).
   • At the back of the interior door handle, you’ll see two cables (latch and lock). Note their routing, then:
     • Flip the plastic retainers out of their brackets.
     • Rotate the cable ends out of the handle levers.
   • Unplug any courtesy light connector at the bottom of the panel if equipped.
   • Set the door panel somewhere safe, face up.

F-150 - Mirror Removal 🔧

1. Locate the mirror connector
   • At the top front of the door (behind where the sail panel was), find the mirror wiring connector.
   • Press the locking tab and unplug it. If there’s a red secondary lock, slide it back first with a small screwdriver.
2. Support the mirror
   • From outside, hold the mirror housing with one hand so it doesn’t fall when the nuts come off.
   • If you’re alone, you can loosely thread one nut off last to keep it from dropping.
3. Remove mirror mounting nuts
   • Using an 8 mm socket and extension, remove the three nuts holding the mirror to the door.
   • Be careful not to drop them inside the door; use a magnet if one falls.
4. Remove the mirror
   • Feed the mirror wiring out through the hole.
   • Carefully pull the mirror away from the door, watching the paint and tape area.
   • Set the old mirror aside.

F-150 - New Mirror Installation 🆕

1. Compare old and new mirrors
   • Check:
     • Same number and shape of mounting studs
     • Same connector type and number of pins
     • Same features: heat, power fold, turn signal, puddle lamp, BLIS if equipped
   • If anything doesn’t match, don’t force it—wrong part.
2. Install the new mirror
   • Feed the new mirror wiring through the door opening.
   • Align the studs with the holes and seat the mirror against the door.
   • From inside, install the three 8 mm nuts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
3. Tighten mirror nuts
   • Use the 8 mm socket to snug them evenly.
   • Torque spec: about 8–10 N·m (71–89 in-lb)—just firm hand tight, not gorilla tight, or you can crack the mirror base.
4. Reconnect the mirror wiring
   • Plug the connector back in until it clicks.
   • Re-engage any red secondary lock if present.
   • Secure the harness in its clips so it doesn’t rattle.

Door Panel Reinstallation 🔁

1. Reconnect cables and wiring
   • Reattach the door latch and lock cables to the interior handle:
     • Hook the cable ends into the levers.
     • Snap the plastic retainers back into their brackets.
   • Plug in the window/mirror switch connector.
   • Reconnect any courtesy light connector at the bottom.
2. Hang the door panel
   • Hook the top edge of the panel over the door flange by the window.
   • Once it’s seated at the top, push the panel straight in so the clips line up.
3. Seat the clips
   • Firmly smack around the edges of the panel with the heel of your hand to snap all clips back in.
4. Reinstall screws and trim
   • Reinstall the 7 mm screws in:
     • Door pull/armrest (2 screws)
     • Behind the interior handle (1 screw)
     • Any lower edge screw if your truck had one
   • Reinstall the small trim cover behind the handle.
   • Snap the sail panel trim back over the mirror area.

Electrical & Feature Check 🔌

1. Reconnect the battery (if you disconnected it)
   • Reattach the negative cable and tighten the 10 mm nut snugly.
2. Test mirror functions
   • Turn ignition to RUN.
   • Check:
     • Power adjustment (all directions)
     • Heated mirror (turn on rear defrost; mirror should warm after a few minutes)
     • Power fold (if equipped)
     • Turn signal in mirror (if equipped)
     • Puddle lamp (if equipped; unlock truck at night)
     • BLIS (if equipped; warning icon should light briefly at startup)

Tips & Tricks 💡

• 🧰 Do one side at a time so you can look at the other door as a reference for clip and cable routing.
• 🧰 If a clip stays in the door instead of the panel, pry it out with the trim tool and snap it back onto the panel before reinstalling.
• 🧰 If you get a window or lock behaving oddly after reconnecting the battery, cycle the window fully down and up and lock/unlock a few times—this often “relearns” positions.

If you tell me whether your mirrors are power-fold, memory, and/or BLIS, I can add any extra feature-specific notes (like memory reset) for your exact setup.

HowToo makes it easy: below this answer you’ll see compatible replacement mirrors and any trim tools you might need. You can add them to your cart right from the parts section for fast shipping.