2017 Honda Pilot Passenger Side Mirror Replacement With Camera

Okay, so picture this: I'm parallel parking (a skill I thought I'd mastered, but apparently not), and there's this rogue shopping cart. It's not my fault, okay? It was possessed by a malevolent force, I swear. Anyway, crunch. My passenger side mirror on my 2017 Honda Pilot kissed that cart goodnight. And by "kissed," I mean completely shattered the housing. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

Of course, being the slightly-less-than-competent-but-still-determined DIYer that I am, I decided to tackle the replacement myself. (Because why pay someone else when I can potentially cause more damage? Just kidding... mostly.) And guess what? This particular mirror also happened to house the blind spot camera. Fancy, right? Which made things… interesting.

So, here's the lowdown on replacing a 2017 Honda Pilot passenger side mirror with that little camera buddy inside. Don’t panic! It's totally doable, even if you're like me and your mechanical skills peak at assembling IKEA furniture. (And sometimes even that's a struggle, am I right?)

Tools of the Trade (aka Things You Probably Already Have)

First things first, gather your supplies. You'll need:

• A replacement side mirror assembly (obviously). Make sure it's the correct one with the camera! Trust me on this. Check your VIN. Double-check it. Triple-check it.
• A socket wrench set. Specifically, you'll need the right socket size for the mirror mounting bolts. I think it was a 10mm, but double check.
• A panel removal tool (or a flathead screwdriver very carefully wrapped in tape to avoid scratching your paint. But seriously, get the panel tool. It’s worth the few bucks).
• A Phillips head screwdriver.
• Some patience. And maybe a beverage of your choice. (Water, please. Safety first!).

Getting Started: Door Panel Dive

The first step is getting inside the door. You'll need to remove the interior door panel. This is where the panel removal tool (or meticulously wrapped screwdriver) comes in handy. You're looking for screws, usually hidden behind plastic covers. Pop those covers off gently, unscrew the screws, and then carefully pry the panel away from the door. Be gentle! You don't want to break any of the plastic clips holding it in place.

Once the panel is loose, you'll likely need to disconnect some electrical connectors for the power windows and door lock. Take pictures! Seriously. This will save you a world of headache later when you're trying to remember which connector goes where. Ask me how I know…

Mirror, Mirror on the… Door

Now you should have access to the inside of the mirror mounting area. You'll see three bolts holding the old mirror in place. Disconnect the wiring harness for the mirror and the camera. This is crucial! Don't just yank it! There's usually a little clip you need to press to release the connector.

Unbolt the mirror. It might take a little wiggling, but it should come right off. Careful not to drop it and scratch your paint. (Like I almost did. Close call!).

Installation is Just Reverse Removal (Supposedly)

Now comes the fun part: installing the new mirror. Line up the new mirror and bolt it in place. Don't overtighten the bolts! You don't want to strip the threads. Just snug them up nicely.

Connect the wiring harness for the mirror and camera. Make sure it clicks into place securely. No one wants flickering blind spot monitors. (Especially not in my car.)

Putting it All Back Together

Reattach the door panel. Reconnect all those electrical connectors you so wisely photographed earlier. (Good job, you!). Snap the panel back into place and screw in the screws you removed. Replace the plastic covers. And voila! You're done.

Test everything before you declare victory. Make sure the power mirror functions work correctly, and most importantly, that the camera is working. If the camera isn’t working, you may have a bad connection or… worse. Hopefully not worse.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully replaced your 2017 Honda Pilot passenger side mirror with the camera. Now you can go back to parallel parking with slightly more confidence. Maybe avoid rogue shopping carts next time, though. Just a thought.