Is the sun visor in your Honda CR-V no longer doing its one job – staying up? It’s incredibly annoying (and potentially unsafe) when your sun visor constantly flops down, obstructing your view. This is a surprisingly common issue for many Honda owners, and if you’re dealing with a Honda CRV sun visor won’t stay up, you’re likely looking for a practical fix.
Over time, the internal mechanism in a sun visor that allows it to pivot and stay in place can wear out. The hinge loosens, and gravity takes over. The good news is that addressing a sun visor that keeps falling down is usually a straightforward process. You typically have two main options: attempting a repair or opting for a full replacement.
Let’s walk through how to fix a Honda CRV sun visor, covering both potential repair methods and the steps for replacement, depending on the severity of the issue.
Can Sun Visors Be Repaired? Sometimes, But It Depends
You might wonder, “can sun visors be repaired,” or are they a replace-only part? The answer is, sometimes, but it depends on exactly what’s broken.
- Minor Looseness: If the visor is just slightly loose where it clips into the ceiling, sometimes simply tightening the mounting screw (usually hidden under a plastic cover) can help.
- Internal Hinge Wear: If the problem is wear within the pivot mechanism itself, a lasting repair is difficult without disassembling the visor, which isn’t always designed to be taken apart easily. Attempting to glue or reinforce a worn hinge is usually a temporary fix, if it works at all.
For many cases where the visor seriously droops or keeps falling down due to a worn internal hinge, replacing the entire sun visor assembly is often the most reliable and long-term solution.
How to Take Off the Visor in a Honda CRV (Preparation for Repair or Replacement)
Whether you’re attempting a repair or planning to replace the sun visor, the first step is understanding how to take off the visor in a Honda CRV. The process is generally similar across many Honda models, including the HR-V and Pilot, although specific fastener locations might vary slightly depending on the model year.
Here are the typical steps involved in Honda sun visor removal:
- Locate the Mounting Screws: Look at the base of the sun visor where it attaches to the ceiling. There’s usually a plastic cover or cap hiding the mounting screws.
- Gently Pry Off the Cover: Use a small flathead screwdriver or a plastic trim tool to carefully pry off the plastic cover plate. Be gentle to avoid scratching the headliner or breaking the plastic tabs on the cover.
- Remove the Screws: Once the cover is off, you’ll typically see 2 or 3 Phillips head screws. Unscrew these.
- Disconnect Electrical Connector (If Applicable): If your sun visor has a vanity mirror light, there will be an electrical connector. Gently pull the visor down slightly to access the connector and disconnect it.
- Remove the Visor: The sun visor assembly should now be free and can be removed from the mounting bracket.
Understanding basic procedures for removing car components, much like learning how to remove Volkswagen lug nut covers without the tool, gives you confidence when tackling DIY car projects.
Honda Sun Visor Replacement: Putting in the New One
If repair isn’t feasible or hasn’t worked, replacing the sun visor assembly is the next step. This is often simpler than you might think once the old one is removed.
- Source a Replacement Visor: You can purchase a new sun visor from a Honda dealership (most expensive), an aftermarket auto parts supplier, or potentially find a used one in good condition at a junkyard for your specific Honda CR-V year and interior color. Look for a Honda sun visor replacement part that matches your vehicle. If you drive a different Honda model, like a Honda HRV sun visor replacement or a Honda Pilot sun visor replacement, ensure the part is correct for that specific vehicle.
- Connect Electrical (If Applicable): If your new visor has a vanity light, connect the electrical connector before mounting the visor fully.
- Position and Install Screws: Line up the new sun visor’s mounting bracket with the screw holes in the ceiling. Install the screws and tighten them snugly, but do not overtighten, as this can crack the plastic or strip the threads.
- Snap on the Cover: Reinstall the plastic cover plate over the mounting screws.
Replacing interior trim can feel daunting, but it’s often just a matter of carefully removing fasteners and clips, similar to addressing issues with a Jeep Grand Cherokee blend door actuator behind the dash – it just requires patience and the right steps.
“My Honda CR-V sun visor wouldn’t stay up at all, it just flopped down constantly. Sarah, 40, I looked into how to fix honda crv sun visor cost for a replacement and decided to order a new one online. Taking the old one off and putting the new one on only took about 15 minutes following a video guide. It was much easier than I expected.” – A Honda CR-V owner who replaced their sagging sun visor.
How Much to Fix a Broken Sun Visor? Considering the Costs
Understanding how much to fix a broken sun visor depends on whether you repair it yourself (if possible) or replace it, and whether you do the replacement yourself or hire a professional.
- DIY Repair (Minor): If it’s just a loose screw, the cost is zero or minimal (cost of a screwdriver). If attempting a glue or makeshift fix, the cost is minimal but the chance of success is low.
- DIY Replacement: The main cost here is the price of the replacement sun visor. An aftermarket or used visor might cost $50-$150+, while an OEM part from the dealership could be $150 – $300 or more. Your labor is free.
- Professional Replacement: You’ll pay for the part (often an OEM part from the dealer) plus labor costs. Labor to replace a sun visor is usually minimal (often less than an hour), but shop rates vary. Total cost for professional replacement could range from $200 to $500+, depending on the part cost and labor rates in your area. If you’re searching for “sun visor repair near me,” factor in local labor costs.
There have been discussions online about a Honda CRV sun visor recall for certain years regarding potential issues, often related to the vanity mirror wiring posing a fire risk, rather than specifically a sagging issue. It’s always a good idea to check the NHTSA website or contact a Honda dealership with your VIN to see if your specific vehicle is covered by any open recalls related to the sun visors or any other component.
“My driver’s side visor hinge snapped completely on my Honda CR-V. Robert, 50, there was no way to repair that. I checked how much to fix a broken sun visor by replacing it myself versus going to a shop. Buying an aftermarket part online was the cheapest option, and I swapped it out in my driveway on a Saturday morning.” – A Honda CR-V owner whose visor hinge was completely broken.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do you fix a sun visor that keeps falling down?
A: For a visor that keeps falling down, the most reliable fix is usually replacing the entire sun visor assembly, as the internal hinge is likely worn out. Minor looseness might be fixed by tightening mounting screws.
Q: Can sun visors be repaired if they are broken?
A: Minor issues like a loose screw might be considered a repair. However, if the internal hinge mechanism is broken or worn, a lasting repair is often difficult, and replacement of the entire unit is usually the recommended solution.
Q: What is the typical cost to fix a sun visor that won’t stay up?
A: The how to fix honda crv sun visor cost largely depends on whether you replace it yourself ($50 – $300+ for the part) or pay a professional ($200 – $500+ including parts and labor).
Q: Is there a Honda CRV sun visor recall?
A: While there have been some recalls related to Honda sun visors for potential electrical issues (like vanity mirror wiring), there hasn’t been a universal recall specifically for sagging or failing visor hinges across all years. Check with a Honda dealership or NHTSA using your VIN.
Q: Can a sagging sun visor in a Honda HR-V or Pilot be fixed the same way as a CR-V?
A: Yes, the general principles of Honda sun visor replacement involving removing mounting screws and disconnecting electrical connectors are similar across many Honda models like the HR-V and Pilot, although the specific mounting points and parts will differ.
Conclusion
A faulty sun visor that keeps falling down is a common nuisance for Honda CR-V owners, but thankfully, it’s a problem with clear solutions. Understanding how to fix a Honda CRV sun visor involves knowing that while minor issues might be repairable, a full Honda sun visor replacement is often the most effective way to permanently fix a sagging or broken visor. The process to how to take off the visor in a Honda CRV is straightforward, making DIY replacement a feasible option for many. While you consider how much to fix a broken sun visor, remember that doing it yourself can save significantly on labor costs. By identifying the problem and choosing the right approach – whether it’s a DIY swap or a visit to a local repair shop – you can get that visor back in working order and restore comfort and safety to your driving experience.
