How To Fix A Car Sun Visor That Won’t Stay Closed

The car sun visor is probably not the most important part of a car. It’s safe to say that this particular part of an automobile is far down the list of items that are essential for driving a car. Still, it is important because it blocks the sun from your eyes when you drive the car directly toward the east or west depending on the time of day.

It is not uncommon for a sun visor to become so loose that it falls and remains down. Should this occur there are a number of ways to fix it.

The easiest method to fix a falling sun visor is to use Velcro. A strip of Velcro can be purchased online or from a number of stores for only a few dollars. Other methods include: nuts and bolts, VisoRiser, and zip ties. 

Why Repair A Sun Visor In The First Place

As already mentioned, a car sun visor is an item that is not often considered when maintaining the interior of your car. However, it’s there for a reason.

• It can prevent an accident if the driver has to look directly into the sun.
• It needs to be in good working order so that it doesn’t loosen and fall down and obstruct your view of the road.
• Protects the interior of the car from the heat of the sun.

How To Fix A Car Sun Visor That Won’t Stay Closed

A car sun visor that won’t stay closed can be both annoying and a potential distraction while driving. To fix it, start by tightening any visible screws on the visor mount, as they can become loose over time. If the visor has lost tension, try inserting a small piece of velcro or double-sided tape between the visor and the roof to provide added resistance. If these solutions don’t work, the internal spring mechanism might be worn out, and the visor may need to be replaced.

Method 1: Using Velcro

With the Velcro in hand, enter the car from the driver’s side door and sit in the drivers seat. Open the visor and then slide it toward the passenger seat. The sun visor arm that keeps the visor on the frame becomes visible. 

Wrap a thin strip of Velcro around the arm where it starts to thin out. Slide the visor back toward the driver’s window so that the arm is hidden within it. Now raise the visor into the closed position. There you have it. The fix took only a few minutes yet the visor works as good as new.

Method 2: Fixing A Loose Sun Visor With Nuts and Bolts

You shouldn’t expect the other methods of fixing a sun visor that won’t close, would be as easy as the Velcro method. Still, people that need the fix have come up with some ingenious ways to solve the problem.

As shown in the above instructions, you may have to fix a loose sun visor on a particular model car. This can be achieved using nuts and bolts no matter what model car the visor is on.

If you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer, then you will find this particular method to your liking.

The items you will need to fix a sun visor using this method include:

• A common hand drill
• 2 bolts
• 2 locking washers
• 4 flat washers
• 2 nuts
• Marker
• Ruler

Step-by-step instructions

1. Measure 2-inches from an anchor that connects the visor to the roof and mark the location.
2. Measure a ½-inch from the top of the visor and make a mark. The marks should be placed on the arm of the visor.
3. Use the hand drill to make holes in the two marks
4. Place a flat washer directly over each hole
5. Shove a bolt through each washer and hole.
6. On the other side of the visor, place a flat washer on the screws. This will maintain equal pressure through the visor.
7. Place a nut over the locking washers.
8. Tighten the nuts.

Method 3: Using A VISORiser

If you don’t have any do-it-yourself skills, but would rather fix a loose sun visor yourself, then a simple fix can be done using a VisoRiser™.

This is an ingenious item that can easily be placed on a loose visor so that it closes. It is designed to fit all styles of sun visors.

Step-by-step Instructions On How To Install The VISORiser:

1. Flip the visor up
2. Face the VISORiser toward you
3. Place your index finger over the VISORiser where the visor ends.
4. Remove the VISORiser from the car visor.
5. Flip the VISORiser keeping the finger on the chosen point.
6. Gently bend the VISORiser and flip it back to the prior position.
7. Insert the VISORiser over the car sun visor.

Method 4: Using Zip Ties to Fix A Loose Sun Visor

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1. Pull the visor from its arm so that there is a sufficient amount of space behind the arm.
2. Place a zip tie parallel to the sun visor arm and push it inside the visor.
3. Slip the visor back to its original place and check to see if the zip tie is providing friction inside the visor.
4. If more friction is required, repeat step 2 with a second zip tie.

How To Repair Sun Visor On a 2002 Toyota Highlander

Some visors are customized to a specific model car. It is advised that you consult with your car dealer to determine how to fix a visor in your particular car.

The tools and materials you will need to repair a loose sun visor on a 2002 Toyota Highlander include:

• 1 ¼-inch by 5/8-inch hose clamp
• A hobby knife
• Phillips screw driver
• Small flat head screw driver
• Loaded hot glue gun
• A 1-inch long ridged piece of sheet metal or aluminum with an arc in it

The ridged piece of sheet metal should be thin enough to fit between the clamp and shaft.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Use the flathead screwdriver to lightly force the screw cover off the mounting bracket to reveal the two screws.
2. Use the Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the two screws and set them aside.
3. Carefully glide the bracket from the hole to reveal the electrical connector.
4. Pinch the clasp and gently pull the connector apart to disconnect it. Take care not to pull the wire out of the socket. Make sure that the connector doesn’t snap back into the hole to assure that it’s easier to reconnect when re-assembling the visor.
5. Expose the shaft.
6. Measure 1-1/8-inches along the seam of the shaft starting from where the shaft enters the visor and make a mark with the hobby knife.
7. Gently cut along the seam from the mark toward the shaft.  Don’t cut in too far.
8. Spread the flaps and cut away the foam that covers the shaft so it is clean up to the gray piece.
9. Unscrew the clamp and open it wide enough to place it over the shaft.
10.  Place the clamp over the shaft and screw it down. Work the screw toward the gray piece to assure that it gets on the shaft at the elbow.
11. Tighten the clamp down on to the shaft and then back it off about ¼ turn. This will assure that it slide in easier so it won’t get hung up on the foam below the shaft.
12. Slide the clamp up to the gray piece.
13. Unscrew enough to get the piece of metal stock between the clamp and the shaft
14. Slide the metal stock piece between the clamp and the shaft and on top of the gray piece. Once in position, tighten it down.
15.  Use the small flathead screwdriver to guide the tail of the clamp until it stays along the curve of the shaft and tighten down.
16. Re-set the flaps to see how it looks.
17. Spread the two flaps.
18. Use the hot glue gun to fill in where needed. Generously flow the glue so it fills around the clamp.
19.  As the glue cools, apply pressure to the flaps to form it until the glue is set.
20.  Re-install the visor.

Important Considerations

Should you ever come to a point in time when you need to fix a sun visor because it doesn’t close, then there are certain preliminary things to consider before you get started.

Fixed Mounted Or Swivel Mounted 

First, there are different styles of sun visors –- the fixed-mounted and the swivel-mounted.
The fixed-mounted visor can simply be opened to block the sun or closed. It features a bar that runs across the ceiling of the car and a clip that fastens to one end of the visor.

This style of visor may come loose because the clip may weaken and thus lose it grip on the visor over time. A worn clip is a reason why fixed-mounted visors droop or even break off. 

If the clips are the reason why the visor won’t close, then simply tighten the screws of the visor or insert rubber material into the clips to enhance their grip. If the clip is damaged, then replace it.

If your sun visor is the swivel-mount variety, it features a more sophisticated design that the fixed-mounted version and will be somewhat harder to fix. 

A swivel mount includes a swivel bar that is attached to the ceiling on the driver’s door side. A clip appears on the other end of the bar. This style visor has a wide range of movement so it can be adjusted or simply pushed closed.

Just like the fix-mount visor, the swivel mount can wear over time due to constant movement up and down or back and forth. When it is worn it can droop. The fix for this is to simply tighten the screws. Be sure not to tighten the screws too much or you won’t be able to move the visor.

You should also consider what the visor is made of. so that you can plan your own fix. The visor features a single sheet of fiberboard that is covered by vinyl or cloth. It is attached to a pivot located on the upper side of the windshield. A common visor also includes a pre-fitted mirror or a mirror that includes a light.

Final Thoughts

You can probably create your own method of repairing a loose car sun visor.

Inspect the visor carefully and consider a plan, gather the items you need to complete the task and then execute your plan. You may be interested in our guide on fixing sunroofs.