General Interior dome light - Is something missing?

[Tom95]

Hi all, the dome light in my Panda rattles a fair bit (over bumps and such). I've pulled the light unit out of the ceiling as-per the manual and have noticed something a little peculiar... There are some plastic clips loosely holding the light 'cradle' to the ceiling and a hole in the centre that looks as though it's meant to have a screw through it to fasten it securely to the roof panel.

Would anyone please be so kind to take a look on their car and tell me if indeed there's meant to be a screw in the centre?

Many thanks

 

[Tom95]

Here's a photo of the location in question

 

[lunchbeers]

When I dropped my headlining to fit the sunglasses box, there was nothing securing this to the roof panel if I recall, only the visor fixing brackets.

Happy to have a double check for you though.

 

[Tom95]

Yeah thanks, I'd appreciate it. It just seems odd that it moves around so much - even when clipped in there's a good 5mm or so of vertical movement if you press on it. I don't remember my other one ever being like that

 

[lunchbeers]

Sorry, forgot to snap a pic, mine has no fixing and there is a few mm lertal movement, bit otherwise the headlining keeps it pretty tight to the inside of the roof.

No rattles or noise from my light to speak of.

 

[Tom95]

Hmm, that's interesting. Thanks for that. I do know that the roof panel on my car was previously replaced due to a branch falling on it. I wonder if the headlining has become damaged/mis-shapen in the process and is therefore not securing the dome light?

I might have a bit of a play around with some 'packing' inbetween the cradle and lining to try and take up the slack

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

So far as I can recall, the metal part in the roof is only there as a heat shield from the bulbs. The interior light is retained by clips on the lamp unit itself, which grip the headlining material. If you have the light with a single bulb, the plastic clips are on the short edges of the unit. One is a ‘fixed’ part, while that at the other is U shaped to provide springiness. If you have the older-style light with separate bulbs for driver and passenger, the spring clips are made of metal and they and the holding tabs are on the long edges of the lamp - see photo. It seems more likely that one of these is broken? (Photo in next post as can’t add later to this one from phone)

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Here’s the photo (from an eBay ad)