Dome light cover rattle - anybody fixed this?

[raymo19]

I pondered where best to put this thread and decided to put it here because I for one spend a lot of time here. :D

I've been hearing a rattling/buzzing sound for some time which is exascerbated by the clutch buzz. As with many such noises it's often hard to determine where the sound is coming from. I finally pressed on the dome light cover and the noise stopped.

Now if it's rattling I push up on it and it stops then starts up again after a while.

I thought I'd check here to make sure I'm not reinventing the wheel before I try to devise a fix.

Anybody had this before?

[repiv]

Mine has never rattled, but you might want to take the dome light cover off and drive around for a while and see if the rattle is still there. It might be something in the light assembly that's rattling and when you push on the cover, you push on the assembly as well.

[raymo19]

That seems reasonable. How then does one go about removing the cover if you've done it?

I couldn't help but notice it's 12 degrees according to your sig. Pretty balmy for this time of year eh?

[repiv]

The cover is a pressure fit. It's just slightly bigger than the opening it covers. You have to carefully pry off one side and then pull it down. I would suggest a small flat bladed screw driver with the tip covered with masking tape (to prevent scratching) and slip it into an end edge and prying it inward and down. Speaking of temps ........ :p ............. don't pry it off if it's too cold. A warm cover will bend easier. Once you've discovered exactly what makes the noise, some strategically placed tape or rubber/foam bits should do the trick.

It just quit snowing here this morning. Snowed through the night. Not too cold. Not like it was some weeks ago when our brass monkey was holding its crotch. taped

[raymo19]

It's supposed to rain this weekend with temps in the 60s so I'll probably give it a shot on Saturday. I guess putting the cover back on is pretty much the opposite of removing it?

I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks.

[repiv]

Putting it back is a lot easier since you only have to push on it, sorta like closing a Tupperware lid. Work it around and the last bit pops in.

[raymo19]

Turns out this is a pretty easy fix. The first thing I learned (after some trial and error) is that both the front and back of the dome light cover are tabbed and slotted:

http://www.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15276/6332cover1-med.jpg

After the cover was removed I found that there was a bit of play between the fixture and the receptacle even with the two hex head screws tight. After removing the screws the next discovery was that by pulling down on the fixture from the rear with moderate force it will come loose and allow access to the receptacle. You can allow the fixture to hang by the wiring harness.

The next problem to solve was to find some material to take up the play while still being thin enough to allow the screws to fasten the fixture to the receptacle. I found some 1/16" 3M double sided tape in the garage and cut it into thirds longwise then cut those into 1.5" strips.

http://www.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15276/6332tools1-med.jpg

Then placed tape on all four sides while ensuring that the tape did not interfere with the locking tabs on the fixture:

http://www.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15276/6332tape1-med.jpg

Then reinstall the fixture and replace the screws:

http://www.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15276/6332reinst1-med.jpg

I left the dome cover on the hearth for a while to ensure it would be pliable and then snapped it back into place:

http://www.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15276/6332reinst2-med.jpg

Went for a drive and no more rattle. At least not from the dome light. But I did notice a couple of other noises I couldn't hear before...but that's another thread.

Another observation from this fix - with the fixture hanging by the harness neither the light "on" switch nor the map light switches work. Apparently the screws serve as the ground for those functions.

Sorry if this is a bit verbose. It's my first DIY that as far as I know no one else has done. Hope it helps someone down the road.

And Happy New Year! :D

[willinathen]

Great write up Raymo

:thumbsup:

Willinathen