This has happened a few times now in the past month, in which I chuckle at as an example of British build quality after normally driving Audis. It seems the clips may just be worn out and need to be replaced, but is this a common problem and is there a best practice fix? Didn't see a thread in search.

 

It will seat very firmly and not fall if all three clips are in place and in good shape. The plastic tab for the clip in front is a bit fragile, I hope yours is still intact.

 

Watch out for your fingers on those spring metal clips - they have a bite like a rabid dog.

Graham

 

Yep. Kind of embarrassing, isn't it? Not a subtle failure, right out there for everyone to see.

There were two causes for my particular problem. I'm assuming yours clips in the same way as my 1997, but not sure. Anyway, in my car there are three clips...two closest to the windshield, and one closest to the rear. The rear clip had broken on mine, and really isn't fixable.

What caused the repeated falling was this: after I had investigated my broken rear clip, I could never get the two front clips to fully engage. They would go in...mostly...but never really snap into place and hold the unit for more than a day or so.

Long story short (and from memory), the two front clips snap into a flat, rectangular plastic piece. This plastic piece is hanging from above by its ends, and has about one-half inch of space above it. The clips from your panel fit into holes in the rectangular plastic piece, and snap into place.

In my car, the rectangular plastic piece would bend upwards whenever I pushed up on the panel to secure it. The clips on the panel would meet the holes in the rectangular plastic piece, and go partly in...and then the plastic piece would bend instead of allowing the clips to fully engage. So it would hold for a little while, and then fall again.

So the fix was to prevent the rectangular plastic piece from bending upwards with pressure, so that the panel clips can fully engage and hold tightly. I cut a very small piece of wood to insert between the rectangular plastic piece and the roof of the car. Thick enough to prevent the plastic piece from bending upwards with pressure, but also narrow enough not to block the two holes for the panel clips. It worked, and the sucker hasn't fallen since. Nice and tight.

Good luck!


.

 

Embarassing indeed. Yes, there are 3 clips and all are fine, fortunately. All clips in place, just wondering if they're worn out or perhaps it's the plastic bra... wha... what! Cerberus66! I just spotted your Velcro bodge job!

Alright, looks like I need a new plastic bracket.

EDIT: Stuck more Velcro up there for starters... it's holding...

 

Update- the Velcro only holds for a fortnight, then randomly falls out. Stick, repeat. Top down, even more embarrassing.

Is a parts car going to be my best bet for that plastic bracket?

 

Hi.
I'd say to use 2mm 3M Sticker Adhesive double sided glue stick tape. It holds many plastic parts in my car together very well while in AZ (110 degrees in summer is no BS ). After all, it's meant to be used in cell industry to hold LCD screens and digitizers in one peace without any flex...
Below is a link to such tape on Amazon:

Hope this broadens your options .

 

That may be the ticket, though 2mm seems a bit small. I'll bookmark it, but may have some double-sided tape that'll do a better job at this, thanks for that.

We've got those same temps here in Dallas, so this will only get worse if I don't fix it before.

 

A new bracket should only be about 7 bucks at your local dealer. This is it: Jaguar Parts - Direct JPLV Porsche Parts.com

 

had this happen a while back - tried double stick and velcro - neither worked and bought plastic bracket - no issues since

 

Just did this job after a hose replacement. Buy the new bracket (mine was half gone) and if it won't snap in tight put a small washer under each side of the bracket. Worked like a charm for me.

 

Finally got around to fixing this as well- same here after my hydraulic system overhaul. Quick/cheap/easy fix that bracket is! Panel is now secure. Got it from Gaudin for $20 shipped.

 

Thanks... I don't suppose the tiny black clips come with that piece do they? They are all that broke on mine, and I can't imagine trying to get something so trivial at the dealer (even if they had them). Would be worth the $7 just to get the clips, esp if I could get a spare or two in the process. Obviously a wear item so I don't want it second-hand. Sort of like the little black trim caps on the cowl... my car has been missing one since I got it but I can't imagine trying to source something so trivial.

 

Sorry no, just that black bracket with the 3 holes. It may take a new panel in your case but I'm not positive.

 

The jaguar part # for the black mounting bracket is hja2057ab. List price $11.70 cdn from any jaguar dealer.