How do I drop the headlining?
 

I've been having a problem with creaks coming from my headlining and I just can't bear it any more (particularly as AutoWindscreens introduced a new one at the front of the dashboard when they fitted a new screen), so I want to drop the headlining and find what's lose or put some foam between surfaces.

I could go by trial and error, but it could save me a lot of pain and distress if someone here could has step by step instructions as to how to remove it.

Thanks in advance.

Before you rush to strip half the interior, check out the B pillars...

The facelifts are famous for the B pillar black strip on the outside rubbing at the top.

Because its an outside noise that is tranmitted inside through the metal its tough to spot.

You can remove the top part of the drivers B pillar interior to reveal 2 10mm bolts that hold it on to the outside. Remove it, and go for a drive.. Its worth doing first as the roof lining will require all the grab handles, a,b,c&d trims, reading lights, all 3 sun visors, sunroof controls and sunroof tray trims removing.... and, there not really anything up there to squeak to be honest.

Once you've removed that lot, it will come down from the front and push it back towards the rear of the car to disengage it from some hooks that hold it to the rear. If you pull down at the rear you *will* break the lining clips that hold it... +++ Yes, thats experience speaking :rolleyes:

Thanks Ian, I'll try that, but I know that one of the noises is coming from some kind of movement between the metal edge of the sunroof surround and the headlining just above the passenger's head. If I open the sunroof and pull down on the metal strip it stops the noise. I already removed the sunroof switch etc and tried to wedge something in there, but that didn't work. I could feel the cables for the sunroof and noticed that the foam around them had come off a bit, so I wondered if it might be that.

The second noise appears to come from the rear of the car in the roof, but perhaps that's the B-Pillar noise. I wonder if some mobile-phone fitter had the headlining down in the past and left something to rattle about. I find these guys are responsible for many such annoyances.

Ian, which one are the B pillars, I've got a creaking in my car that's doing my head in!?

Edit, just reread it and worked it out, will try that tomorrow. I'm 90% sure its coming from that area. Other passengers in the car struggle to hear it, its just i'm a little anal about these things.

Start at the windscreen and work towards the rear alphabetically:

A pillar - windscreen
B pillar - between front and rear doors
C / D pillars - At rear where roof meets rear screen.

HTH.

Ian