Should These Thumbscrews be Loose?

I was installing mud flaps today. After installing one of the rear flaps I tugged at it to see if it was on tight. The entire rear quarter panel moved, which concerned me a little. Then I noticed that there were some thumbscrews (about 5) that hold the inner fender to the car. They were all quite loose. I tightened them finger tight (not very tight, IOW) and the rear quarter panel no longer moves around. Here's a picture of two of the thumbscrews:



Here's my question: Are they supposed to be loose, finger tight or tight? (Maybe they're supposed to be loose to prevent squeaking or comething). Any ideas?

 

Hasn't anybody gone out to see if their rear quarter panel is loose and flimsey and easy to move around? (One of the benefits of hand washing and waxing your car is you notice stuff like this.)

Just grab the corner right behind the rear tire and give it a pull or push. If it moves, you can easily reach the rear thumbscrew with the wheel on and tighten it up to see a big change in how stiff the body becomes.

 

Thanks for the input, parnami. I've now driven about 150 miles, half highway, and not had any squeeks or other ill effects due to tightening these nuts. I'm glad I tightened them, though, as the rear quarter panel would flex a lot before and is stiff now. I'd hate to see the paint crack or other damage occur due to overly loose assembly.

 

Was the rear quarter panel (really, the lower corner of the bumper cover) on your car loose? Did it become taught after doing this?

 

I had the rear wheel off when I took that photo. The thumbscrews are in the rear fender wells, behind the rear tires. You can reach around the rear tire and tighten two or three of them but you'll have to remove the rear tire (or put the car on a lift) to get to them all.