2 Fiats in 2 days!

[Rick]

The boys at www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com bought a 2012 Prima and a 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla, supposedly the worlds first mini van.  Check it out.  I have been driving my 500 for three days and like everything except not having the ability to shade the sun from the non shade sunroof.  Anyone have an idea for how to fix this screwup.  No.  I don't want to wear a hat every time I drive the car.  
Thanks

[Fiat500USA]

rhart wrote

The boys at www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com bought a 2012 Prima and a 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla, supposedly the worlds first mini van.  Check it out.  I have been driving my 500 for three days and like everything except not having the ability to shade the sun from the non shade sunroof.  Anyone have an idea for how to fix this screwup.  No.  I don't want to wear a hat every time I drive the car.  
Thanks

Hi rhart, welcome to the forum. I am under the impression there is a sunshade provided with the sunroof. Is yours not there?

[ciddyguy]

rhart wrote

The boys at www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com bought a 2012 Prima and a 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla, supposedly the worlds first mini van.  Check it out.  I have been driving my 500 for three days and like everything except not having the ability to shade the sun from the non shade sunroof.  Anyone have an idea for how to fix this screwup.  No.  I don't want to wear a hat every time I drive the car.  
Thanks

It should be there, a sliding screen/shade is what they provide, unless it's not adequate enough to shield the sun.

[Rick]

Yes my sunshade is there.  But like the Mini it is 40 or 50% shade cloth.  Leaving the other 50% of the sun, heat, UV etc to clobber you.

Park the car in the sun which you must do pretty often in CA and you return to an oven even if you crack the SR and windows.  Driving 

on a hot sunny day you should have the ability to block the sun like all other cars out there except the Mini. After writing the orig message 

here I found a lot of guys complaining about this on the Mini forum.  

It would be nice to be able to change the shade cloth roller to solid.  I'm working in an online store specifically for the Fiat 500 ( www.HotFiat.com )

and would love to offer a replacement roller or some other fix.  Please feel free to throw some ideas my way.

Thanks

Rick 

On Mar 19, 2011, at 9:32 PM, Fiat500USA [via Fiat 500 USA Forum] wrote:

rhart wrote:

The boys at www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com bought a 2012 Prima and a 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla, supposedly the worlds first mini van.  Check it out.  I have been driving my 500 for three days and like everything except not having the ability to shade the sun from the non shade sunroof.  Anyone have an idea for how to fix this screwup.  No.  I don't want to wear a hat every time I drive the car.  
Thanks

Hi rhart, welcome to the forum. I am under the impression there is a sunshade provided with the sunroof. Is yours not there?

---

If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:

http://fiat-500-usa-forum.965414.n3.nabble.com/2-Fiats-in-2-days-tp2701254p2705231.html

To unsubscribe from 2 Fiats in 2 days!, click here.

[Rick]

Yes my sunshade is there.  But like the Mini it is 40 or 50% shade cloth.  Leaving the other 50% of the sun, heat, UV etc to clobber you.

Park the car in the sun which you must do pretty often in CA and you return to an oven even if you crack the SR and windows.  Driving 

on a hot sunny day you should have the ability to block the sun like all other cars out there except the Mini. After writing the orig message 

here I found a lot of guys complaining about this on the Mini forum.  

It would be nice to be able to change the shade cloth roller to solid.  I'm working in an online store specifically for the Fiat 500 ( www.HotFiat.com )

and would love to offer a replacement roller or some other fix.  Please feel free to throw some ideas my way.

Thanks

Rick 

On Mar 19, 2011, at 9:35 PM, ciddyguy [via Fiat 500 USA Forum] wrote:

rhart wrote:

The boys at www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com bought a 2012 Prima and a 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla, supposedly the worlds first mini van.  Check it out.  I have been driving my 500 for three days and like everything except not having the ability to shade the sun from the non shade sunroof.  Anyone have an idea for how to fix this screwup.  No.  I don't want to wear a hat every time I drive the car.  
Thanks

It should be there, a sliding screen/shade is what they provide, unless it's not adequate enough to shield the sun.

---

If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:

http://fiat-500-usa-forum.965414.n3.nabble.com/2-Fiats-in-2-days-tp2701254p2705250.html

To unsubscribe from 2 Fiats in 2 days!, click here.

[Giallo Edizione]

Had  a MINI, just as you said.

Why not just tint the sunroof-together with the 'holy' screen it should come close to comfortable.

[Jeff]

Hey Rick, I don't have my car yet so I haven't actually seen the sunroof in person.  Could you have a window tinting company tint the inside with a very dark tint?

[Jeff]

Great idea! I should have thought of that.

[ciddyguy]

rhart wrote

Yes my sunshade is there.  But like the Mini it is 40 or 50% shade cloth.  Leaving the other 50% of the sun, heat, UV etc to clobber you.
Park the car in the sun which you must do pretty often in CA and you return to an oven even if you crack the SR and windows.  Driving
on a hot sunny day you should have the ability to block the sun like all other cars out there except the Mini. After writing the orig message
here I found a lot of guys complaining about this on the Mini forum.  

It would be nice to be able to change the shade cloth roller to solid.  I'm working in an online store specifically for the Fiat 500 ( www.HotFiat.com )
and would love to offer a replacement roller or some other fix.  Please feel free to throw some ideas my way.
Thanks
Rick


On Mar 19, 2011, at 9:32 PM, Fiat500USA [via Fiat 500 USA Forum] wrote:

> rhart wrote:
> The boys at www.BarnfindsAndDeals.com bought a 2012 Prima and a 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla, supposedly the worlds first mini van.  Check it out.  I have been driving my 500 for three days and like everything except not having the ability to shade the sun from the non shade sunroof.  Anyone have an idea for how to fix this screwup.  No.  I don't want to wear a hat every time I drive the car.  
> Thanks
>
> Hi rhart, welcome to the forum. I am under the impression there is a sunshade provided with the sunroof. Is yours not there?
> Prima Edizione  29
>
>
> If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:
> http://fiat-500-usa-forum.965414.n3.nabble.com/2-Fiats-in-2-days-tp2701254p2705231.html
> To unsubscribe from 2 Fiats in 2 days!, click here.

I once had a glass sunroof in my former car, a 1988 Honda Accord LX-I and it was great but it had the solid shade and they  have tinted the sunroof more than usual to help reduce the sun's heat etc but even so, that isn't enough at times but the shade which as I said, was a sold panel that slid out from above the headliner to totally block the sun was nice when necessary and it helped greatly my comfort as I sped down the 5 freeway through the San Joaquin valley on a very hot day with no working AC (the car had it, but the compressor was bad) and thus had to rely on the cracked windows in the back to help keep me reasonably comfortable.

It'll be interesting to see what comes of this. I'm sure a fix where the headliner is partially dropped to gain access to the shade and replace will be the solution.

[Rick]

I took the time to research this problem with the Mini boys as they have years more experience then we Fiat 500 guys.  The problem, apparently, with tinting the sunroof and using in conjunction with the 'shade cloth' shade is two-fold.  It can precipitate cracking of the sunroof by holding all the heat against it (I'm a bit skeptical of this actually happening).  Secondly it makes the SR so dark, that in the evening/night when you would like a clear view it is so dark you have shut off the world after sun down. Permanently until you remove the tint.  

Either of these make me want to source something different.  I'm tempted to try to take apart the headliner area to effect a solution by removal of the factory semi-shade.  I really would like a fix that can be sold on www.HotFiat.com for all of us to enjoy.  I sure don't want to rip up my new Fiat though.....

Rick
PE #373  (Supposedly the 1st one delivered in N. Calif.)

[PE#454]

rhart wrote

.... It would be nice to be able to change the shade cloth roller to solid.  I'm working in an online store specifically for the Fiat 500 ( www.HotFiat.com ) and would love to offer a replacement roller or some other fix.  Please feel free to throw some ideas my way.
Thanks
Rick

OK, here's an idea (just off the top of my head, so the idea is a little rough): What about creating a cloth/fabric panel (you can buy that fake leather material in any fabric store) with a reflective material backside (to face up) with four little suction cups on the corners? You could roll it up and keep it in a tube or pull-string bag when not needed and you wouldn't have to muck up the headliner that way. The suction cups wouldn't damage the interior in any way, either. (Do I need to patent this idea?  or do you all not envisage this as a workaround solution?) This is assuming (I have only been in a demo twice and cannot recall) that there is metal both fore and aft on which to affix said suction cups.

[Rick]

You're not far off 454.  Some of the Mini guys bought from a place selling little screens with suction cups.  I'm looking for something a little more automatic and elegant so we don't have little screens bouncing around the car.  This may be the best fix in the long run tho.

[Mike S]

Campione 500 sells something for this, I'll get one on Monday and try it. Yes, it does get warm and it's only in the 80's here.

http://www.campione500.com/SRS.htm

[Rick]

This looks like it would be effective given how thick it looks.  How does it attach.  We/I look forward to your report.

[Mike S]

I think you just slip it between the screen and the glass and the screen holds it up.

I'll let you know.

[ciddyguy]

Mike S wrote

Campione 500 sells something for this, I'll get one on Monday and try it. Yes, it does get warm and it's only in the 80's here.

http://www.campione500.com/SRS.htm

Oooo, I think I know how this works, you slide it in between the shade and the sunroof when pulled closed and it then fits into the edges of the sunroof opening for support until you are ready to remove it or something close to that.

[FiATL]

On my previous MINI Cooper, I was able to find a 2 piece, windshrield spring loaded sunshade.  1/2 of that was a perfect fit between my roof and the semi-useless sunshade.

[Rick]

Mike and Ciddy
Sounds a little crude but sometimes crude works.  (We won't get into the bar jokes here)
Can't wait till you see this.
I may have my body/fender guy see if he can extract the roller without destroying the car.

[Rick]

Do you remember where it came from?

On Mar 20, 2011, at 3:30 PM, FiATL [via Fiat 500 USA Forum] wrote:

On my previous MINI Cooper, I was able to find a 2 piece, windshrield spring loaded sunshade.  1/2 of that was a perfect fit between my roof and the semi-useless sunshade.

---

If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:

http://fiat-500-usa-forum.965414.n3.nabble.com/2-Fiats-in-2-days-tp2701254p2707498.html

To unsubscribe from 2 Fiats in 2 days!, click here.

[FiATL]

Sorry, it was an off the shelf Target item in 2005.  I'd probably just measure the opening of the new car and start hitting up the Wal-Marts, PepBoys, Targets, etc and seeing what fit.  I think I paid $8 for it.