Technical 500c Roof
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Technical 500c Roof
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
Generally speaking, the roof is not prone to any chronic faults. Mine is now over 11 years old and is opened regularly - almost every trip. I'd suggest running the roof initialization (below) to check for full and free movement, listening for any grinding noises or clunks or hesitation and make sure it runs straight and shuts fully. Note that the final 250mm of closing travel is always done manually by holding the 'Close' button.
The roof can also be opened by pressing and holding the 'Open' button on the key remote but cannot be closed that way.
If you open the roof fully, pressing the boot release should move it up to the 'spoiler' position before the boot lid releases. Note also that if the boot is not fully latched the roof will not go any further back than the spoiler position. On the subject of the boot; if the car is pre-2013 check the wiring loom from body to boot-lid - it was very short and prone to damage against the boot edge - 2013-onward cars should have the longer cable clipped to the hinge arm.
Obviously look out for holes and fraying. The lower edge of the back window is a bit of a dirt trap and I've even seen 'em green and mouldy! If you do purchase a 500C the first thing I'd do is get a can of 'dry' lubricant and spray it liberally into the tracks on both sides.
Any roof repairs would be very expensive.
PS: Also attached is a copy of the 500C Supplement I got with my car.
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Bella info is all good!- bearing in mind hes in OZ so the roofs open 363 days a year!
here in the uk its more likely you will have it open the other 2 days in the year
.A soft top is a nice idea in theory shame our weather dont match up with that idea quite as well!
!.To be honest id keep the pop!, and spent the money on a motorcycle for the best of both worlds
.
unlike the metal or fabric folding roofs in normal convertible cars, the 500C's roof runs along rails and has a lot of small plastic parts. @Piccolo Nero e Bella is in Australia where it is pretty warm most of the year where as here in the UK those plastic bits can get brittle in cold weather. so there are quite often posts on the form where bits have broken, there is no one failure point, and these breakages are still fairly rare in the grand scheme of things.
plus the parts are hard/impossible to find and if you do manage it are ridiculously expensive!
Anything above 13'C is perfectly tolerable to have the roof down (assuming its not raining). If you are hard core enough then anything above 0'C is fair game, but 13 is my rule for putting the roof down on my golf.Bella info is all good!- bearing in mind hes in OZ so the roofs open 363 days a year!
To be honest id keep the pop!, and spent the money on a motorcycle for the best of both worlds
I have driven the convertible Punto in the cold as well to test it out.
These are proper folding roof convertibles though. The 500c it really an extended sunroof.
Yes that, anything convertible parts for the roof get quite expensive.
The big advantage of those 'extended sunroofs' is that they can be operated while driving.
My previous daily was a Mk7 Escort Cabrio, I once got hit by heavy rain on a motorway... Had to stop anyway on the warning lane to get out of the car to put the roof up.
My actual daily + my gf's one have the same type of the rail system that the 500C. Last year going on holiday (on a motorway, again) it started to rain, so we've just rolled the roof up. And a couple of hundred meters further down the road we passed by a Micra or Swift CC stopped on the warning lane to close the roof apparently having a problem with... They were soaking wet, both people and the car.
The only fully waterproof car I can think of is the smart crossblade The other cars have to be protected from the rain by the roof.
My previous daily was a Mk7 Escort Cabrio, I once got hit by heavy rain on a motorway... Had to stop anyway on the warning lane to get out of the car to put the roof up.
My actual daily + my gf's one have the same type of the rail system that the 500C. Last year going on holiday (on a motorway, again) it started to rain, so we've just rolled the roof up. And a couple of hundred meters further down the road we passed by a Micra or Swift CC stopped on the warning lane to close the roof apparently having a problem with... They were soaking wet, both people and the car.
The only fully waterproof car I can think of is the smart crossblade
The other cars have to be protected from the rain by the roof.
I can put the roof up and down on my golf while moving. in fact most modern cars you can, I appreciate that an old escort or a Micra may not have this feature.The big advantage of those 'extended sunroofs' is that they can be operated while driving.
My previous daily was a Mk7 Escort Cabrio, I once got hit by heavy rain on a motorway... Had to stop anyway on the warning lane to get out of the car to put the roof up.
My actual daily + my gf's one have the same type of the rail system that the 500C. Last year going on holiday (on a motorway, again) it started to rain, so we've just rolled the roof up. And a couple of hundred meters further down the road we passed by a Micra or Swift CC stopped on the warning lane to close the roof apparently having a problem with... They were soaking wet, both people and the car.
The only fully waterproof car I can think of is the smart crossblade
There is a speed limit on the golf, you can't be doing more than 20mph but the roof only takes 8 - 9 seconds to put up from fully open so you are not slowed down for long. There is a mod you can buy to put the roof up and down with the key fob and increase the limit to 30mph
Yes. But in such 'extended sunroofs' version you can drive with usual motorway speed.
The Escort had a classic pantographic folding system, it was making a huge sail while closing or opening
It was even hard to get it done correctly in heavy wind.
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
I will grant that the climate here is far more conducive to open top motoring - today for example is absolutely perfect, 23C and clear blue sky - but I'll have it open in almost anything short of actual precipitation, even if it means having the heater on at floor level! Of course at the other extreme, anything over about 35C, it's definitely best kept closed... I really appreciate the ability to open/close it at anything up to 100kph at just the touch of a button too.
As Punto suggests, failures are pretty rare (touch wood!) if those on the forum are anything to go by. I've always maintained that frequent use and lubrication are the best defence against problems. And finally, if worst comes to worst, you can always close it up and leave it shut - it won't incapacitate the car in any way.
I understand the correct term to describe this type of roof is 'Cabrio Coach' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrio_coach
Happy 2025 To All!
As Punto suggests, failures are pretty rare (touch wood!) if those on the forum are anything to go by. I've always maintained that frequent use and lubrication are the best defence against problems. And finally, if worst comes to worst, you can always close it up and leave it shut - it won't incapacitate the car in any way.
I understand the correct term to describe this type of roof is 'Cabrio Coach' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrio_coach
Happy 2025 To All!
Dont reckon id leave the roof open all that time! you've got to many crawling nasty'sYes... Rub it in... Thank you...
gr J
to hide in ya nooks and cranny's down there for my liking!
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
When you live on the arse-end of the planet and it takes two months to get spare parts for your FIAT there has to be somethingYes... Rub it in... Thank you...
gr J
you can crow about!
All jokes aside I would never, ever, leave my roof open outside or even in the garage at night! You haven't lived till you've shared the cabin with a Huntsman - even a relatively small one like this;Dont reckon id leave the roof open all that time! you've got to many crawling nasty's
They like to hide under the visor because it resembles the tree bark they normally live under - then you turn toward the sun and flip the visor down and it drops in your lap!...
And I have personally experienced this exact situation;
Terrified mum finds massive huntsman spider in her car then hundreds of its babies hatch while she was driving - All Fashions
A MOTHER bravely removed a huge huntsman spider from her car only to find HUNDREDS of its babies had hatched while she was driving. Mum-of-three Emma, from Adelaide, Australia, first spotted the creature on her dashboard on Christmas Day. Yet, while she promptly squashed the arachnid, the...
allfashions.info
But no wukkas mate, they're 'harmless'...
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thats probably true unfortunately the heart attack it causes AINT!When you live on the arse-end of the planet and it takes two months to get spare parts for your FIAT there has to be something
you can crow about!
All jokes aside I would never, ever, leave my roof open outside or even in the garage at night! You haven't lived till you've shared the cabin with a Huntsman - even a relatively small one like this;
View attachment 457631
They like to hide under the visor because it resembles the tree bark they normally live under - then you turn toward the sun and flip the visor down and it drops in your lap!...
And I have personally experienced this exact situation;
Terrified mum finds massive huntsman spider in her car then hundreds of its babies hatch while she was driving - All Fashions
A MOTHER bravely removed a huge huntsman spider from her car only to find HUNDREDS of its babies had hatched while she was driving. Mum-of-three Emma, from Adelaide, Australia, first spotted the creature on her dashboard on Christmas Day. Yet, while she promptly squashed the arachnid, the...allfashions.info
But no wukkas mate, they're 'harmless'...
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
Not to mention the head-on smash - it's happened...
spect that looked "interesting" on the insurance claim mate!Not to mention the head-on smash - it's happened...
A maxim we should all live by.I will grant that the climate here is far more conducive to open top motoring - today for example is absolutely perfect, 23C and clear blue sky - but I'll have it open in almost anything short of actual precipitation, even if it means having the heater on at floor level! Of course at the other extreme, anything over about 35C, it's definitely best kept closed... I really appreciate the ability to open/close it at anything up to 100kph at just the touch of a button too.
As Punto suggests, failures are pretty rare (touch wood!) if those on the forum are anything to go by. I've always maintained that frequent use and lubrication are the best defence against problems. And finally, if worst comes to worst, you can always close it up and leave it shut - it won't incapacitate the car in any way.
I understand the correct term to describe this type of roof is 'Cabrio Coach' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrio_coach
Happy 2025 To All!
Yours,
Kenneth Williams
I think your average car insurance claim form in Aus, has a series of Tick boxes.spect that looked "interesting" on the insurance claim mate!
Reason for claim
Accidentif ticked go to section 3
Fire
Reason for fire
Accidental
I set fire to it on purpose
Flaming Galah
Reason for setting it on fire on purpose.
Snake
Spider
Crocodile
Shark (in the event of a sharknado)
Section 3
Which animal lead to you accidently setting your car on fire.
Snake
Spider
Crocodile
Shark (in the event of a sharknado)
Koala falling out of a tree and landing on the roof scaring the **** out of you and making
you drop your cigarette.
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
Very apt. "Flamin' Galah" is generally reserved for every other road user, but particularly those who have incurred one's wrath for whatever stupid stunt they've just pulled! And don't forget the notorious "Drop Bear"...
