Technical Roof rack query.

[combwork]

When I bought my Multipla it had a Fiat roof rack fitted which by the look of it (rusted bolts etc) was probably on there since the car was new. I took it off to see if the strange wind noise would go away, and found all four aluminum mounting blocks corroded and one in two pieces. Does anyone know if these blocks are available seperately, or do they come as part of the roof rack? With the rack off, there are four rectangular slots exposed in the roof trim. Should these have some kind of sealing plugs? As a temporary measure, I've put heavy duty tape across them to keep the rain out. I'm off on a long run tomorrow (740 mile round trip); it will be interesting to see if there's any noticeable difference in performance or fuel consumption between rack on and rack off

I'm off early tomorrow; with the rear seats out there's just enough room for the musical box I'm deliverying, and enough room (I hope) to get my head down for a couple of hours on the way home.

 

[johne]

Not got the car nearby to check if my memory is right, but I thought the covers for the rack fixing points were push (down) and slide along type things - so they should be hiding under the trim next to the fixing points.....unless it's some other car I'm thinking of

 

[stiffy]

Not got the car nearby to check if my memory is right, but I thought the covers for the rack fixing points were push (down) and slide along type things - so they should be hiding under the trim next to the fixing points.....unless it's some other car I'm thinking of

On the Multipla, the Roof Bar slots are normally covered by a thin plastic strip, about 10cm x 1.5cm and the are held in place by a spring clip fixed to the cover.
If you've not got them, I'm sure they're available from your Fiat dealer or possibly a local breakers?

 

[chr1s]

When I bought my Multipla it had a Fiat roof rack fitted which by the look of it (rusted bolts etc) was probably on there since the car was new. I took it off to see if the strange wind noise would go away, and found all four aluminum mounting blocks corroded and one in two pieces. Does anyone know if these blocks are available seperately, or do they come as part of the roof rack?

Might be helpful to establish if it is a Fiat roof rack.

Does it look like this ?

 

[combwork]

Might be helpful to establish if it is a Fiat roof rack.

Does it look like this ?

View attachment 33266

Yep; those are the ones! Just got home at 4.30AM so I'm kind of buzzing. I need to be in Dundee later today so I'll see what the Fiat agents say about sealing strips. Car ran well; round trip of around 900 miles so I'm going to treat it to a gearbox oil change. I've not done my mpg figures yet, but if there's any difference with the rack (correct term roof bars?) off it's going to be small.......................... Jim.

 

[Grim_Evil]

the four holes do have covers you can buy them from fiat for about 2.00 ish from what i remember. got my self a new set about 2 years ago. Also as its roof bars they may also be able to get the fitting kit for them??

 

[combwork]

the four holes do have covers you can buy them from fiat for about 2.00 ish from what i remember. got my self a new set about 2 years ago. Also as its roof bars they may also be able to get the fitting kit for them??[/quote]


Regrettably no. According to Arnold Clark, the roof bars come as a complete unit comprising 2 bars, 4 plastic boots and 4 aluminium mounting blocks. Blocks are not sold separately; cost of the complete unit is around £140. The annoying thing is that although the old style Multipla was pretty much out of production by the end of 2004, mine wasn't sold until February 2005. There was a three year/60,000 mile warranty on the car, but although fitted when the car was new, the roof bars are classed as `optional extras', so are guaranteed for 12 months only. The blocks are terribly corroded; one so badly that it's broken into two parts. I bought the car from a trader in Blackpool, and I suspect the rot was caused by steel screws, aluminium blocks, sea air and just enough leakage round the boots to trap a little salt. I'm lucky; been under the car doing an oil change and there's no sign of corrosion................. I might take photos of the blocks and send them to Fiat U.K. to see if I can shake replacements out of them. Sea air or not, I reckon the only way they would corrode that badly is if they weren't properly sealed in the first place. What do you think?

 

[chr1s]

Seems that Fiat has switched to Thule roof bars as their stock part.

I picked up my Multipla on Friday :slayer: along with the new roof bars which I ordered. The salesman had fitted them to the car for me - so I've now taken them off until I need them :bang:

But I was surprised to see that they are Thule roof bars. At first I thought that maybe the salesman had bought cheaper bars and charged me the Fiat price, but closer inspection revealed that these are Fiat roof bars, with a Fiat part number.

So it appears that Fiat has switched to Thule instead of the ones in my post above.

 

[Pandabloke]

If roof bars are for occasional use only, don't buy Fiat or Thule. Go to http://www.toys4cars.co.uk/ and look at their roof bars which use the original fittings, ,like Fiat, not under the door seals like Thule. About £50 all in and worth every penny. Black plastic mounting blocks and grey plastic coated bars. And yes, the plastic clips in the roof push down, slide back and lift out for storage (Well thats what I do with them anyway!). Hope this helps.

 

[combwork]

If roof bars are for occasional use only, don't buy Fiat or Thule. Go to http://www.toys4cars.co.uk/ and look at their roof bars which use the original fittings, ,like Fiat, not under the door seals like Thule. About £50 all in and worth every penny. Black plastic mounting blocks and grey plastic coated bars. And yes, the plastic clips in the roof push down, slide back and lift out for storage (Well thats what I do with them anyway!). Hope this helps.[/quote]

That's a thought, thank you! I sent the photos off to Fiat and made the point that irrespective of whether the roof bars were fitted when the car was new, they could not have been more than 2 years 8 months old, and that they should not have corroded that badly. They agreed, and sent me vouchers to the value of £150, to be spent at any Fiat agent for whatever I wanted Can't say fairer than that :>)

Jim.

 

[Pandabloke]

Blimey! Result! Well done that man.

 

[fine-an-dandy]

i just bought a multipla b4 christmas and it also come with roof bars and it aslo was choroded at the mounts. the guy i bout the car from had the bars replaced under the three year waranty. the dealer left on the old ones and just suplied the new ones. as for the plastic slips i found them in the glove box in a little plastic bag. two for the price of one. result.