C4 Coupe Roofrack Problems

[Mat]

Just tried to put my Thule roofrack on my C4. Popped open the little covers, to find the mounting holes covered in rust. Not sure how that fits in with the anti-rust warranty? Anyone know?

Anyhow, put the front bar on without any probelm, but when i screwed in the two rear roofbar supports, they got very stiff. So put a tiny squirt of wd40 and tried again. The bolt sheered in half, leaving the bottom half in the roof mount!

The roofbars are under a year old, bought in August '05. I've only used them twice to transport bikes. When not in use they are stored in the loft.

Anyone else had any problems? Anyone think this is a Citroen-caused problem or a Thule-caused problem (or a me-caused problem)?

[Mat]

Have anyone else's roofrack mountings gone rusty?

[wozza]

Not even looked at mine will do when im next out at the car. Mines gotta go back to citroen tomorrow as i noticed while washing the car my front bumper has a section thats got the orange peel effect only slightly but i want someone to look at it.

 

Also wanna see about getting some other things sorted out.

[barns]

sounds like monkey metal bolts to me.always advisable to run bolts down holes first with a bit of lube oil to clean up threads and to shear you must have put some force on them can only think that you may have crossed threaded them or that the bolts have actually bottomed before clamping rack. were they the original bolts with same thread as car ?...............

[Mat]

The bolts are the original ones that came with the Thule roofrack (brand new in Aug 05). The Thule 3019 fitting kit was supplied specifically for Citroen C4s.

Rather than using the supplied allen key, for speed i use a socket set, but never tighten it more than (i think) i should. The Thule instructions say to tighten the bolt until you cant lift the roofrack off the roof, or wobble it around. When the bolt got stiff, i lifted the roofrack up a few mm, so it definately had further to go.

Barns, you may be right about the cross-thread.

[Mat]

Has anyone managed to have a quick look at their roof mount, to check if it has gone rusty?

[syrup]

Mat

 

Checked mine today A1 condition, no sign of rust.

Can't see mine being a hatchback would make any difference.

[Mat]

Thanks Syrup.

 

Have you used them? I'm wondering maybe when a bolt is screwed in, it may take off the layer of paint, thus exposing raw metal.

[syrup]

Mat

 

No I haven't, but as far as I can see the thread itself is not painted. It's almost impossible to see how they can rust, I know the covers aren't water tight but thy look pretty waterproof. Mystifying ;)

[barns]

ask the dealer if the location points should have been sprayed with anti rust spray,use it at work to keep jobs rust free.it is comman practice to use it on threads.but a bit of rust should not cause your problem realy but its worth trying, i would redrill and tap mountings and put larger bolts in if i were you as long as roof rack can be adapted.Then oil em up after use!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ian D]

I recently purchased a set of genuine C4 roof bars and in the box is a little reamer bolt that you first use to clean out the bolt holes before fitting the bars, also supplied was a set of plastic bolts for use when the bars aren’t fitted to keep the threads clean.