Winter grill cover
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
Winter grill cover
Have been looking around at some winter grill covers and I am having a hard time finding many options for the 99-03 design. The fia seems like it might be the best option but got some negative reviews on the adhesive snaps that hold it in place. Anyone know of a good cover? I was even contemplating making my own out of some marine canvas or something like that. Have any of you guys made your own with good results other then the old school cardboard?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
Have been looking around at some winter grill covers and I am having a hard time finding many options for the 99-03 design. The fia seems like it might be the best option but got some negative reviews on the adhesive snaps that hold it in place. Anyone know of a good cover? I was even contemplating making my own out of some marine canvas or something like that. Have any of you guys made your own with good results other then the old school cardboard?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
I have a fia and the little sticky snaps are holding on for me. I even installed it below freezing. I can't say they won't come off or how long they will last but so far so good. I cleaned the surface with windex then I used the alcohol cloth that came with it. I also used a hair dryer to warm them up while pressing each in place. It has held up to my driving and a manual car wash when the weather permitted. I don't know if I would take it through an automatic car wash though. The fia isn't a great fit on my 01 but not bad enough anyone other than me would notice. It has noticeably decreased the time for my engine to warm up when the temperatures get really cold.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
They stick to the outside edge of the grill. I think they will pull off without damaging the chrome finish on mine, I'd heat them before trying to pull them off though.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Beaver Dam, KY
I have a fia. I can't say it helps it warm any faster, too much air can come in under and behind the bumper to the radiator. I do like the summer screen that comes with it. I've had it for 5-6 years , no snap has came off but one has broke.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
It must not be cold enough where you live at -25 it definitely makes a difference.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Beaver Dam, KY
It's junk.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
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From: Plumsteadville PA
do you have the custom fit one that is made of a quilted fabric? If looks like decent quality I was just mainly concerned about the fasteners. I'm surprised you don't feel it works. Most 18 wheelers and school buses up north have some form of grill cover to assist in letting the engine warm up faster and stay hotter when it's cold out.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 851
Likes: 14
There is a place in my town that builds custom canvas tents. They also make custom grill covers that use screw snaps. Not only do they cover the grill but they have a flap that oulls down through the bumper and covers the trans cooler etc.
Only cost me 65 bucks, even with making me a hole for my block heater cord and building it around my lightbar in the grill.
Here is a pic with it on. Bad angle though.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
So basically you are say that a grill cover you have been using for 5-6 years is junk. If you could give some details on your what you dislike about it, it might be helpful.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
I had the one in the pics above. Its junk.
There is a place in my town that builds custom canvas tents. They also make custom grill covers that use screw snaps. Not only do they cover the grill but they have a flap that oulls down through the bumper and covers the trans cooler etc.
Only cost me 65 bucks, even with making me a hole for my block heater cord and building it around my lightbar in the grill.
Here is a pic with it on. Bad angle though.
There is a place in my town that builds custom canvas tents. They also make custom grill covers that use screw snaps. Not only do they cover the grill but they have a flap that oulls down through the bumper and covers the trans cooler etc.
Only cost me 65 bucks, even with making me a hole for my block heater cord and building it around my lightbar in the grill.
Here is a pic with it on. Bad angle though.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 712
Likes: 1
I actually have the fia winter cover as well and I actually got screw on snaps that are brass nickel plated and they screw into the grill and they hold pretty well I will get a picture a little later today with the cover on and of the snaps and they actually do not look as bad as I thought and hold very well, he snaps came from a local hardware store they are kind of hard to find but I believe Amazon is has them as well.
AJ
AJ
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,426
Likes: 6
From: Sioux Falls, SD
I have the Fia cover as well. Have used it on my Excursion & F-250 for about 4 years. In that time I have had one snap come off but was able to use some silicon to reapply it back in place. I usually send them through the car wash about twice a month with the winter or screen cover on and have not had a problem.
Definitely has worked for me.....takes about 1/2 the time it used to to warm up and feel the heater start blowing warm air into the cab. I will sure need it this week with temps not budging above zero until Thursday. -14F this morning.......ouch
A bit of advice, when it is cold outside and you try to attach it to your vehicle you might find yourself pulling & tugging to stretch it into place. Just stick it in the dryer for a minute or two to warm it up then it will easily fit.........
<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/user/White_Buffalo/media/Excursion/newheadlights.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/White_Buffalo/Excursion/newheadlights.jpg" border="0" alt="New Headlights &amp; grill cover photo newheadlights.jpg"/></a>
Definitely has worked for me.....takes about 1/2 the time it used to to warm up and feel the heater start blowing warm air into the cab. I will sure need it this week with temps not budging above zero until Thursday. -14F this morning.......ouch
A bit of advice, when it is cold outside and you try to attach it to your vehicle you might find yourself pulling & tugging to stretch it into place. Just stick it in the dryer for a minute or two to warm it up then it will easily fit.........
<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/user/White_Buffalo/media/Excursion/newheadlights.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/White_Buffalo/Excursion/newheadlights.jpg" border="0" alt="New Headlights &amp; grill cover photo newheadlights.jpg"/></a>
