Guys I would like to ask for your idea/opinion on how to cool down your car when you have to park outside at the street during summer

So far I find out tint / sunshade would be the best to go

p.s. can someone explain different types of tints to me? (like which one would be most likely to reduce the heat in my car)

 

I have window visors so I crack all the windows open and leave the sunroof tilted open.
A tint would help and a sunshade for the seats.

 

Huper Optik makes best heat reduction tint.

Protip: using your remote push the unlock button twice, holding it on the second, all the windows should roll down. Set AC to max for a few seconds to expel all hot air, then close windows and adjust AC.

 

Get some huper optik's tint im glad i did this the very next day after purchasing the car.

 

+3. Huper Optik makes a huge difference in heat reduction. It will cost about double ($400 in 2003), but IMHO it's well worth the extra $200 in the long run, especially if you live in a hot climate.

Go to a HO dealer and have them show you the heat lamp demo. Pretty amazing.

Also, get a custom made window sun shade. I have custom made windshield and rear window heatshields from Canvas Works (800-777-6405). I don't really use the rear window shield unless my car will be parked outside for more than a day. There are two previous threads on group buys for this shade. Do a search for "canvas works" and you'll find them.

Last, get a remote start. Nothing beats stepping into an already cool car on a 100 degree day! (or a warm car on a -20 day).

 

I am tinted and I use those folding reflective shades like this from walmart.

 

^ yep me too. $10 shade at Autozone did the trick along with my tint.

 

Agree, that's what I would do too.

 

If there are any trees along that street, try to park in the shade.

 

But watch out for tree crap and bird crap! Pick your trees carefully...

 

Very very true.....

 

I leave my windows cracked if I don't think it's gonna rain. And I use a window shade in the front. If I don't I can hardly grab the steering know or shifter cause they burn me. Once I get going I roll the rear windows halfway down and turn the AC on full blast and drive as quick as legally possible. The hot air will get sucked out quickly.

 

+1

I slept over at some girls house and because I couldn't get up on her driveway I had to park in the street under a tree. The next day my car was covered in shit and tree sap. it was not worth it parking there and I just should have went home

 

This device makes me laugh

http://www.goodwilltoo.com/browse.cfm/4,5602.html

 

^Does that shit even work?

 

I can't imagine it would work very good, I mean yes, it will pull the hot air out of your car, but the air coming in would be just as hot, no?

 

That looks ridiculous. Like the flags people put on their windows.

 

Buy this product:http://www.heatshieldstore.com/
I have one and bought one for my sister. I use it everyday and I know it's saving my dashboard and my leather.

 

That's the same place (Canvas Works) that I mentioned in post #5. Great quality. Had it 6 years now and still in great condition!

 

my tints work well i have 20 all around and 50 on the windshield i think that works

 

I have 15% tint and a sunshade I use. Sometimes ill crack the sun roof just a tad. Other then that I just remote start it.

 

I can't tell you how much tints and a sunshade do help. I have metallic tint, others have ceramic but either do such a phenomenal job. Your car won't be any hotter than 15 degrees than it is outside. As I walk up I roll the windows down by remote to vent....it's good to go in 30 seconds.

 

No the car would be hotter right? Not exactly a greenhouse effect but close. I think it may make a slight difference but I don't think a solar mini-fan is going to do much. I know certain cars like BMWs have this feature built in and I hear it makes a difference.

 

The whole trick to parking in the shade in not to park UNDER a tree but under the SHADY part of the tree looking at the angle of the sun. I even try to think of where the shade will progress to over the hours so my car will stay shaded. Yeah I'd rather park in the sun than get that crap on my car. The bigger the tree, the more stuff that will fall from it. Literally, lol.

 

That's an oxymoron.

 

I leave my windows slightly cracked open.

 

Hey, you get a free cup holder car organizer too!............yea.

 

- Tint
- Sunshade

- Hot air "rises", and I read somewhere long ago that a good way to expel the hot air from the car when you first get in is to open the moonroof all the way. I do this from time to time and while not a miracle fix, I think it certainly helps. Between the tint, sunshade, AC, and moonroof...I can usually cool down the interior in less than 2 minutes...and that's with black leather interior.

 

Huper Optik... they did a heat demonstration too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoinllvJguk

 

where can i find my local Huper Optik dealer? I tried at their website but so far no luck. I live in chicago area, anyone able to point me to the right direction ?

 

Last time I parked under a tree when the whole block was free with no cars.
I come back 1 hour later and someone had crashed into the driver door/fender area and ran off. Never found the person who did it.

 

I was just about to place a oder for one of these...Till saw at my check out screen they want $11.38 to ship it. I'll get/try a walmart type one for less then $10 before I'll pay that much for one of $46 for one of these. The asking price with shipping is more then I think they are worth but was willing to pay for one with it's nice fit and replies from others they like it but then I saw the $11.38 that pushed me over the limit.

 

+1. 20% all around, 35% on the windshield I've also learned leaving the sunroof shade closed will help a lot!

 

that intro is ridiculous

 

^^Agreed. There was no need to show the same test again with the same results by a different news station. All the pertinent information was explained in just 2 minutes. The other 5:26 was just filler. Still, cool product

 

Ridiculous! I had no idea!

 

do sunshades really make a difference for those of you that use them? assuming you already have tint?

 

sunshades make a huge differance! and front windshield tints are not legal anywhere I know of!
side glass can use stick on shades if tint not legal there either (Ca)
In the moonroof- tape a piece of reflectex to the glass- go to hardware store with dimensions of moonroof and buy x number of feet
about a buck a 4 foot wide linear foot-
use painters blue tape to secure it in the groove with glass or it gets sucked out when you open the rear of roof~ guess how I know
that will stop a lot of radiant heat entering the car

Now to cool it- from someone who lives where its already 100 and rising
start car- open rear windows and moonroof at rear open position or closed
set ac ON and fan speed to high- fresh air- not recirc
start driving- the higher pressure air inside the car will flow to the lower pressure created outside the rear windows and suck the hot air out- pulling cool air in to replace it!
When temp is good, close everything up and enjoy
set ac to recirc and to fresh occassionaly to keep fresh air in the cabin and reduce mold issues in the plastic tubing

 

After forgetting to stop in Walmart types of stores to get one many times this week I just placed a order for one from this place.
http://www.heatshieldstore.com/

 

The cool fan thing linked is a POS. Someone did the math in car talk 2 years ago and concluded that with the amount of air the fan could move, the interior would be cooler by maybe a tenth of a degree, and that it's so ineffective that the gap in the weatherstripping would provide more of a cooling effect than the actual fan.

As far as the BMW feature goes, it turns on the fan and opens up the vent so fresh air can flow into the cabin. It lasts for 30 minutes and in my 7 can be programmed at certain times to run.