[nightingale]

This is the first car I've had this with. You cannot open the doors after a freezing cold night!. It is a huge problem. Is there something I can use in the jams .. or spray something to prevent this from continually happening? I live in New England .. so I know there are folks in colder places who must have this problem. I'm frustrated and stumped. I don't have the $$$ for a remote stater.. or anything like that.

 

[Jeff K]

Do you mean you cant pull the door handle to open the door, or do you mean you can pull the handle but the door is frozen to the car? If door frozen to car, spraying the door weatherstrip seals (around door opening) with silicone spray helps quite a bit.

 

[nightingale]

Yeah I pull the handle and the door does not budge. What is causing this... is it a flawed design? I've never seen it before and I've lived in a four season climate all my life.

 

[sheila]

^ Yes, the silicone spray on the rubber door seals helps loads. Also may help to spray inside door latch with wd-40 and then white lithium grease spray. Another tried and true tip is while pulling the handle with one hand , grab the top right hand corner of the door with the other and pull. Just the nature of the beast.

 

[ntwrkguy1]

What type of silicone spray are you putting on the rubber door seals? I always thought that silicone on rubber was not a good idea -- something about the silicone causing the rubber to shrink?

 

[bailey]

I had this problem last year, and this time I made sure the door 'jambs' are cleaned and waxed in the fall before the cold weather hits. Just used turtle wax. And so far this year no problems. I will have to do the wd40 and lithium grease on the door latches, they stuck open the other day when it was below zero. Thanks for the idea.

 

[sheila]

^ Any silicone spray lube. Only safe lube to use on rubber and plastics.

 

[Jeff K]

^^^^ +1

Its organic based lubes / sprays that can swell / damage plastic and rubber.

 

[sheila]

^ Lubes, repels water, therefore protects from freezing, and rejuvenates rubber.

 

[danhasenauer]

It's the weatherstripping freezing to body sheet metal.
Liquid Wrench silicone spray, the red label one, NOT the yellow label one....

 

[nightingale]

Yes I'm sure the rubber is freezing to the metal. Any water, freezing rain or snow causes the bond. Is the Liquid Wrench product you suggest to be used to prevent freezing or after the fact to unstick things? Ideally I'd like to get something to prevent it from happening permanently. I will definately get some of what you recommend.. hmmm...what about something alcohol based since alcohol does not freeze readily?

 

[danhasenauer]

Yes I'm sure the rubber is freezing to the metal. Any water, freezing rain or snow causes the bond. Is the Liquid Wrench product you suggest to be used to prevent freezing or after the fact to unstick things? Ideally I'd like to get something to prevent it from happening permanently. I will definately get some of what you recommend.. hmmm...what about something alcohol based since alcohol does not freeze readily?

Silicone is a good preventative for freezing. Clean/wipe down weatherstrip and where door jamb contacts it, then spray and wipe down above mentioned areas. Silicone residue stays on parts and prevents freezing together. Alcohol evaporates away quickly, leaving no protection behind. Pre-waxing the jambs (and ArmorAll-ing the weatherstripping) in warmer weather as mentioned above helps a lot also. To unfreeze a stuck door jamb you can pour Rainex (the orange one) windshield deicer right onto the top side of the door and give it a minute to work.

 

[JW657]

:huh:

Manhandle it.