We have a 2000 Sable that my wife uses for short trips that sits outside in our wonderful northern Ohio weather. On cold mornings, especially after a rain, the doors are frozen shut. The locks are not frozen but we can not pull the door open. What can I spray or wipe on the seals to prevent this?
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Dec. 1, 2011 7:07 a.m. Mustang50 New Reader
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Dec. 1, 2011 7:09 a.m. Duke SuperDork
I would say some silicone spray lube should help. My old Supra used to freeze shut like that, except the locks would also be frozen.
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Dec. 1, 2011 7:12 a.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork
Silicone spray will work, silicone grease will also and will probably last a good bit longer. Man am I glad I don't live around places like that!
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Dec. 1, 2011 7:21 a.m. RossD SuperDork
Water displacement formula number 40; otherwise know as WD-40.
You can also get the little aerosol cans of deicer (some times with a scrapper attached) or get some cheap 190 proof grain alcohol and apply with a spray bottle.
If you lived farther north or farther south you wouldn't have the problem with water during the day/ice at night.
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Dec. 1, 2011 7:24 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork
I have a can of Sil-Glide for lubing window tracks. I'll bet it would work on the rubber door seals.
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Dec. 1, 2011 8:44 a.m. NGTD Dork
I had to crawl through the hatch to get the doors open on my Outback last night. Damn Freezing Rain!
Silicone spray on all the door seals.
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Dec. 1, 2011 8:49 a.m. integraguy SuperDork
You need to spray whatever you use on the black rubber seals that are around the edge of the door. My Ford Ranger did this too, and I lived in Tn. (not exactly the cold northwest). My short term "fix" was to lean all my weight onto the door.
Another problem area on Fords is the door ...latch? Anyway, the part that comes in contact with the striker bar(?) on the door jamb. Sometimes that jams up and you can turn the key but the door won't unlock. That part is also your problem when the dome lights don't go out...a common problem on Ford vehicles.
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Dec. 1, 2011 8:50 a.m. DavidinDurango Reader
I used to suffer this syndrome. How did I solve the problem???
Now retired and refuse to drive until the sun de-ices the windshield! Foolproof.
I found a place on the Lincoln where I could pry with a key and it would break the frozen seal . . . . of course, it will depress you no end to know the answer to this question.
MX-8 (V8 powered Miata). Yep.
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Dec. 1, 2011 9:51 a.m. pilotbraden Dork
WD-40 works well. I probably should spray my seals today.
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Dec. 1, 2011 9:53 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
I've used PAM? cooking spray before...it worked
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Dec. 1, 2011 9:56 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
whatever you use.. make sure it will not stain clothes. Nothing worse than having your g/f get her clothes marked up on her way to work or even going out. you will NEVER hear the end of it.
that said.. those with hatchbacks.. anybody ever notice that those NEVER seem to freeze shut? The doors can be solid blocks of ice.. but you can still open the hatch
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Dec. 1, 2011 11:11 a.m. rotard Reader
Spray it with cold water? Dump cold water on it from your sink?
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Dec. 1, 2011 11:17 a.m. wlkelley3 Dork
If you lived farther north or farther south you wouldn't have the problem with water during the day/ice at night.
Not completely true. I have the same problem here in Alabama, just not as long a time during the winter.
All the above works. WD-40, silicone spray, PAM cooking oil. I've even used a light coat of lithium grease and it worked. My experience is it has to be applied on a regular (weekly or bi-weekly) to work consistently.
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Dec. 1, 2011 11:21 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork
A) Leave doors open.
or...
B) Park car in garage/under carport.
Glad I could help!
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Dec. 1, 2011 11:34 a.m. jimbbski Reader
I have defrosted my windows and unstuck frozen doors by taking a plastic jug of warm water and pouring it on the frosted or stuck item. It won't work if you have alot of ice but frost will melt on contact. It does work better on windows then doors but since I coat my door seals and lube my locks I don't have that problem that often.
On a few occasions I have used my topedo heater and set it up and pointed it at the door of my car. I park the car on my driveway right in front of the door so it's not hard to do.
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Dec. 1, 2011 12:14 p.m. Lesley SuperDork
NGTD wrote:
I had to crawl through the hatch to get the doors open on my Outback last night. Damn Freezing Rain!
Silicone spray on all the door seals.
Me too, and the damn struts don't work in the cold. Sure glad no one could see me. I don't know the answer to the non-freezing hatchback mystery either, just glad that they don't. Time for some spray silicone.
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Dec. 1, 2011 1:13 p.m. Klayfish HalfDork
Make sure that handle isn't getting brittle. Last winter, I had a '94 Geo Prizm for a beater. One morning, after it had snowed/freezing rain, I gently (really, it was) pulled on the handle and it snapped right off. I'm guessing it may have had a small crack in it where water got and froze.
WD-40, and I've also used a spray bottle of windshield washer fluid for lightly frozen doors.
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Dec. 1, 2011 1:39 p.m. DrBoost SuperDork
Mustang50 wrote:
We have a 2000 Sable that my wife uses for short trips that sits outside in our wonderful northern Ohio weather. On cold mornings, especially after a rain, the doors are frozen shut. The locks are not frozen but we can not pull the door open. What can I spray or wipe on the seals to prevent this?
Duuhhhhh, leave the doors open when you know it's gonna rain!!
Man, some people are dim
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Dec. 1, 2011 1:55 p.m. ProDarwin Dork
If you have a Saturn, you can kick/press on the center of the door. It will flex, the ice will shatter and fall away. Problem solved :)
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Dec. 1, 2011 4:18 p.m. sachilles Dork
I work at a ski resort. Happens quite a bit, especially if there is snow making active. I usually just pound on the door around the edges and it free's itself.
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Dec. 1, 2011 4:27 p.m. DoctorBlade Dork
The few times this is ever a problem down here, I just use warm water. I'll have to try the pre-treatment idea this year, however.
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Dec. 1, 2011 5:14 p.m. Teggsan New Reader
Move to Texas. Dallas, Houston or San Antonio please; Austin's full.
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Dec. 1, 2011 5:23 p.m. DeadSkunk Dork
Buy a remote starter and leave the heater controls set to full heat. Just remeber to start the car well before you actually need to leave.
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Dec. 1, 2011 5:42 p.m. bigbens6 Reader
I prefer SIllicone to WD-40 as I heard rumor a while ago that WD40 can eventually wear the seals down, it was rumor, never confirmed, but given they wer right next to eachother on the shelf thats what i bought i also spray th interior of the locks an hinges etc...
