There's got to be a GRM way to help prevent doors from freezing to the body, even it's on the shelf at the local parts store.
What does the hive recommend? And, no, moving or putting it in the garage are not options.
There's got to be a GRM way to help prevent doors from freezing to the body, even it's on the shelf at the local parts store.
What does the hive recommend? And, no, moving or putting it in the garage are not options.
Seals that are properly healthy with something like 303 helps. Clean waxed door jambs for the same reasons.
I've almost never had this problem, but I've found that a good body check against the door will get it loose.
I spray the weatherstripping with armorall or silicone spray at oil changes.
When I lived in the Great White North, I coated the weatherstrip with Sil-Glyde.
Big sheet of strong plastic draped over roof, windows, and doors. No window scraping, either.
Just give it a good tugging...No lube necessary.
Dusterbd13 said:I spray the weatherstripping with armorall or silicone spray at oil changes.
I have used Pam cooking spray in a pinch too. Just be sure to wipe it on with a rag, don't spray it directly on the seals or it will get really gross.
last time I got frozen out of a car, no amount of stuff on the seals would have helped, the entire car was a hyundaisical
(GRM advertiser, y0) CRC Silicone spray on the door seals.
Dusterbd13 said:I spray the weatherstripping with armorall or silicone spray at oil changes.
this, use silicone spray rather than armor all though, gummi pflege is better than both
I keep a small electric space heater in the truck, keeps it just above freezing.
No scraping, no frozen doors or locks and a comfy truck to drive in the morning.
Trans_Maro said:I keep a small electric space heater in the truck, keeps it just above freezing.
No scraping, no frozen doors or locks and a comfy truck to drive in the morning.
You're a mad genius.
Thanks for the tips, folks! I'll start with silicone spray as there should be some already in the garage. I remembered that it had been recommended in previous threads but I stupidly forgot about it until too late. Even though the truck has running boards, there is some substantial frozen slush build-up that reaches up and covers the door seams at the lower front corners. I'm to have to remember to clear that area ALL THE TIME.
Temps won't top the freezing mark until Friday and they are supposedly going into the 40's by the weekend.
In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :
Nope, just Canadian. 
Driven5 said:Just give it a good tugging...No lube necessary.
While I understand the phrasing aspect, i’ve broken way too many door handles. I usually silicone spray the door seals before winter.
Some cars just seem more prone to it. Work truck (2007 Ranger) is terrible. Passat of the same vintage has never frozen shut.
In reply to Patrick :
I'm serious though too. Even up by Green Bay WI I never did anything special, and don't recall ever having any significant problem getting the door open after digging it out.
Years ago, I got tired of scraping frost off my windshield in the a.m. Got the bright idea to set a space heater on the floor. I plug it in when I wake up in the morning and we're good to go by the time I leave. 
I might try the space heater idea in my van - it takes forever for the engine to warm up and heat all of that space... I have a heavy duty timer for the coolant heater in the TDI that could be rigged up as well... Hmm...
Have you ever tried parking facing the other way?
Sounds stupid, I know, but it makes a difference at my house, might work for yours.
The way my driveway is setup, if I park facing the house in winter, my driver's side door is exposed to the field and the wind that comes with it. Parking facing the other way, there's s car that breaks up the wind, and the door doesn't stick nearly as much regardless of the temperature.
KyAllroad (Jeremy) said:Some cars just seem more prone to it. Work truck (2007 Ranger) is terrible. Passat of the same vintage has never frozen shut.
Subarus seem particularly bad about freezing up, which is odd, considering they are practically marketed as a winter car. I always get nervous about really yanking on them too because of the frameless windows.
Sublimation came to the rescue! Even though the temp never topped 20, both doors opened with relative ease this afternoon.
The driver's side door had ice in the lower front door jamb and it's pretty clear that the slush build-up on the running boards was the likely culprit. There was also a fair amount of snow/ice on the hinges so everything gets a heavy dose of lubricant this weekend. There was no evidence that the weatherstripping had accumulated any significant icing but all of it will get the silicone treatment, too.
Thanks, everyone!
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