when the car's iced up in the mornings how do i get in??

Question

the whole door frames stuck on like glue and then i have to trickle warm water round the whole door. Is there anything I can use to prevent it happening in first place?

it's not the lock that's frozen - it's the whole door, i was told that putting antifreeze round the frame will eventually rot the seals, but obviously there's moisture there in first place which freezes overnight.

Answer 1

To stop it happening, thoroughly clean and polish the door where the door seal sits (when the door is closed) and clean and dry the rubber itself, then spray both with WD40 or alike.

WD (water displacement 40 is designed to drive out water and moisture, the same moisture that freezes and causes your door to 'freeze'.

Answer 2

First of all, the warm water on your window could result in a shattered window.

I would clean the door gasket and the door frame very well and either Armour-all it or use talcum powder on it. This should keep the gasket from sticking to the door frame overnight. Maybe cleaning the door frame and them applying some car polish around it will help.

Answer 3

short of moving to a warmer dryer climate, there is probably no good way to stop it from happening, although applying a silicone-based spray lube to the weatherstripping may help and won't rot the weatherstripping like antifreeze can. after you get in and get the car started, running it for an extended time with the heater on high helps dry things out, but also uses gasoline. next time it does happen, take your hair dryer on an extension cord and thaw it out with that. it won't break the glass as it warms the window the same way as your defroster would, and it doesn't add more water to the situation which will just refreeze later. just direct the hot air flow at and into the gap around the door.

Answer 4

I used to live in Chicago so this happened to me an awful lot. If you have to leave your car outside, you might want to get an electric key heater. It will allow your key to melt the ice so that you can, at least, unlock your door. Then, once you do that, you have no choice but to tug a bit on the door until it opens. This isn't bad for the car door as long as you give it gentle tugs so you allow the door to open itself with your assistance rather than pulling the door open.

Answer 5

If you don't have a heated garage to park it in, you'll have to keep doing what you're doing.

There is also the possibility of remote start, if you install that and have the heater defroster on full blast you can push the button while you are having your coffee and perhaps it will be thawed by the time you get outside to it.

Answer 6

I think the best thing is to use the anti freeze spray. I have(in a pinch to get to work) used warm water to get the door open and have have heated my key with a cigarette lighter but the best method is with a cover. but in a pinch...... ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Answer 7

Buy an can of anti-freeze and then spray around locks, windows and door frames.

It does what it says on the tin...

Answer 8

I've heard (haven't tried it myself) that if you apply a cooking grease such as butter or a spray crisco or the like to the rubber sill around the door it will cure the problem.

Answer 9

you could try covering the car of a night this stops the frost forming and freezing the door

Answer 10

Get some clear Vasaline.Then cover all your door seals with it.The Vasaline will not freeze so you should have no problems.Do my car every winter,works a treat.