What's a good way to prevent car doors from freezing shut?

Question

I have a 2001 Cavalier, 2 doors. When it gets really cold out, sometimes my car doors will freeze shut. I do not have a garage or car port to park it in. Anyone have any ideas to prevent this?

Answer 1

Catnip, Never apply mineral based grease or oil (WD-40, CRC-56) or any other brand on belts, tires or ribber door trim. It will actually cause the base foam rubber material to rot away around your doors.

Here's what you should do. Go to any auto-parts store and buy a tube or two of silicone ignition grease and wipe a thin coating directly on the foam rubber material. Silicone is completely inert to any type of rubber or plastic.

In a pinch you can also buy a spray can of 100% pure silicone silicone spray and follow around the door foam. It (spray) will not last as long as the silicone grease.

Answer 2

These conditions don't happen too often with ice but they do arise. When you suspect it will be one of those nights, just drape a heavy piece of plastic over the top of the door and place a refrigerator magnet or two down low, past the window molding rubber seam. Anything you spray into that door other than a silicone type lubricant will make the inside of the car smell terrible, Your right, it's not necessarily the lock, but the rods that go across the door from the main lock to the inside door handle ( most likely ). Some cars just have a real poor window seal where it meets the door and it a real pain. So, for the amount of times we experience freezing rain conditions, you might just want to try this. Get yourself some spray silicone and a bit longer plastic tube to direct some spray onto the linkage as well. If you arrive home with wet windows that will soon freeze up, get the plastic on it as soon as you can. I hope this helps a bit... It works for me in Lower NY State.... 95 Toyota Camry...

Answer 3

Buy some silicone spray from an auto store, spray it on a old rag until damp, then wipe it liberally to all touching surfaces. Then be sure to spay some into the latch on the door itself and the lock, this will keep the locks from freezing up as well. Dont use warm water, it will just refreeze.

Answer 4

Rub the side of the door down with petroleum jelly it should keep the door from freezing shut.

Answer 5

Take some kitchen grade lubricating grease and rub a light amount of it all around the door seal. This works in cold humid climates.

Answer 6

Make sure all moisture in the door is dried befor you shut it, that way it doesn't turn to ice at night. Other than that I find it pretty unavoidable. Love your avatar by the way

Answer 7

ive had the same problem only thing i could think off to just fix it quick is dump hot water on it.