A question for anyone with some car know-how

[meriad]

I mentioned before that I struggle with my car doors freezing shut when it gets very cold. It happened again overnight and this morning neither of the front doors would open, the two back doors and boot did and they all work off the same remote key.

I eventually had to get into the back and climb over the seats to be able to drive off. I set the temperature as high as possible and hoped and prayed that by the time I got to to the station the doors would have unlocked themselves (which thankfully they had). However on the way there, I pressed the door lock and unlock button a few times and tried the handles of both doors and there was just no resistance whatsoever - indicating the doors were still 'frozen'.

I really don't think deicing the actual lock from the outside will make a difference and it's definitely not the seals of the doors - but to me seems to be the whole lock mechanism inside the door behind the panel. When I press either the button on the remote or the buttons inside the car the little knobby comes up so something inside the doors obviously is moving... but why won't they unlock?

I'm going to give the garage a ring as well to see what they say, but I don't have any money until payday to get this fixed and I very much doubt they'll give freebie advice and insist I bring the car in so they can look at it

but just wondering if anyone had any suggestions what to do to stop this happening again. We're expecting really low temperatures for the rest of this week. At this point I'm seriously tempted to not lock the car when I get home and put the cover over it so no-one can see the doors - and see if that helps; which obviously is not ideal.

[Workingman]

I misunderstood last time you posted about this Ria, I thought you meant the door seal sticking.

If the locking mechanism is frozen it means that there is moisture in the workings, the only thing to do is get rid of the moisture. A hair dryer and WD40 (with the spray tube fitted) should do the trick.

With the door open get the area of the mechanism hot(ish) using the dryer, but be careful not to get the paintwork too hot, then leave it to cool for a few minutes. This allows the heat to travel to the the workings. Don't use the hair dryer on the outside of the door. Do the same again when things have cooled, but this time give the workings a good spray with WD40, that includes inside the key slot - get into as many nooks and crannies as you can. Wipe off any overspray of WD40 from the paintwork and give it a going over with a damp cloth using hot water and wash-up liquid. Don't get the suds in the lock workings, and dry the area with paper towels. Also clean the door stop/lug on the door frame with WD40 and give it a wipe as well

[meriad]

thanks Workingman - daft question, but do you mean taking the panel off the door or just dry and spray the workings on the side of the door, ie the bit that connects with the actual car frame (the T-Section bit?)?

[Workingman]

If you can get the panel off, or even ease it from the lock area, it would be better, but if not just heating the workings should be enough. I would go that route first.

[meriad]

you are a star; thank you so much! I'll see if I can get round to my brothers this evening after work as their drive is right by the house, whereas I have quite a long front garden and my extension lead isn't long enough (never mind that my brother will be there to hep if need be )

[Suff]

Hi Ria,

It's almost certainly the grease on the lock mechanism which is freezing. Probably the bars which drive the locking mechanism. Do you have buttons?

What you need to do is free off the entire mechanism and as WM says, that usually needs the door panel off.

[meriad]

Thanks Suff... not sure about getting the door panels off tonight, but I'll definitely give it a go with the hairdryer and WD40. They're expecting some very cold nights this week so I'll try anything

[meriad]

Well, what's that saying about the best laid plans...?

Got back to my home train station this evening, with lots and lots of snow coming from the skies. Needless to say I figured it would be safer for me to come straight home vs going past my brothers first as he lives on an incline and my road hasn't been gritted at all since this whole snow malarky started and is starting to resemble a bit of an ice rink...

I did go past Halfords and got some WD40 as well as something called GT85 which I apparently should apply after cleaning and spraying the WD40. And tonight is meant to be quite a bit warmer than last night so hopefully they won't freeze until I can get the doors sorted.

At this point I suspect I should give up and take it to the garage to get it sorted but I'd quite like to see if I can save myself a bit of money

[Suff]

I would too Meri. It can get quite costly. Hardly the €35 per hour we pay here. Also here in France they bill you an apprentice rate when an apprentice works on your vehicle......

Even so the bills can get quite large if stuff is broken. My Galaxy has not cost me very much over the years. The last time I spent £800 getting a service and the rear discs/pads front pads done was the LAST time. That was in Jersey and without VAT. It cost me £99 delivered for all the discs and pads for the car last time. I fitted them myself....

Good luck.