Opening Doors in NE Winters

[radar_ridr]

I'm always paranoid about opening the doors after we get some of this wet snow, and then after a few hours the temps freeze solid, wrt the window rolling down a bit before the door opens. I'd like to think they make everything sturdy enough to work and not break when frozen, but are there problems with this? It's new to me, and I have always been very careful with doors / windows / wipers etc. when we get all this icing.

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[Chameleon]

It's ok. You can open the door.

 

[EFI]

Cars have been doing this for about 8 decades now. Your car will be fine in the winter.

 

[jasonstang]

Cars have been doing this for about 8 decades now. Your car will be fine in the winter.

Actually, some people have reported the glass frozen to the door and wont open. Once opened, it can't be closed.

 

[EFI]

Actually, some people have reported the glass frozen to the door and wont open. Once opened, it can't be closed.

Maybe, but I believe he was asking if he can open the door in cold temps...which I can't imagine that any car in today's world is not made to function in the winter.

Or are you talking about the door being frozen shut and if you open it you can't close it?

 

[Gryphon]

The mechanism which minutely opens the window when opened and then closes it again when the door is closed, I can confirm DOES NOT WORK in icy conditions. When you open the door, the window does not roll down, and consequently, when you close the door the glass doesn't fit properly. The solution is to scrape off any ice along the bottom of the window before you open the door. This is the only thing that works for me.

 

[Sasuketr]

The mechanism which minutely opens the window when opened and then closes it again when the door is closed, I can confirm DOES NOT WORK in icy conditions. When you open the door, the window does not roll down, and consequently, when you close the door the glass doesn't fit properly. The solution is to scrape off any ice along the bottom of the window before you open the door. This is the only thing that works for me.

If the motor is frozen there is nothing you can do about it! My motor froze last year due to freezing rain reaching inside the door panel and windchill at -20 degrees! You can scrape the bottom of the window all you want but without blasting the door with a flame thrower or sitting in the car and blasting the heat at high for a good hour or two there is no way that window is moving! This is a common problem with the coupes with no window frames! These cars really hate winter!

I was able to drive my car back home with a non sealed window but it rattled like crazy! My Brembo brakes also froze last year as well! I took it to Ford and they said its normal! There was a ice layer by the pads that caused the brakes to fail and the car didn't stop so i had to slam on the brakes really hard and heard a shatter noice coming from the calibers! The other time, the brakes were frozen again and the car didn't move at all instead it did a burnout in the work parking lot due to rear brakes beeing free but front brembo's being frozen! Took it to Ford, and ofcourse Ford says its normal!

Good luck!

 

[Blue Horse]

OH I am so glad I live in SOUTH FLORIDA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jasonstang]

What Ford should've done is add heating strips alone the parameter of the windows so when temperature drops below freezing, preheat the windows if the doors are unlocked before opening.
What I notice is the door handles won't allow opening the door unless windows are lowered.

 

[cbrookre]

there was an LE at a local dealership that had a dead battery, and when I swung the door closed it sounded like it was going to break the glass! Took me a minute to figure out why it was not closing, and glad that it did not cause any damage! They were asking double the price after the ADM!

 

[Cobra Jet]

This will help all of,you who experience sticking doors (on any vehicle) during winter or cold months:

Google search 'Gummi Pflege' - it's a real well known product that works excellent.

DuPonts "Krytox" works really well too - here's a detailed thread about it, with pics and part # info:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2819603&postid=33268064

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