Stopping frozen doors

[mooseshaver]

In winter in all of my cars the doors sometimes freeze shut. Sometimes when I pull really hard I leave a little rubber on the frame.
Is there something I can put on to stop it? I had to get into my new c5 from the passenger side today as I wanted to keep the rubber on the door.

[Richard_C]

I ususally put a very thin smear of vaseline around the seals. Seems to work, but I'm sure you can buy some expensive special product!

[mooseshaver]

I think we have that stuff somewhere. Wife will know.
Thank you.

[Xantidote]

Sorry, I did see some product advertised very recently, for stopping door seals freezing up, but can't remember where

However, like Richard, I tried vaseline last winter, and though it wasn't 100% effective, I shall be using vaseline again (today, after last night's frost!), but probably applying a bit more. Last winter I just put a light smear on, applied with kitchen towel, so perhaps I was too frugal with it. Problem I had this morning was getting into the boot to the de-icer out

[SaabC5]

You can buy a can of spray silicon that should do the trick nicely and won't be affected by cold weather.

[mooseshaver]

Now that's more manly, plus I already have it for lubricating the pushchair.
Now how to spray it on without getting it all over rest of car or in my eye!

[Gibbo2286]

Ordinary furniture polish will do it, Pledge for example.

[411514]

Avid detailers use a german product 'Gummi Pflege', available on ebay.
Improves the appearance of the rubbers and prevents them freezing without leaving a sticky residue like vaseline.

[mooseshaver]

Ordered some gummi. Looks easier to apply and claims to protect.

[jgra1]

I am going to stick a heater in mine tonight.. and give the car a 10 min blast before i set off in the morning.. cheaper than leaving it running to defrost.. and safer.. although I may need to be imaginative on where the plug goes so I dont need to open door..

-4C later methinks.. car hardly gets warm on the 5 mile journey to work..

[Old-Guy]

It helps to clean and polish (with with a silicone wax) the parts of the doors that close against the seals. A quick, short-term, alternative is to 'clean' the surface with a rag or tissue 'dampened' with WD40. Both treatments repel moisture and stops any ice that does form from sticking to the paint.

I don't like the old remedy of using Vaseline on the rubbers - it goes sticky sticky and attracts dirt. If you brush against a 'treated' door seal as you squeeze into the car in a tight space you get Vaseline on your clothes and transfer it to the seats.
Not only that but long term, like many petroleum products, it may attack the rubber of the seals. It may not, but I can't afford the risk.

[Mandrake]

Just been well and truly bitten by this problem for the first time this winter... in fact as its my first winter in the UK since I've had a car, its a new experience for me. (No problems with doors freezing shut in northern NZ )

Not only was getting the doors open a struggle, none of the windows would open either, even after a good dose of de-icer, although they did open AFTER I reached work...

Anybody have any ideas on how to prevent the windows freezing shut, or is the solution also spray on silicon ?

Also when de-icing the rear window this morning I noticed this:

The rubber has completely curled around away from both the glass and the metal leaving gaping gaps. As far as I know before the last few days of freezing weather the rubber was fine - I would have noticed something like this if it had happened earlier.

My question is, has the cold temperature and ice caused this damage, or has it been liberal use of de-icer in the last few days that has swelled the rubber up ? Anything I can do to fix it ?

[Citroenmad]

I am going to stick a heater in mine tonight.. and give the car a 10 min blast before i set off in the morning.. cheaper than leaving it running to defrost.. and safer.. although I may need to be imaginative on where the plug goes so I dont need to open door..

-4C later methinks.. car hardly gets warm on the 5 mile journey to work..

Luckily my car lives in the garage, but the ones which dont I put a heater in. Though I put the heater in on a morning. I have thought about putting it in on a night and leaving a plug timer on, however putting a heater inside without leaving a door unclosed will be difficult.

I never even try to open the windows on a cold morning, as they wont work and it will just burn the motors out or cause other damage to the mech.

[mooseshaver]

Wow Mandrake not seen that before, and I've used de-icer lots. If that is caused by de-icer then I will stop.
The Gummi stuff appears to be for all rubber around the car so it may stop windows too. Mine were also frozen Yesterday. Its embarassing when you get to a drive through, and then have to open the door and get out to deal with ordering, payment and collecting.
It was probably the hot water (from hot tap not boiling) I cleared the windows with freezing again though.

[Citroenmad]

Also when de-icing the rear window this morning I noticed this:

IMG_4820.jpg

That does look very strange!

Did you try and pull the top of it from under the glass? Perhaps that will flatten it out. It shouldnt be a reacion to the de-icer, but you never know.