Du'ers from cold states--what do you do when your car doors are frozen shut?

[raccoon]

Mine were on Sunday, and I was able to open them without too much effort, but what if they're really frozen hard?

[Rising Phoenix]

1. you should have de-icer on hand

its cheap (a couple bucks) and can be found at hardware stores or auto supply stores......my brother is living in Vermont and has this problem often....stay warm! :hi:

[RebelOne]

2. I live in North Georgia and my car doors have frozen shut.

I pour boiling hot water on them. It works

[Rosie1223]

10. This may not be a good idea up north

A co-worker did this: Her doors were frozen shut as she was ready to go to lunch. She poured hot water on the door and got it open. However, by the time she got home the water she added had frozen the door again even more solidly. She was unable to get out of her car. She didn't have a cell phone and had to honk her horn to wake her 3rd shift husband to come outside and rescue her.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Just keep working at 'em until they open.

I used to use my window scraper to pry the door open on my truck - it was just the right size.

Generally, if a door is frozen shut, it's not frozen very much.

A frozen key lock is a pain in the ass, but I was always able to just keep working the key in and out until the ice was melted enough to let me in.

Thankfully, the ice will start melting at 33 degrees, so it doesn't take much work to get it to that temperature.

One can also buy some shit to spray in the locks, but I never had to resort to that.

[malta blue]

4. If the lock is frozen - use de-icer like

Rising Phoenix suggested. Otherwise, if it is just the door itself - you have to pull like there is no tomorrow. You can also leave the door slightly ajar and be sure to turn your dome light off if you anticipate freezing temps.

[DS1]

5. this always bothers me because I have the type of door with no built in window frame

so I'm essentially pulling on glass.

:scared:

[Pierre.Suave]

6. Go back inside,

start a fire, and convince Significant Other to snuggle with me in front of the fireplace...

[greenbriar]

7. Deicer is the miracle worker

we keep plenty on hand


daughters car sits outside

my jeep stays in the garage

[Deep13]

8. Typically, cold state cat owners don't have pet doors.

The first one I ever saw was on the house my father built in 1992. I have not seen another one since.

[Jamastiene]

9. Auto Supply store of your choice, get de-icer...

that works.

[undeterred]

11. There's a de-icer but if its the whole door, and not just the lock

you're screwed.

[Frosty1]

12. For a real serious freeze

Try a hairdryer

[Blue_In_AK]

13. I've used a hair dryer before.

[monmouth]

14. Boil some water or use really hot water and pour over the door lock.

I live in Fl. where it's 73 now, but we Jersey girls remember these things...lol.

[shanine]

15. Spray door with "Pam" night before

I've used a hair dryer, de icer, boiling water in the past and have all worked, but I'm going to try the pam next.

[evlbstrd]

16. I call in sick.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Don't use hot water if it's really cold. This will just make it worse.

A hair dryer will work well. If it's just the lock and you have no de-icer and you can't plug in a hair dryer, soak a towel in very hot water and wrap it in plastic so no water leaks out, then apply this hot pack to the door lock. I've done this, and it works.

[scarletwoman]

22. One method I've used with frozen locks is to simply heat the key.

When you're not at home, and you go out to some parking lot where your car has been sitting for awhile, and find that your door locks are frozen, and your handy-dandy de-icer spray is in the glovebox INSIDE your car -- well, whip out your bic lighter and hold your car door key in the flame for awhile.

Slide in that hot key and work that lock. It may take a few tries, but I've never had it not work eventually.

If the whole door is frozen, some well-placed kicks at the juncture of the door and the frame will often crack the frozen seal sufficiently that further application of your brute strength to pulling on the damn door as hard as you can will eventually yield success.

Lived most of my life in Minnesota, along with 6 years in Alaska. I sorta know from frozen. :D

sw

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

24. Yeah, I've done that too; it usually works if it's only the lock

and there's not too much ice in it.

I used to have an old Bronco II, and once I made the horrible mistake of running it through a car wash in very cold weather. Predictably, the doors froze shut and I couldn't get them open even though I tried everything. Finally I was able to get the rear doors open and crawl all the way through to the front seat. Eventually I was able to push the front doors open from the inside.

After that I never wash my car unless it's above freezing.

Ahhh... Minnesota....

[scarletwoman]

25. Yeah, the hot key thing is only good for frozen locks.

And, yeah, no car washing when the weather's below freezing -- and make sure it's going to stay above freezing for a couple days afterward, too!

Your story about crawling to the front seat and pushing the door open from the inside is all too familiar -- been there, done that!

:hi:

[Phillycat]

29. What does it say about me that "slide in that hot key and work that lock"

turned me on a little? :blush:

[kwassa]

30. you've been listening to too many blues songs ?

[kwassa]

31. you've been listening to too many blues songs ?

[scarletwoman]

33. It says that you are someone who can appreciate that I was grinning when I typed that.

;)

[Donk Yore]

18. I do my best to

get the wicked, cold hearted witch out of the car.

Sometimes, she just won't leave.

[Richard Steele]

19. One good "option of last resort" that hasn't been mentioned yet:

"Windshield washer fluid" is an excellent de-icer, if poured slowly
into the gaps in your vehicle's doorframe.

Odds are you already have some in your trunk, so it's a lot
quicker to use than boiling water or a hair dryer if you're short on time.

[scarletwoman]

23. That's a nifty helpful hint!

Although I have to mention that it sometimes gets so cold here that my jug of windshield washer fluid freezes solid. It's a bummer.

sw

[LostinVA]

28. Get the fluid with the antifreeze stuff in it

[sniffa]

20. I take the train.

[cabbage08]

21. Silicone spray the gaskets before it gets too cold

[Redstone]

26. Say fuck it, and not go anywhere until it warms up.

Living in town has its advantages; I can walk where I need to go instead.

Redstone

[Maine-ah]

27. say fuck it. It's too cold to be out anyway.

x(

Amazing that I have never had all my doors freeze shut on my car. There is usually one that will open, and I'll crawl through. I suppose though, I'd try a hair dryer.

[RoyGBiv]

32. Improvise ...

[Broken_Hero]

34. Usually,

I hit the door somewhat hard, to break up the ice around the door...if it doesn't work, I hit it a bit harder...usually does the trick for me. De-Icer works as well....