I need help! All four car doors are frozen shut-----------------

[candy]

I left it unlocked and checked it about 3 hours ago and all four are frozen.

It is still brutal out but should be okay tomorrow AM.

I have none of the spray de-icer(never needed it).It is going to remain below freezing tomorrow so I can't wait for a warm-up.

What's the best way to work on these damned doors?

What a nightmare this winter has been.

Thanks all!

[CO Liberal]

1. If You Can Run an Extension Cord Out To The Car...

...run a blow dryer along the long side of the driver's door and keep trying to open the door until it unfreezes. (You can also use hot water, but then you have to use a towel and make sure you dry off all the surfaces once the door is open.)

Once the door is open, coat all the rubber weatherstripping along all four sides of the door with a thin coat of Vaseline or WD-40 - that should help it from freezing again.

[NV Whino]

2. Well, I'm sitting out here on the left coast in 70° weather,

but I seem to recall that alcohol will work... denatured/rubbing sort of stuff. Don't waste your vodka or gin. You will need those yourself.

[Swede]

3. Warm water might do the trick.

Rubbing alcohol will work too.

[Left Is Write]

4. I agree with the hair dryer suggestion.

I feel for you. I once broke the door handle off my Cavalier when the door was frozen! (Well, actually, it was my co-worker in his zeal to try getting the door open for me.)

[tinfoilinfor2005]

5. Come to the islands!

Seventy two degrees here sitting on my boat looking at the stars.
This post isn't meant to make you feel bad...I grew up in that climate, and finally hollered uncle and moved. And have not had one regret since.

[texas1928]

6. do you have some rubbing alcohol?

It gets it off and it does not run the paint like salt does.

[candy]

11. The alcohol worked and-----

surprisingly I had never heard of doing that before.

Luckily I had some in the house(a minor miracle)and will make sure I'm never without it again.

[intrepid_wanderer]

7. Well...

If it's the lock... you can use an awl to clear ice from the keyhole

If it's the door perimeter... some good pressure (applied with your waist, a gloved fist, or a very light use of a rubber mallet) will break the ice around the perimeter of the door.


best of luck !! <ahhh, winter>

[MidwestMomma]

8. How thick is the ice on your car?

If it's not too thick, this use to work for me and my car.

Don't laugh but....

If you have a teflon spatula with a somewhat thin edge, take the spatula and run it around the car door between the door and the rubber seal of car. Kind of wiggle it back and forth until you can feel the ice 'give'. The teflon won't scratch the metal on the door and is stronger than a plastic spatula which would just break.

Also, start on the door that has the least amount of ice. Sometimes I could only get my passenger door open because of which direction the wind and snow/ice were coming from.

I know it sounds crazy but I used to have a Toyota that had doors that ALWAYS froze shut and that's what I did.

However, this only works if the ice isn't really thick.

Sorry about your sucky weather. Hope warm weather heads your way soon.

[LynzM]

9. Hot water

But not boiling, just hot enough to warm the seal. You might have to make a couple trips out with large pans full of water, but it's easy, and you won't chip or dent your car doing it. My car doors seem to get ice INSIDE the seal, not over the outside, and this has worked for that type of frozen... Good luck! This may be me in the morning, too...

[JVS]

10. Hot water, alcohol, or if you don't like your car much just throw salt on

the car tonight and the ice will melt by tomorrow