-20 degrees in Chicago. Driverside door wont open..

[steelcity]

Before I left work last night, I jumped in my car, closed my door and started it up so it can run for 10-15 minutes. As I went to open my door, I realized that it never actually closed fully. So, I tried to close it again....nothing. (I even checked to see if maybe the seatbelt was in the way. Nope.)

So I got out of the car and gave it a good 2-3 tries and the door finally stayed shut. Only problem now is....it won't open. After the car heated up, I had to go in through the passenger side door since my door was not opening. I did also notice the passenger door didn't close immediately as well, but no bad luck with that one. Did I mention I hate this F'n weather?

What do you guys think I should do here?

(I'm praying it's just something temporary with this cold weather, but not counting on it)

[Ilya]

Hmm...not quite sure. Only thing I can say is maybe go to the car wash and pressure wash the door jams with hot water (here in NY, the car wash water is warm/hot in the winter). At -20, it might freeze instantly lol.

I hate this weather too...I need to man up, leave my family (siblings and father - I'm single and no kids) and just move south.

[combsatl]

Move to Atlanta :-P I used to live in Iowa so I fully understand.

Seriously, though - It's probably a stuck actuator or something. I'd hold a hair dryer outside the door and heat it - may be enough to loosen up whatever is stuck.

[Ilya]

Don't hold too close or heat too long...might ruin the paint? Not sure, but I'd be careful.

[steelcity]

Move down south is right

Maybe I'll try that. When I try to unlock you hear a second of "ticking". So something it's trying to lock or unlock. Just frozen it seems.

[steelcity]

I let the car run for half hour before I left work last night (freezing again). Then about a half hour later....door was good.

I had the heat on 90 degrees. Helped out

[svard75]

This tells me either there isn't enough grease in the door lock mechanism or connected components are not greased at all. Cars in the North typically go through rust protection on a yearly or every 2 year application and hopefully includes in-door application. They insert a long wand and spray the anti-rust grease everywhere inside the car doors. I assume this is why I have never experienced this type of freezing. It's a good $120 to have it done. Crown is reputable and so is Rust Check.

[Ilya]

Hmm never heard of that being done, interesting.

[avishal26]

I live up in Calgary and have never had this problem through multiple -30 and colder winters.

Most likely something to do with snow getting into the door jambs and possibly freezing thus making it hard for the door to latch properly. I doubt it has anything to do with rust proof application.

[svard75]

I live up in Calgary and have never had this problem through multiple -30 and colder winters.

Most likely something to do with snow getting into the door jambs and possibly freezing thus making it hard for the door to latch properly. I doubt it has anything to do with rust proof application.

The reason I mentioned the rust proofing was not directly because of "Rust Proofing" per se but the fact that they spray the oil based product inside the doors and that oil keeps the parts properly lubed and coated so any condensation doesn't freeze the parts together. In either case lack of lubrication on the moving parts is to blame. Water doesn't necessarily have to get into the door to affect this it could also simply be moisture through condensation. Calgary is known to be a very dry climate so perhaps that's why you haven't experienced this yet or if you bought the car used perhaps the original owner performed oil sprays or some sort of lubrication. Check along the edge of your doors do you see door plugs?

[steelcity]

Had the problem AGAIN last night.

This is definitely from the latch freezing. As a matter of fact yesterday was brutal because I messed around with the latch a little bit and next thing you know, I was driving home with an open door (at least I'm a few minutes away from work)

Once I got home I pulled my car into the garage and put the hot air blow dryer to the latch for about one minute and it just made a "CLANK" sound and the latch was back in place and the door closed no problem.

The day before I was at Pep Boys and I was told to just WD-40 it. I had some PB Blast that I sprayed on the latch. Obviously it didn't help.

It's a freezing issue and I am now thinking of just getting a remote start for the car. That way, I let my car run and warm up for about 15-20 minutes and by the time I get to it, it should be no problem.

[svard75]

Damn sorry to hear that. You sure its specifically the locking latch at the end of the door inside the door with this freezing issue? PB blaster is a pretty good penetrating oil but I hear nothing beats WD-40 to displace the water that's in there. I assume there is plenty of condensation that forms inside this area from the cold meeting warm. You can also do what they do in homes. When you have an inside and outside wall you build a vapor barrier to prevent moisture/condensation from forming on the inside wall. Similarly in this area of the car you could look at lining the inside of the door with a sheet of vinyl just make sure it's sealed all around. Some cars already have this, not sure about ours.

[steelcity]

Yea, I'm positive that's what the issue is. Initially you can get the door open, but once it's closed......it's closed.

The handle inside and outside of the car does nothing because the latch is frozen. Basically, I exit the car through the passenger side

So far I've noticed the key is just to let the car warm up good. I should've just used WD-40 instead. I'm an a$$.

[steelcity]

ick update here. WD-40 did the trick. I had sprayed it on all my door latches and haven't had the problem since. (that was very frustrating)