Keep Doors From Freezing Shut

I read on here somewhere that someone broke their door handle opening their door. When it rains or snows, moisture gets between the door glass and the weatherstrip over the door opening. When it freezes the door won't open. I certainly don't want to keep yanking on the handle and rip it right off.

After coaxing I can get the door to open, but it is difficult. I don't want to have to keep my heat gun handy to heat up the window in the morning before work just to be able to open the door.

Any ideas? I've wiped the window before locking the car for the night but it still persists. And with the weather freezing now I know it will keep happening.

I thought about WD40 on the weatherstrip, but I really don't want it getting on the window and then on the window fuzzy. How about wax? Is there a way to make the seal tighter?

I just do the 'wrist snap pull on the handle real fast and hard' move and pray I dont tear the handle off.

Glad it's not just me that has to deal with this.... sucks..

As far as I know, the only way to make the window-to-weatherstripping seal tighter is to bust open the door panel and go excavating inside to adjust a brace or window track which will somehow pull the glass closer to the car (inward) or push it further away (outward). Here is a thread that may be helpful:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t5133-drivers-side-window-misalignment?highlight=window

Posts of note in the above thread regarding weatherstripping maintenance: RickW's post on the 1st page (Dec. 30th) and Albert's post on Dec. 30th. GM recommends using Dielectric grease on door/window seals to keep them from freezing. Silicone spray works too.

I don't think you have to worry about the seal of the window, because the part that really freezes up is the part of the door by the handle and the car body. The door makes the most contact with the body of the car at that spot. I'm gonna try some wd40 there.

RidzRiv wrote:

I don't think you have to worry about the seal of the window, because the part that really freezes up is the part of the door by the handle and the car body. The door makes the most contact with the body of the car at that spot. I'm gonna try some wd40 there.

Hmmm... you think that's where it happens? I'll WD40 ther and see what happens.

charlieRobinson wrote:

I just do the 'wrist snap pull on the handle real fast and hard' move and pray I dont tear the handle off.

You'll loose that battle some day. Cold plastic handles are brittle, so 'real fast and hard' will break'em off pretty easily.

Pretty sure it's where it happens. Otherwise you would notice the glass sticking, and somebody would have busted glass by now. No matter what I need to get a window track because mine is a bit wobbly and doesn't create a perfect seal. I can hear air coming in, and water gets in when the car is getting washed.

The glass does freeze to the seals, at least it does to mine. I can see the ice break as I push on the glass and seals. And the door freezes, too. The reason our doors are so hard to open is their length. The longer perimeter around the door and window = more force against the pull.

I'll take a video of mine tomorrow. We got 8+ inches today and it's raining tonight. Maybe you could record yours too and see if we have different situations.

i am one person that broke my handle from ice. the aftermarket replacements suck charlie so be careful yankin

True but I feel like the surface area of where the window meets the seal is pretty small compared to the door jam area. After pouring hot water on the door jam area it opened up fairly easily. The ice on the window broke free fairly easily. I was just saying because I'm sure nobody wants to put lubricants on the window.

Silicone Spray. Hands down will sort you out. Spray it on a rag, and rub it well into all black bits on the door.(with it open) You will see there are two seals, an inside to cabin one, and a outside one. Its the sum of all those surfaces that makes the Riv a pain when really cold out. I've tried lots of different methods, but the silicone spray is hands down the best. You will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. I find I only have to do it twice a winter.

Karma wrote:

Silicone Spray.  Hands down will sort you out.  Spray it on a rag, and rub it well into all black bits on the door.(with it open)  You will see there are two seals, an inside to cabin one, and a outside one.  Its the sum of all those surfaces that makes the Riv a pain when really cold out.  I've tried lots of different methods, but the silicone spray is hands down the best.  You will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.  I find I only have to do it twice a winter.

  

Yardley wrote:

I read on here somewhere that someone broke their door handle opening their door. When it rains or snows, moisture gets between the door glass and the weatherstrip over the door opening. When it freezes the door won't open. I certainly don't want to keep yanking on the handle and rip it right off.

After coaxing I can get the door to open, but it is difficult. I don't want to have to keep my heat gun handy to heat up the window in the morning before work just to be able to open the door.

Any ideas? I've wiped the window before locking the car for the night but it still persists. And with the weather freezing now I know it will keep happening.

I thought about WD40 on the weatherstrip, but I really don't want it getting on the window and then on the window fuzzy. How about wax? Is there a way to make the seal tighter?

All you need to do is lubricate the weatherstrip with silicone.  Various silicones will work. DO NOT USE WD40. Use "tune up grease," the kind you get in the little packs at the auto part store counter for a buck or so, or in the tubes.  "Spark plug boot grease" or the CRC silicone grease in the spray or lube can.  DO NOT USE ANY PETROLEUM GREASE on your weatherstrips, just silicone.  Even 100% silicone DOT5 brake fluid will work. Not any other type brake fluid though.

then if your window ices over you can chip the ice away with your hands or a credit card or some such.

might help to wash the car and weatherstrips then apply the silicone.

if your weatherstrips are dry you might have to apply silicone 2-3 times before you get the effect:  the ice will  not stick to the rubber anymore.  You know when it is time to clean and lube the weatherstrips because the ice sticks to the rubber.

as Karma wrote, silicone spray works but don't leave overspray on the hard plastic parts, over time it may fade the color.  Spray on a rag and wiping just the strip is ok. I have used the spray, the grease and DOT5. They all work.  All of them appear to leave a little silicone transfer to the glass edge...  Leave that alone for a few days while the silicone soaks into the rubber, then if it still bugs you wipe off the glass with a clean towel. Over the 14 years I've driven the Riv, I think applying tune up grease a couple times a year is best.  Silicone spray is OK but don't get it on the plastic.  DOT5 is fine, a little messy but way cheaper than the spray per use, for weatherstripping a bottle of the stuff will suffice for 5-7 years of treatments.  In my experience the tuneup grease is best z*but* the others work so well I would never say don't use DOT5 or spray...  Spray, tune-up grease or DOT5, basically you are spreading polysiloxane on your weatherization.  The DOT5 label should say it is 100% polysiloxane, silicone, or dimethylpolysiloxane in the fine print on the label, or 100% Silicone somewhere on the label,don't use it otherwise.

albertj

My doors have been frozen shut for 3 days now. I have been trapped at home.

Any idea where the problem area is that keeps our doors frozen shut? I need to get some food.

Thank you!

Read the post right above yours. The giant weather strip is what freezes the door shut. Take some hot water outside and pour it down the rear of the side window. It'll open up no prob.....

You can avoid the problem by getting some spray silicone at Autozone. Thoroughly dry the weather stripping and then wipe them down with the silicone. I have had success opening frozen doors by using a plastic blade and inserting it at the vertical edge of the door glass, and gently prying/twisting as you pull on the door handle. Any kind of flat plastic that is stiff enough will work. Be gentle.

yahhhhh. I dont want to use hot water becuase im afraid it will get inbetween, freeze, and make it worse.

I tried plastic prying yesterday.. but didnt like it.

So the window and hte weather strip is the problem area?

Ok, im gonna go try again.


Im moving south for sure this fall.

I had to use hot water on mine yesterday, despite being wiped down with Silicone spray. Apparently -33* with the windchill is a bit too cold for even the "spray" method to work   

Abaddon wrote:

despite being wiped down with Silicone spray. Apparently -33* with the windchill is a bit too cold for even the "spray" method to work   

Me too, but gentle prying with the plastic tool worked great.  Opened right up.

I got the passenger side open. I busted the drivers side door handle tho.. like an idiot.

the handle seems fine, it just wont open the door from the outside. from inside it opens fine.
The lock and the door handle from inside seems a lil loose.

This will be an easy repair, right? Do we have a thread here that explains the door handle mechanics so I can take this b apart and fix it?

thank you. I have a car again, just cant get in from the drivers side.   

I was hoping to get some kind of tool (like a short nail puller) bent to use to pry the bottom of the door when it's frozen but didn't get it done. Screwdriver works. Haven't experimented, but I was thinking of something like an oversized door-ding protective strip to keep water from running down the door jamb and onto the bottom gasket where it freezes the hardest.

Ya guys dont know the real trick! Ya gotta use Pam cooking spray.Stuff is slicker that bird shit!

[quote="charlieRobinson"]yahhhhh. I dont want to use hot water becuase im afraid it will get inbetween, freeze, and make it worse.

I tried plastic prying yesterday.. but didnt like it.

So the window and hte weather strip is the problem area?

Ok, im gonna go try again.


Im moving south for sure this fall.

I used one of these worked good
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Door-Handle-Outer-Exterior-Passenger-Right-Side-Front-Smooth-black-RH-Hand-/370775538760?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1998%7CMake%3ABuick%7CModel%3ARiviera%7CSubmodel%3ABase%7CEngine+-+Liter_Display%3A3.8L&hash=item5653f1bc48&vxp=mtr