Fix a Car Door That is Frozen Shut
Car doors that freeze shut can be very frustrating! Use this fix to prevent this problem from ever happening again!
Do you suffer from car doors or windows that freeze shut in the winter? Try this handy trick to eliminate the problem!
what you’ll need:
Is this what your vehicle looks like when you come out in the morning ready to go to work? Mine does. The door seals have a tendency to freeze shut in the winter. Pulling on the door handle makes it seem like something is going to break if you keep reefing on it…
The solution to this is to prevent moisture from getting in between the two mating surfaces. Take some silicone spray, and spray some on a rag.
Then apply the silicone to the rubber door seals on both the door and the car frame. Don’t go overboard. There shouldn’t be any dripping. Just apply an even coating so that the seal looks a little moist.
Here you can see the seal with the silicone applied. It just makes it look a bit shiny.
The silicone repels and displaces water. This makes it so that water doesn’t get between the seals and freeze the door shut.
The same trick can be applied to car windows. Apply the silicone to the sides and top, where the window fits into the door (not the bottom, or you will end up with streaks on the window!).
Hey, I hope you find this tip helpful! If so, let us know about it in the comments! I appreciate you’re reading this article. Click here for more automotive maintenance tips!
I use Liquid Wrench Silicone Spray on the door seals of my Audi A4 and my doors still freeze shut even soon after application. I’m using enough so why isn’t this working for me? Thanks.
I have seen this with German cars for some reason. Perhaps they have a tighter more uniform seal around the doors? Or are tighter sealing in general so that moist air inside the cabin does not escape and condenses and freezes on the door seals? Not sure…
If humidity is the problem, leave the car door open for a minute or two when you get out to let out the moist air.
Make sure to clean the gaskets well before applying anything. Any dust, dirt, or debris will minimize the effectiveness of the lubricant.
At any rate, if silicone spray doesn’t work, you could also try canola oil, vinegar, dielectric grease, or Teflon dry lube spray. Apply in the same way.
If the rubber seal seats against metal (instead of another rubber gasket), then apply wax to the metal.
If all else fails, use a thin dish towel and drape it over the top of the car door when you are shutting the door the night before.
Or else invest in a remote starter…
Good luck, hope you get it sorted out! And if you find a solution that works, be sure to let us know!