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Complete! The snow was wiped off the car and the windows were scraped from the trunk with an ice scraper. In fact, everything can start now – but then comes the big surprise: The driver’s door won’t open!
There is nothing unusual in winter. Possible causes of freezing include freezing rain, melting and refreezing snow, as well as washing the car (here you can learn why this is important in winter too). In any case, water can accumulate and freeze between the door seals or, on older cars, in the lock. Then these tips will help.
So the door opens again
Now under no circumstances should you force open the doors. If the rubber seals and body freeze together, you can rip or tear the seals from the door. The seals then need to be replaced in the workshop.
Instead, try to press the door evenly from the outside. In most cases, the door can be opened again by defrosting the gaps. Alternatively, you can do it gently! – tap the metal plate.
water trick
If this does not dissolve the ice, you can carefully pour hot water around the door frame. However, make sure that the water does not overflow from the window. It may burst or rupture due to sudden temperature difference. Water should not be boiled, otherwise it may damage the paint. 50 degrees temperature is ideal.
If you can enter from a door other than the driver’s door, you should not drive your vehicle without defrosting the driver’s door. Otherwise, emergency services will not be able to open the door in case of an accident.
frozen castle
On older cars, the door lock may also be frozen. You can usually tell by the key not fitting into the hole. There are special defrosters for this, but they are of no use in a frozen car; so keep them at home or in your jacket pocket!
Alternatives include simple disinfectant or a lighter. The alcohol in the disinfectant dissolves the ice. The key can be heated with a lighter and then carefully inserted into the lock. Then the ice cream must be thawed.
Mistake
In no case should you use a battery-powered hair dryer or even lay an extension cord on the snow. It usually doesn’t work because the cold air cools the hair dryer air before it reaches the ice. The effect disappears completely.
And: If you bring the hair dryer too close to the body, the paint may be damaged and, in the worst case, the primer may deteriorate. If the paint melts, corrosion protection is lost and rust may form.
Correct prevention
To prevent this, you can regularly apply a maintenance product to the rubber seals. The maintenance layer prevents the tires from coming into direct contact with each other; this prevents them from freezing. It also prevents the seals from drying out and becoming brittle.
Are Vaseline or silicone oil alternatives at home? But experts oppose this. You should also dry the vehicle after washing it to prevent the seals from freezing. The inside of the door lock can be protected with graphite. Regular lubrication also helps.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
