How to defrost car doors? here are some tips
Don’t pull the door handle just because you’re in a hurry. Try the following steps instead:
- Breaking a door handle can cost hundreds of dollars.
- Don’t overlook easy solutions just because you’re in a hurry.
Let’s say you park your car outside overnight on a freezing cold morning.
You try to open the door, which is probably one of the most basic things a car owner will ever do.
Unfortunately, the driver’s side door won’t open.
What is your occupation?
If you look online, you’ll find a variety of ways to deal with a frozen or stuck car door.
But Sean Riesdorf, a driving instructor at North Farmington High School in metro Detroit, was a little wary when asked about common winter problems, and with good reason.
“I’ve just seen a lot of people break door handles trying to get in through the driver’s door,” he said.
Reisdorf’s program in North Farmington is accredited by the American Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
If the driver’s side door doesn’t work, don’t forget to try the other doors as well. It may not be a solution, but it’s a good idea to rule out other doors before escalating the problem and potentially having unintended consequences. It’s something Reisdorf has seen happen too often.
“We’re trained,” Reisdorf said. “I have to open the driver’s door to get in the car. I don’t want to crawl across the back seat (or over the center console) to get to the car.”
Reisdorf said people in such situations too often overlook what could be an easy solution.
“You can probably open the right rear passenger door. If you open the right rear passenger door, you can get into the car,” Reisdorf said.
If you apply enough pressure on the inside of the driver’s side door (remember to use the door latch), you may be able to make it open easier.
Even better, put your car in the garage and allow the frozen door area to thaw at its own rate.
Rescuing your car from the freezing cold can do wonders for solving cold-related problems.
Of course, not everyone has a garage readily available, but hopefully your car has a heater and a warmer temperature inside the car can make a big difference. Be careful not to drive your car with the garage door closed.
Newer and older cars may require different considerations when it comes to stuck doors. New cars rely on electronic devices, and those electronic devices can prevent your doors from opening. Or maybe the keychain is the problem, Riesdorf says. A remote starter allows you to warm up your car before you even get to the door.
If you have an older car and can’t pull the door handle, the plastic may be frozen. If so, ice may have formed between the plastic door handle and the sheet metal, Riesdorf said.
“The simplest solution is water. I’m not talking hot water. I’m not talking hot water. I’m talking lukewarm water,” he said, noting that hot water can cause major damage to an ice-cold car.
If the temperature is very cold, such as below 10 degrees, avoid using water as it can crack the plastic and lead to further freezing. Reisdorf stressed that staying inside a vehicle is the best option in these frigid temperatures. Call a tow truck or AAA and “let the experts handle it.”
Some issues affecting internal locking and latching mechanisms can be difficult to address when you’re standing out in the cold.
And in the end, replacing a door handle will likely cost several hundred dollars. I don’t really talk about applying pressure because you can unintentionally damage your car just to open the door. It might work in some cases, but if you overdo it, you could end up with a whole new set of complications.
Reisdorf is not a fan of do-it-yourself methods that involve hair dryers and heat guns. He said there are antifreezes for locks on the market and he’s seen people using a variety of other solutions. AAA and other organizations claim that a vinegar and water solution acts as an antifreeze agent.
The best strategy is to prevent problems in the first place.
One of the best ways to do that is to keep up with maintenance, Riesdorf says. This includes seals on the doors and the car itself that come into contact. If the door handle moves but your car door won’t open, there may be a problem with the seal.
These seals must be wiped and lubricated regularly.
A variety of products can be used, including silicone spray, but Riesdorf said he does not recommend any products. Whether your car is new or old, the door seals may become stuck. This is probably caused by a combination of dirt and frozen moisture.
“How many times has that door been opened and closed and nothing was done to maintain it? We don’t do that to our bodies,” he said, asking why we would expect more from our cars.
Another precaution for cars parked outdoors, courtesy of AAA, is a car cover that protects doors and locks from moisture and keeps snow and ice from building up on the windshield.
Eric D. Lawrence is senior auto culture reporter for the Detroit Free Press. If you would like to share tips and solutions for your car problems, please contact us at elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
