92:Door does not open

[karajack48]

It rained and snowed last night and when I went to open my door (drivers side) it was frozen. When I finally opened it and tried to shut it again it would not shut. It was like the latch was not there or something....So I locked the door and shut it, and it stayed shut, now I cannot unlock the door, or open it. When I put the key in it turns but it does not unlock anything. When I try to pull the lock up to unlock it, it will not budge, so now I have no way to open the door, and I can't take the panel off because I have no way to open the door.

I have had problems unlocking the drivers side door in really cold weather, for instance the key will not turn, when it warms up it is fine. I have also had issues with the inside door handle not working correctly. I can climb in through the other side, but I really need to see if I can fix it.

Any suggestions? I would appreciate anything you might have

[Arnoldtheskier]

Been there.This has worked for me.A can of that spray silicone.With the car warm.Yes it can be messy.Spray a lot on BOTH sides of the glass..and down near the seal on the door..hoping it will find it's way down onto the track,regulator.Use a nozzle with the windows down.Ditto..get some down the door lock knob.Ditto..for the latch assy inside the door.MAKE SURE there is a way for the moisture to LEAVE the interior of the door.Common problem.Get's plugged.NO air can get in and circulate.Moisture,water can't dry out.Freezes.Heading through a hot car wash will usually allow you to get the doors, windows open.Best to dry it in a heated area..then spray all the doors.I do it once before and during the winter.

[Arnoldtheskier]

If it is real important you can use a spray bottle filled with hot water or a hair dryer..or WITH a pair of pliers AND! gloves and a torch.Heat the key and put it in the lock.Beware!..this will get you back in business..AND you had better fix the problem..dry it out/get some air in there..lube it.IF you don't..the additional..excess heat/hot water in a very cold moist environment..will further melt..and it WILL spread..AND it WILL!! freeze and you will be considerbly WORSE off than when you started.

[karajack48]

Originally Posted by Arnoldtheskier

Been there.This has worked for me.A can of that spray silicone.With the car warm.Yes it can be messy.Spray a lot on BOTH sides of the glass..and down near the seal on the door..hoping it will find it's way down onto the track,regulator.Use a nozzle with the windows down.Ditto..get some down the door lock knob.Ditto..for the latch assy inside the door.MAKE SURE there is a way for the moisture to LEAVE the interior of the door.Common problem.Get's plugged.NO air can get in and circulate.Moisture,water can't dry out.Freezes.Heading through a hot car wash will usually allow you to get the doors, windows open.Best to dry it in a heated area..then spray all the doors.I do it once before and during the winter.

How do I get it to dry out? I haven't had time to do the silicone yet but I plan on getting some today, at an auto place? My problem is that I live in Maine, and for the next 4-5 days the temp is not supposed to reach 30 degrees, and it is supposed to snow again. Is there any way to dry it out under these conditions? Would rubbing alcohol work? And if it would, do I use it before or after I put the silicone on? How exactly do I get the moisture out? Do I roll down the window, or do something else? I really appreciate your help on this, as I am mostly ignorant when it comes to cars.

[Diesel_Jen]

I found spraying the latch with WD40 did the trick.

[Davescort97]

[quote=karajack48]How do I get it to dry out? I haven't had time to do the silicone yet but I plan on getting some today, at an auto place? My problem is that I live in Maine, and for the next 4-5 days the temp is not supposed to reach 30 degrees, and it is supposed to snow again. Is there any way to dry it out under these conditions? Would rubbing alcohol work? And if it would, do I use it before or after I put the silicone on? How exactly do I get the moisture out? Do I roll down the window, or do something else? I really appreciate your help on this, as I am mostly ignorant when it comes to cars.[/QUOTE

Yes, rubbing alcohol will work. Put it in a spray bottle or buy a plastic bottle of de-icer and spray it in the lock and down the door at the lock button. I've had the same problem but poured hot water down the door with the glass up, but I don't reccomend this as it will just freeze again and the window might break from sudden expansion. Put the de-icer on it before the silicone. One thing you might do is put the alcohol and spray can of silicon under hot water in your kitchen and let it heat up real good. The silicon will keep it from freezing again. Cold weather does strange things to cars. I can only imagine how cold it must get it maine.

[brianatccm]

I did something stupid last fall. I took my Escort to car wash and then drove it home. The next moring the driver's side door wouldn't open. I had to let the car warm up with the heater on high before I could open the door.

-Brian