Freezing Door Locks

[KEVINVW]

Has anyone else had problems with freezing door locks ? Only had a few days of frost and each day the doors will not open. The only thing that would open was the tail gate. This has happedned three times and even after gaining entry through the rear of the car the doors will not open from the inside ! As the temperature rises the door free up and work as normal. Back with VW now and they are replacing the locks on the car. Just thought i would share this and see if mine is an isolated case?

[Kev]

I suspect it's just the glass freezing to the rubber and so the window is not dropping.
http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... f=2&t=3753" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[KEVINVW]

No the glass drops fine and as you open and close it moves up and down, its just the lock mechanisum is not releasing. Assumption is that moisture is getting in the actual catch and freezing solid.

[Kev]

Ah.

Yep could just be freezing up then or a fault.

[Malcolm]

Just siliconed my wifes car last night - all round rubbers to stop freezing, also leave wipers up so they dont rip on the ice - actually got cover for hers, quicker taking off and throwing in boot than de-icing her car!

[bookie]

Both my rear doors on my golf mkv froze up on Saturday morning (not good when you have to load the car full of stuff!!)

Could pull the handles but the locks didn't release. Eventually the doors popped open after I'd driven 5 meters (and loaded the car via the front passenger seat)

The car has always been kept outside and this is the first time it's happened and oddly only to the 2 rear doors though admittedly I very rarely open them.

[KEVINVW]

Got the car back Tuesday, they have replaced the door lock on the drivers side under the warrenty. Said it was returning error codes. Will have to see how we go from here!

[sara_brea]

mines the same on the drivers side. The window drops but the door just wont open its been like this for 5 days. Reluctant to take it to the vw garage as last time they took it for a little spin added 70 miles to the clock and chipped the paintwork on the bonnet with a couple of stone chips (im guessing someone was driving it pretty fast)

[john&mary]

Had exactly the same problem on our car. At first I thought it was the rubber seal freezing on so I used silicone spray. Next day - window drops fine but drivers door still refuses to open. I entered OK through the passenger door and used the panic lock switch inside the car on the drivers door. After 4 attempts door unlocked and opened easily (also confirming no freezing problems on seals).

Keeping an eye on it over next few days - considering removing lock cover on handle and applying lock grease.

Will wait till weather improves to see if fault persists in warmer weather (April ?).

John&Mary

[Malcolm]

Okay my remedy: silicone spray on rubbers (without wiping excess) both door and window including the external strip at top of door and for the handles (I think the micro switch freezes actually in the handle) a towel through the handle then ensure covers it up fully so no water/ice gets inside to freeze up. Worked last night with a screen cover, straight in at 6am and off the drive

[sara_brea]

Is this a common problem on other cars? none of my friends / colleges have this problem with there motors (MX5, BMW, Golfs etc.) im wondering if its a design flaw seems silly to accept that you your driver door wont open when its cold and that you have to grease your windows to stop them freezing

[trix]

the freezing door lock mechanism is most likely due to some moisture getting into it which if it happens you won't know about until subzero temperatures hit, avoid next time by putting a little wd40 in the lock, it will definitely not be specific to the roc but you will hear everyone who has had the probelm with their roc here as this is a scirocco forum go to a different marque forum & i'm sure there would be a similar thread.

with the windows they are a frameless door & on any model with a frameless system you will get this problem at some point but silicone spray on the seals (not forgetting the seal at the base of the window) will solve it a large percentage of the time. treating the seals with silicone spray is (as stated by various people before) mentioned in the manual to prevent seals being damaged by extreme weather, hot not just cold, & to keep them in good condition as with any plastic based item they will deteriorate.

S

[RW1]

The VW door lock lubricant is G052 778 A2. It's a 50ml spray at £4.35 +VAT. Usually has to be ordered.

Spray to give a protective coating so that the water is repelled and therefore "jamming" ice can't form. It is not a de-icer. De-cer sprays tend to clean the lock of lubricant which prevents the locks working smoothly and can also therefore lead to increased wear.

C.

[ZephyR]

Hey trix how do you apply your silicone spray to your rubbers ? (Now that sounds slightly rude )
As I was worried about getting over-spray all over the inside of my car I just sprayed some on to a piece of kitchen towel and used that to rub it on to the rubbers, repeating as necessary. Although this would not get it in to any grooves.

[trix]

personally i haven't Zephyr my car is always garaged overnight so luckily not affected (yet)

S

[Candy Monster]

my tailgate froze shut yesterday

[RW1]

It maybe the bumpstops springs are frozen in the compressed position. Operate the key fob button while gently pulling up the tailgate when the lock activates.

C.

[RW1]

G052 778 A2 Lock Lube.

Note the the cap labelling "with de-icing effect". Comes with a spray tube as seen and also a lock "slot" adaptor to spray into the key slot.

Its a PTFE based product which lubricates and repels water. It's tacky to the surface it's applied to. Used it for years on MK2 Sciroccos. Frozen mechanisms just disappear and applications last for years if placed away from the direct car wash cleaning area.

My door handle mechanisms have been treated inside through the gap when the door handles are extended outwards. Also took off the driver's key cap and coated that area as well.

C.