Once the frost arrives, I open the drivers door, but something in the mech doesn't spring back and the door "bounces" off the latch, and won't latch shut.

I can unfreeze it with hot air or warm water in the area of the latch, but if the wife uses the car and it freezes again while she's out, then the door won't latch again, so she won't use it.  On one occasion, she unfroze it over at her Mom's and set off home, only for the door to fly open as she went round a bend - dangerous doesn't cover it.

Ideas please guys.

Thanks.

1 hour ago, developer said:

Once the frost arrives, I open the drivers door, but something in the mech doesn't spring back and the door "bounces" off the latch, and won't latch shut.

I can unfreeze it with hot air or warm water in the area of the latch,

Teach the wife how to drive in winter. I often have the lock freeze in such a manner that it doesn't latch correctly. A watering can of warm/hot water poured over it totally cures it. If she shuts the door, and it latches properly (which she can tell by hearing it catch, and if she tries to simply push it open, it won't) perfectly safe to drive!

Keep the Locks and Latches well lubricated all year round and you shouldn't have any problems.

9 hours ago, StephenFord said:

Teach the wife how to drive in winter. I often have the lock freeze in such a manner that it doesn't latch correctly. A watering can of warm/hot water poured over it totally cures it. If she shuts the door, and it latches properly (which she can tell by hearing it catch, and if she tries to simply push it open, it won't) perfectly safe to drive!

I want suggestions for a fix to the problem,  not stupid remarks.

8 hours ago, Tizer said:

Keep the Locks and Latches well lubricated all year round and you shouldn't have any problems.

There doesn't seem to be any strength in the mech on this particular door, regardless of the weather - all the others latch more firmly - it's as if something has weakened/broken?

8 hours ago, Tizer said:

Keep the Locks and Latches well lubricated all year round and you shouldn't have any problems.

That

13 minutes ago, developer said:

There doesn't seem to be any strength in the mech on this particular door, regardless of the weather - all the others latch more firmly - it's as if something has weakened/broken?

Just check the attachment that connects the cables to the latch mechanism aren't broken, making the cable loose. You can reattach them with a small cable tie

3 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

Just check the attachment that connects the cables to the latch mechanism aren't broken, making the cable loose. You can reattach them with a small cable tie

Thanks - what do you guys lubricate with?

Just now, developer said:

Thanks - what do you guys lubricate with?

White grease, it doesn't wash off.

You can free with WD40, if you want, but then put white grease over the top

And by lubricating I mean all the mechanism in the inside of the door, so you'll have to strip I'm afraid.

That's the only way you'll cure it

1 minute ago, DaveT70 said:

And by lubricating I mean all the mechanism in the inside of the door, so you'll have to strip I'm afraid.

That's the only way you'll cure it

I'll give it a go - thanks again 👍

6 minutes ago, developer said:

Thanks - what do you guys lubricate with?

You can lube it with anything you want, makes no difference whatsoever. I've had my car now for 5 x winters, drivers lock (and sometimes passenger side) freezes everytime. Seriously, to stop your wife falling out of the car, you gotta teach her how to test that the lock has been properly 'defrosted' before driving off! (When she sits in it, simply push the door open to make sure the lock has latched) Once you do, and she drives off, the internal heating of the cabin will ensure it doesn't refreeze that trip...

By the way, it wasn't a 'stupid' remark, but a potentially lifesaving one...

42 minutes ago, developer said:

regardless of the weather - all the others latch more firmly - it's as if something has weakened/broken?

It does sound like that from what you have said, it should be the same as the other front door.

I had the same car as you for about 8 years and didn't have any great problems despite living further north and parking outside.

5 hours ago, Tizer said:

It does sound like that from what you have said, it should be the same as the other front door.

Not really, my driver door freezes 10 times more than passenger, due entirely to weather where the cold wind hits one side of the car more frequently than the other...

2 hours ago, StephenFord said:

Not really, my driver door freezes 10 times more than passenger, due entirely to weather where the cold wind hits one side of the car more frequently than the other...

I don't doubt that, but the OP said that the Latch on one side was weaker than the other side, hence if things are kept well lubricated all the time then they should not wear out very much either.

Just found this thread from a few years back...

 

Am I the only one that finds this thread on frozen door locks in the middle of a heatwave a bit bizarre? 🤣

1 minute ago, unofix said:

Am I the only one that finds this thread on frozen door locks in the middle of a heatwave a bit bizarre? 🤣

No, but right now, here it's pouring, and I'm considering turning the heat on! It's 12c outside, this global warming is such a myth 🤣

On 6/23/2024 at 9:26 PM, StephenFord said:

Teach the wife how to drive in winter. I often have the lock freeze in such a manner that it doesn't latch correctly. A watering can of warm/hot water poured over it totally cures it. If she shuts the door, and it latches properly (which she can tell by hearing it catch, and if she tries to simply push it open, it won't) perfectly safe to drive!

its the water idiots pour on the lock that's causing it to freeze up - rather than a temporary cure that is really exacerbating the issue - PUT LUBRICATION ON THE LOCK SO IT MOVES FREELY AND TO DISPLACE THE WATER AND RUST THAT ARE CAUSING THE FIGHT

Also put silicone spray lubricant on the door seal so they don't stick and tear off (whilst also looking after the rubber)

FYI both steps fall under the banner of car maintenance

 

30 minutes ago, Botus said:

Also put silicone spray lubricant on the door seal so they don't stick and tear off (whilst also looking after the rubber)

I do that already! Gosh, car maintenance?? Whoever heard of such a concept... 🤣

I guess driving a 20 year old car which runs as sweet as a cream cake is all down to luck!