As of: January 29, 2024, 5:32 a.m
By: Simon Mones
Comments
Press
Split
If the door cannot be opened, it may help to lightly tap on the metal sheet.
© Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa
Frozen car doors are a challenge.
Using brute strength could cost you dearly.
But there are better ways to get into the car.
Winter has us firmly in its grip.
At night the thermometer repeatedly shows temperatures below zero, presenting drivers with numerous challenges.
For example, the handbrake can freeze.
Another problem - in addition to icy windows - is frozen car doors.
Even if you are in a hurry, brute force is not the solution in this case.
The new WhatsApp channel from 24auto.de is here!
Current news, useful tips & tricks as well as strange stories from the internet about cars can be found on our Whatsapp channel: Click here to go directly to
Automania
.
Car door frozen: Brute force can be expensive
On the contrary, if you pull on the door with all your might, the problem could even get worse.
The material could tear.
The necessary repairs cost hundreds of euros, as
T-Online.de
writes.
However, there are other ways to get into the car.
The ADAC
recommends
pressing something against the door from the outside.
In this way, the ice can be removed from the gaps with a little feeling.
It can also be helpful to gently tap on the door panel.
Little helper, big impact
It fits in any jacket or handbag and can save you a lot of trouble: the little bottle of Sonax door lock de-icer
(promotional link)
.
The liquid in the practical squeeze bottle thaws frozen locks in no time, infiltrates water and lubricates and protects against rust and moisture at the same time.
If the driver's door still cannot be opened, the automobile club recommends trying a different door.
You may be able to get behind the wheel from the passenger seat.
Then try to see whether the door can be opened from the inside.
Only when you succeed should you set off.
The driver's door must open in order to provide assistance from the outside.
My news
Increase in vehicle tax for combustion engines – what does the Federal Environment Agency say about the plans? read
Tesla customer after picking up his electric car: “I have to admit that I’m very disappointed” read
“I could look at it all day”: Internet amused by cars crashing through holesread
Traffic sign “bending right of way”: Which driver has to signal at the intersection? read
Vehicle parked in the second row: Is it allowed to overtake despite the solid line? read
Electric car is stuck at the charging station – technician wants to saw through the cable
De-icing car doors: Hot water can help - but caution is advised
Another option for getting into the car is warm water.
Carefully pour this all around the door frame.
It is best to heat this to 50 degrees.
You should definitely not use boiling water as it can damage the paint.
Make sure that no water gets on the windows.
The sudden increase in temperature can cause the window to burst or crack.
It is therefore not recommended to use warm water when de-icing the windshield.
To prevent the door from freezing immediately, the inside of the door and the seals must be dried after opening.
You can find even more exciting car topics in the free newsletter from our partner 24auto.de
As with de-icing the windshield wiper system, you should stay away from hair dryers and hot air dryers.
The hot air from the dryer simply cools down too quickly.
Meanwhile, a hot air dryer can damage the door with its high temperatures.
Both paint and primer can melt or chip.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.