Well I must have missed the weather report saying how cold it was going to be, because this morning I got hit with the old classic, car door frozen shut. Managed to de-ice the car locks but the door was totally frozen to the body. Normally I have already seen how cold it is going to be and have WD-40'd the locks and door rubbers, but missed it completely this time. I suppose it wouldn't be winter unless it caught me out at least once. Fifteen years and it can still catch me, you have to admire its resilience!

Happened to me a few weeks ago. My gf found it hilarious when she just jumped in her Mini Cooper S and drove off. Argh!

I had the same thing today.
Solved with my daughter's Hello Kitty hair dryer.

A nice surprise was that the heated rear window started working again this morning after an absence of nearly 2 years.

Would love to have seen that lol!

Not a good idea to use WD40 on rubber. Silicone based lubricants are the way to go.

Anyway, I always use luke warm water to defrost the car door seals and windows. Works fine, and no chemical residues.

You got off lightly, at least you handbrake cables hadn't frozen

I don't miss that, easiest fix (for me) was to release the handbrake, then tap the brake cables with a 7 Iron you can hear them release as you tap.

Good tip Shifty, but I tend to leave it in gear with the handbrake off these days.

Hmmm a 7 iron eh? Any reason why that particular club?

I use a 5 iron myself, but then, i never drive further than 150 yards...

Very good Jimbob!

That's because your brakes are frozen on!

Oh the frozen handbrake, i haven't had that for a while, kin fact I haven't had to change the handbrake cable for about 4 years now, which is a rarity -- last time they were done Roger sealed up the ends to stop the water getting in and corroding/freezing up - so far so good, although I bet i've just gone and jinxed myself.

I would have used the old silicone back to black cleaner stuff, but I didn't have any left, wd-40 seemed the next best choice.

The water around the door is one i've used before, but it never worked this time, the door was completely stuck, didn't look that bad, but it wasn't shifting in the slightest. I get the impression there must have been some serious temp drop over night after a goodly amount of rain.

I loved it on my last coupe when after 5 mins of trying to get the door open I jump in late for work only to find when I shut the door it just bounces back open!

After all these years, I'm used to leaving the handbrake off, putting silicone around the doors and locks, taking warm water out with me for the still frozen locks and handles, etc.

What I do always forget though, is the flaming petrol cap

I just keep my head down at petrol stations and try and warm the key up, while hoping no ones laughing

Don't lock the cap in winter?

F'ing door frozen open I remember the first time that happened to me...just like you it came after struggling to get the bloody door open in the first place!