GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: John W on 17 January 2013, 10:32
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Well, my plan of using the Golf as a winter car has hit a snag. Each time I have been out to it first thing over the past few days, the drivers door won't open...... :sad:
It's a five door with remote locking (Through an alarm.) First day, every other door opened but not the drivers-the button didnt even pop up. I pulled it up (It was very stiff) from inside via the back door, but the door still wouldnt open with either inside or outside handle. A couple of hours later, it was fine and opened normally. (Once the temperature had risen a bit.)
Yesterday, the car wouldnt unlock at all-it would try but then relock, presumably because the drivers mechanism was again frozen. Again, a couple of hours later it was fine.
This morning, same again. Drivers door wouldn't open. Pulled the button up from inside with no effect, but this time left the car unlocked. An hour later the door opened normally.
Now this problem is clearly temperature/ice related as the locking has been 100% fine up until these cold temperatures. I have no idea what the internal lock/latch mechanism looks like, so where should I start in trying to sort this out ?
Many thanks.
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Same here - last two days have had to climb in the back.....
Two years ago I discovered that the drivers door lock inside the door got wet and then froze. So with the door card off, covered it with lithum (I think) grease. It was ok last year in -12c, but I guess its run off now and back to original problem.
Worth lube-ing the door seal too.
James
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Boiling hot water onto your key ?
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got the same problem with my 5door! might give the grease a go! rather annoying climbing over the passenger side haha
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Mine has been parked since last weekend, It was covered in snow, which then turned into ice. :angry:
I poured hot water on all the door handles and unlocked doors via fob. Job done.
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what I did two years ago:
http://javalins.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/golf-mk3-drivers-door-strip/ (http://javalins.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/golf-mk3-drivers-door-strip/)
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It's not the keyhole that is freezing but the actual lock assy.
If acute, plate you hand without glove under the key hole for a few minutes, this will sufficiently warm it up to open again.
For prevention, remove the black blanking plug on the side off the door and spray lithium grease there.
Or then take the lock out, clean, dry and regrease and you won't have the problem again for years.
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Just get a bottle of the Vw lock de over and it never freezes up once u have used this
I just put a bit in each winter
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>Vw lock de over
whats that then? Their little "Lube" bottles you mean?
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hiya sorry to go off thread but been trying to find u F17 BAD just finishing a 20v conversion in a mk3 and would love to pick ur brains about which intercooler u have used and if the pipework was a kit or have u made it up yourself. also which throttle cable did u use sorry again i cant find anywhere to pm you
cheers mate
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Wd40 spray in the locks at night?
I have a garage and it doesn't freeze at all :grin: but I haven't started it for couple of weeks.
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i always defrost the windows with warm (not hot) water so with the bit left i run down the door seals and thats always done the trick for me :)
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Wd40 spray in the locks at night?
I have a garage and it doesn't freeze at all :grin: but I haven't started it for couple of weeks.
This is working for me... but wipe of the excess!
Pouring water over the handle.... that's just a daft idea (that, albeit works)
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Wd40 spray in the locks at night?
I have a garage and it doesn't freeze at all :grin: but I haven't started it for couple of weeks.
This is working for me... but wipe of the excess!
Pouring water over the handle.... that's just a daft idea (that, albeit works)
Lol, It may well be, But works for me :grin:
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Same here ,tuesday morning took 30 mins to get in the drivers side :grin:
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oh well, snow for tomorrow but I have used coma spray grease in the holes mentioned. We'll see if the doors open tomorrow.
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It's not the keyhole that is freezing but the actual lock assy.
If acute, plate you hand without glove under the key hole for a few minutes, this will sufficiently warm it up to open again.
For prevention, remove the black blanking plug on the side off the door and spray lithium grease there.
Or then take the lock out, clean, dry and regrease and you won't have the problem again for years.
if this works you are a diamond!
its such a pain trying to get in the car at 7 in the morning freezing my nuttts off
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and if i end up with a cold wet hand... and still locked out im gunna hunt you down :grin:
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and if i end up with a cold wet hand... and still locked out im gunna hunt you down :grin:
quite confident it'll work ;)
done it a few times when i was still living in finland. and they have something that can actually be called winter....
current temps are autumn there.... i miss the snow ;)
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Same issues with the passenger door, looks like a job for weekend
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I've had the exact same problem. Buy a tube of lock oil/grease (for the purpose) and just put plenty inside the lock. Let it sit and you should be able to unlock the door, at least with a key, probably also remote ofc.. Even though I did this, it sometimes wouldn't open. Today I found out, that if I kind of pull the door towards the rear of the car whilst opening, magic seems to happen, and the door comes open.
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quite confident it'll work ;)
done it a few times when i was still living in finland. and they have something that can actually be called winter....
current temps are autumn there.... i miss the snow ;)
It did for me this weekend - so far so good. Takes about 1 minute per door!
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Update -> -3c this morning - doors opened just fine. :smiley:
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I used the warm hand trick today and was amazed it actually worked :grin:
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For prevention, remove the black blanking plug on the side off the door and spray lithium grease there.
Or then take the lock out, clean, dry and regrease and you won't have the problem again for years.
This! :smiley: Did this a few days ago-WD40 followed by white lithium grease through the hole. Car frozen solid/covered in ice today and it opened like a dream!