Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.

[Leslie]

A good frost this morn, rear door was a struggle to open, drivers door not too bad but when I got in and tried to close it the bugger would not latch. Had visions of my driving to work holding the door closed l
After a 10 minute warm up when the heat got going it unstuck luckily.
Our focus does the same and no amount of wd40 / greasing has sorted it, last focus was the the exact same and the bugger failed to start this morn too( the ford) cause as yet unknown will have a look tonight. Starter has went before and battery is 5 years old so could be either, the joys of motoring lol

[majordamage069]

i had same after it took ages to even open it. if you do try to drive car jumps to park as wont let you drive as thinks door open.
is it the handle mech or the door latch mech that needs sorting?

[StuBeeDoo]

I had the same once on a rear door of my E46. I had to warm it with a heat gun to be able to secure the car,

[Leslie]

i had same after it took ages to even open it. if you do try to drive car jumps to park as wont let you drive as thinks door open.
is it the handle mech or the door latch mech that needs sorting?

I didn't realise it would stop you driving ,although i'e been caught out opening the door reversing slow without the seatbelt on to move it on the drive and it slammed the brakes on , nearly had me out the door

Its the latch pawl /catch striker bit in the lock,bit that hooks over the B pillar hoop , handle is fine , I though it should spring back under tension when you press it but it doesn't unless mine is faulty , same thing as the focus . It just uses momentum to latch but when its really cold it sticks and doesnt spin freely . I have all the pawls copper greased and after the door seal sticking stopping the door opening too I used silicon spray on all the rubbers plus some wd40 into the latch and today it was much better

[Leslie]

I had the same once on a rear door of my E46. I had to warm it with a heat gun to be able to secure the car,

I just had to wait 10 mins till I got some heat up but getting the hairdryer out was looking like an option as I was going to be late for work

[Leslie]

x5 ok today after silicon spray on rubbers plus wd40 into latch but the focus wouldn't let me in for several goes , then wouldn't latch then when i got in and warmed it up and it latched the bugger wouldn't let me out again had to climb over seats and get out passenger door

[X5Sport]

Try a dry lube like graphite powder.

[marti]

I always use Gummi Pflege Stift on all rubbers, have done for over a decade, never had a problem with opening doors....

[Leslie]

Try a dry lube like graphite powder.

Is this just for inside the lock rather than the door seals ?

[Leslie]

I always use Gummi Pflege Stift on all rubbers, have done for over a decade, never had a problem with opening doors....

Looks like good stuff Marti

[X5Sport]

Try a dry lube like graphite powder.

Is this just for inside the lock rather than the door seals ?

The lock mechanism. With no ‘wet’ lube there’s nothing to freeze. If the lock is sopping wet then they probably won’t be best but I’ve used one in the past ... when I was allowed to use the car that is Only refuelled the X6 once since March ‘20.

[Leslie]

Cheers mine in full use no furlough here for me , how long does diesel sit before its starts turning into a furry mess I wonder with mould forming ,10 months is quite a long time to be sitting in there

[X5Sport]

It’s been to Costco and work a few times so the fuel has had a ‘stir’ through the pumps. I know for petrol it is recommended no more than 11 weeks, but diesel I don’t know. Interesting thought. I expect a new filter is going to be needed.....

[Leslie]

A new filter would be good , a quick google suggests 12 months before it starts becoming " gummy" and you don't want that !