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Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2021 3:29 pm
by 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
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2021 10:11 pm
by 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?
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 6:42 pm
by 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,
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:44 pm
by Leslie
majordamage069 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 10:11 pm
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
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:49 pm
by Leslie
StuBeeDoo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 6:42 pm
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
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:51 pm
by 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
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:50 pm
by X5Sport
Try a dry lube like graphite powder.
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:36 pm
by marti
I always use Gummi Pflege Stift on all rubbers, have done for over a decade, never had a problem with opening doors....
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:35 pm
by Leslie
X5Sport wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:50 pm
Try a dry lube like graphite powder.
Is this just for inside the lock rather than the door seals ?
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:38 pm
by Leslie
marti wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:36 pm
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
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:05 pm
by X5Sport
Leslie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:35 pm
X5Sport wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:50 pm
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.
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:07 pm
by 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
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:21 pm
by 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.....
Re: Door wouldn't latch in frost after opening.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:29 pm
by Leslie
A new filter would be good , a quick google suggests 12 months before it starts becoming " gummy" and you don't want that !