Cold wether lock problems

[chris]

Hi folks, I'm new to the forum and wondered if anyone could help put with a problem I had.

I've got a 1.4 sx and have had some real problems with the locks and the cold weather. Whenever it was really cold the locks wouldn't pop up after I hit the central locking button, or they would pop up and then just close down again immediately.

Well two weeks ago in the really cold whether the driver's door lock just wouldn't budge and I couldn't get it open at all. I dropped it into my local dealer last Wednesday. Well they came back to me today and said it took them 14 man hours to get the door open plus the cost of new parts. They said the total cost would have been about £900 but they didn't think it was right to charge all the labour and have settled on a repair bill of £465. Needless to say I'm gutted. What worries me is that if this happens again. Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas on how to prevent this happening again. I don't have a garage unfortunately. I've still to speak to the garage and get the details but should I get some kind of guarantee with this.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Chris

 

[patrick]

Cold weather

Might be a good idea for everyone to come up with ther cold weather solutions, now that winter is getting here. I normally use WD40 in the locks before it gets really cold, but some people reckon it can make it worse. I find that sometimes it isnt the lock, its the seal thats frozen around the door, in that case, I fill a kettle half full of boiling water and half full of cold, and carefully and slowly pour it around the door frame, making sure to avoid the glass. This normally loosens it enough to open up. I work shifts and have noiticed that if I park under the lights at work, it sometimes seems to help it stop freezing, not sure if the lighst give off a little heat or something. Anyone else park under street lights?

 

[Roger Ramjet]

Climb in through the hatch and push it open from the inside after unlocking.

Use Wd40 - it worked for me. Also, wipe a little washing up liquid around the rubber door seals - it stops the rubber sticking to the door. Punto's are dreadful for this.

 

[bodgit]

when my brava locks froze nothing I tried would help. Had to walk to work for 2 days.
luckily its only 1 mile but at -5c it felt a bloody lot longer

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Cold wether lock problems

to help stop the ice welding the door shut, try putting some silicone spray on the rubber strip and keep the paint that it contacts also polished with silicone spray. i believe this is the same as the stuff you can spray on ovens but i use a motorcycle spray instead...it seems to work for me, the silicone stops the water sticking to the rubber and paint which means that the bond between the door and the body of the car isnt so great.

cheers

ali.

p.s, i had the door lock problem last year when it was really cold...although the locks would open long enough to get in the car if i was quick! sometimes took me a few attempts to get out though!

 

[Dillinger]

Re: Re: Re: Cold wether lock problems

I guess with the frozen lock problems comes the frozen hand brake (covered on the guide). do you think a plastic car cover will keep her warm at night? i have to park on the street.

Dill.

 

[david lawrence]

crappy fiats

and u paid it?? are u mad, next time just samash the bloody window and i tell u it will cost a hell of a lot less than 465.00.... or scrap it and buy a decent reliable car(so avoid fiats)

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: crappy fiats

Please..not another Roger (No offence intended Roger, you can post sensible/intelligent reply's when you want to)

To avoid this problem i used spray grease on a cloth and rubbed a thin smear onto the rubbers, i didn't get a single problem all winter...

Daz

 

[david lawrence]

crappy fiats

me another roger? nah mate! i just know a shite manufacturer when i see one and this is a biggy!! take it your happy wiv yours though?

 

[Chris]

Re: crappy fiats

Yip I had to pay it. The only way they could get the drivers door to operate again was to take the back door off and air saw through the striker and replace the damaged parts. Something had permanently seized inside. I was gutted, as it's a lot of money. Any other door I woud not have bothered but getting in through the passenger door every day was a nightmare.

In the cold weather I've found that boiling the kettle and pouring it over the locks does free it up and it opens in the cold now.

 

[Richard]

Re: Re: crappy fiats

i always use water on my car when its froze on the windows and all.
i use warm water from the tap not a kettle tho thats all that is needed!
i see people outside scraping for ages and it takes me 30sec max to fill the teapot and pour it on.
when u scrape also you never usually get it all off and visibility is still bad.
with water it all comes off.

Richard