Technical Door handle not working when it is below freezing

[Tipotwo]

History repeats itself.

My 1986 Tipo suffered from door handles that froze and I ended up cutting some socks to cover them in freezing weather so I could get into the car. The other option was lots of anti-freeze squirted into the handle, which ended up leaving a white residue on the paintwork.

That is now twice in a week that the 2019 Tipo's drivers door handle has refused to open the door and on both occasions, it was in the morning after a below zero night. The actual handle moves, it just does not open the door. The other handles work, so I can get in by opening the door from the inside. After a few hours in the warmth, the handle starts to work again.

Am I incredibly unlucky, or is this a thing that has happened to others?

 

[chris3234]

No issues my self



Is you locking mechanism covered on grease or anything that could freeze up?

 

[Tipotwo]

Nothing obvious. I plan to give it a squirt of WD40 to drive out any water that may be freezing.

 

[Benny]

It happens to mine to. Just the drivers door. WD40 did the trick after it had thawed.

 

[Tipotwo]

When I oiled the handle, a tiny drop of water came out. It must be that water gets inside and freezes.

 

[Barkydog]

When I oiled the handle, a tiny drop of water came out. It must be that water gets inside and freezes.

I would guess it has to be only water that’s got in and freezes. Is car on a slope that would cause water to run into mechanism?

 

[Tipotwo]

I would guess it has to be only water that’s got in and freezes. Is car on a slope that would cause water to run into mechanism?

Yes, and the slope is such water would run into the lock.

 

[vexorg]

History repeats itself.

My 1986 Tipo suffered from door handles that froze and I ended up cutting some socks to cover them in freezing weather so I could get into the car.

That brings back memories, I remember many icy mornings where the lock was frozen and key wouldn't even go in.

 

[Barkydog]

That brings back memories, I remember many icy mornings where the lock was frozen and key wouldn't even go in.

Keys!….I Remember keys…

 

[vexorg]

I think the tipo was bad as the barrel was sitting out in the open on the button, very exposed compared to ones inside the door panel.

 

[Tipotwo]

It did it again yesterday and I had to get into the car via the passenger door, which with the sleet going sideways, resulted in a rather wet interior, which caused the windows to steam up really badly! Fiats do not like the wet, must be because they are built to survive the hot, dry Mediterranean climate.

Still, we were on holiday in Iceland and there were a lot of Fiats over there.