- Nov 17, 2012
- 9,727
So after noticing a carwash open as I got gas today, -8*F, I gave the TB and the salted out rims a bath. I have read posts and comments about others afraid of washing due to locks and doors freezing. So I am posting my way of NEVER having my doors lock or freeze on me. This is my way that has never failed me.
I make sure the cabin is WARM. No frost on windows and the steering wheel and shifter are not cold anymore. 20minutes of driving minimum for me today. I keep it warm. No 5 minute lollygaggin inside the store.
At each pass of the wash, rinse soap etc cycles, I work the door locks a few times to keep the mechanisms ice free. I make sure the door locks remain unlocked when I leave and for several hours afterwards. I usually wash it on the way home. It's garaged.
As I pull out, when some begin to dry there ride in summer time, I get out and open and slam each door 2-3 times. I do this again, all 5doors, when I get where I am going. 2-3 times hard. From the inside handle and the outside handle. It really takes about a minute. Like a walk around.
I will also open the close the windows and inch or two several times on the drive back to keep them from freezing. The streaks don't matter because there is already salt again regardless of where you go. Sure is weird seeing puddles of water when temps are sub zero Fahrenheit. That's a lot of salt.
Essentially keep your ride as warm as possible before and after. Open and make move anything you do not want to freeze SEVERAL TIMES. My passenger door wouldn't open from the outside when I got where I was going, 15min drive later, but a push from the inside and the door opened.
Leave your locks unlocked. Better to have them freeze unlocked than the alternative.
Using the warmth of the ride over an air compressor to displace the water is my route after 18years of cold weather car washing. Now go get a carwash!
I make sure the cabin is WARM. No frost on windows and the steering wheel and shifter are not cold anymore. 20minutes of driving minimum for me today. I keep it warm. No 5 minute lollygaggin inside the store.
At each pass of the wash, rinse soap etc cycles, I work the door locks a few times to keep the mechanisms ice free. I make sure the door locks remain unlocked when I leave and for several hours afterwards. I usually wash it on the way home. It's garaged.
As I pull out, when some begin to dry there ride in summer time, I get out and open and slam each door 2-3 times. I do this again, all 5doors, when I get where I am going. 2-3 times hard. From the inside handle and the outside handle. It really takes about a minute. Like a walk around.
I will also open the close the windows and inch or two several times on the drive back to keep them from freezing. The streaks don't matter because there is already salt again regardless of where you go. Sure is weird seeing puddles of water when temps are sub zero Fahrenheit. That's a lot of salt.
Essentially keep your ride as warm as possible before and after. Open and make move anything you do not want to freeze SEVERAL TIMES. My passenger door wouldn't open from the outside when I got where I was going, 15min drive later, but a push from the inside and the door opened.
Leave your locks unlocked. Better to have them freeze unlocked than the alternative.
Using the warmth of the ride over an air compressor to displace the water is my route after 18years of cold weather car washing. Now go get a carwash!