Posted on Dec 07, 2008

Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

Door latch frozen open

Now that it's freezing outside, I'm having problems with the driver's side door. I can open the door from the outside and inside, but when I try to shut the door, it bounces, and won't latch. Sometimes pushing the lock button up and down repeatedly will help, but I don't want to have to do that all the time all winter. What can I do to make sure the door will shut and latch?

8 more comments
bsteffy Dec 08, 2008

My daughter is having the same problem with her Taurus.
Anonymous Dec 16, 2008

have same **** on BMW x5 2002 :-( hate that
allwords Dec 17, 2008

I am a 2004 Taurus owner also and have the same problem - Please help
jacobsla Dec 21, 2008

Same problem with my husbands 2001 Taurus, except it's the passenger door. I had to hold it closed for our trip back home from church this morning. Never had any issues with my '97 Toyota.
Anonymous Dec 23, 2008

2006 taurus drivers door will not close in cold temps.
Anonymous Jan 14, 2009

I have a mazda 626 and the door will not latch as well. Its freezing outside. someone help!
Anonymous Mar 14, 2014

door bounces back open and will not latch
Anonymous Mar 20, 2014

adjust door latch extended cab adjust door latch extended cab
Anonymous Mar 21, 2014

BACK DOORS WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE . CHECKED SAFETY LATCH AND WD40"D WORKING LATCH UP AND DOWN...WHATS NEXT MY DEAR PRO.?
Anonymous Mar 21, 2014

BACK DOORS WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE. LATCHES WD40"D ...WHATS NEXT PROS.

1 Answer

john berens

Expert 173 Answers
Posted on Dec 09, 2008

john berens

Expert

Joined: Nov 19, 2008

Answers

173

Questions

Helped

45496

Points

398

Saturate latch(best you can) with wd40 after cleaning.Clean with starting fluid then lube with wd 40

1 Related Answer

Anonymous

1 Answer
Posted on Jan 16, 2009

SOURCE: Door latch frozen open

My 2000 Sable does it evey winter - all 4 doors. I have found spraying WD 40 into the latch on the door works quickly to allow you to close the door.

Add Your Answer

Upload

Upload an image from your computer

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

Loading...

Include an image. It's worth a thousand words.

prev next

Related Questions:

1helpful

2answers

2004 mazda 6 estate front driver side will not open with the key or fob

the 1st answer makes sense however since the fob isn't and the key isn't may possibly have a frozen (rusted) latch which may be freed up with some sort of penetrant oil, or just maybe the latch mechanism itself (lock actuator \) it bad ...the trim panel on the door will need to be rmoved to daignose

Read full answer

Jan 08, 2015 • 2004 Mazda 6 1.6

0helpful

1answer

The outside drivers side door handle on my 96 bravada is about to pull away from the door how do i fix this?

Open your door. on the latch side of your door near the top by the back of the window you will see a rubber plug about the size of a nickel remove it and the handle bolt is inside the holethe other bolt you will have to remove inside door trim panel. if they are both ok you will have to perchase a new handle.

Read full answer

Jan 18, 2012 • 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada

1helpful

3answers

Driver side door is frozen open with lock closed. Try to close door and it bounces back. Unlocking with key or with auto-lock does nothing. Key turns, lock button goes up and down, but mechanism does not...

Give the locking "jaws" a good dose of WD-40 and start with a pair of pliers ans working the door handle get the "jaws" moving and work it a lot while keep dousing it with the lubricant. Worst case scenario would be that the spring that opens the jaws is broken and will need replaced. Please rate this answer, thanks.

Read full answer

Feb 06, 2011 • Ford Taurus Cars & Trucks

0helpful

1answer

Ice storm caused the doors to be frozen shut. When I finally got one of the rear doors open, I crawled into the front and kicked open the driver's side and passenger's doors. Now the latches are broken....

ok open the door and look at the latch now while you are looking at it pull the handle as if you were going to open the door the latch should move if it doesnt it is stuck all you have to do is take a screw driver or something and manually move the latch and free it up hope this helps and next time youre doors freeze shut try a warm water in a bucket pour on all edge of door and it should open a lot easier good luck

Read full answer

Dec 13, 2010 • 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

1helpful

3answers

My driver side door wont open from inside or outside

it appears you have a broken latch
the bad news is when your latch breaks like this you will end up destroying the interior door skin in order to get the door open

the good news is that almost any good garage can make the repair quickly

Read full answer

Apr 05, 2010 • 1997 Ford Explorer AWD

1helpful

1answer

We live in a cold state (MN) and this year though it hasn't been incredibly cold our 2000 Kia Sephia constantly freezes shut. The power door lock on the driver side won't move from the inside or the...

part of the problem with being in such a cold place is even tho its so cold there is still moisture in the air. if you door wont close or open, you need to check the latch out and make sure its not just bent. as for not being able to unlock you door. the latching system is connected to the lock and handle. if the latch wont move don't use wd-40 that will make it worse. you need to pull open the door panel and get it greased with a grease gun. wd-40 will not keep the parts moving in that kind of cold. if latch wont reset
when you get it open, it wont close. just grease it up. oh it would help if you get water guard for your windows. protect you parts from freezing. take care.

Read full answer

Feb 22, 2010 • 2000 Kia Sephia

0helpful

1answer

Cold morning driver door lock freeze

make sure the door handle on the outside has returned to normal position, sometimes the cold will make them stick. The door opens but the outside handle sticks open and the door won't latch. Hope this helps.

Read full answer

Nov 30, 2017 • 1998 Jaguar XK8

2helpful

1answer

Front driver side door wont open from outside.

Sounds like its the bar that goes from the latch in the side of the door up to the handle. It will need to be reattached. If that dosent seem to be the problem you may want to replace handle and all bars in the door with parts from your local junkyard.

Read full answer

Jul 06, 2009 • 2001 Hyundai Tiburon

0helpful

1answer

Drivers door lincoln continental seems to have closing mechanism

you have to get the moisture off the door latch and the linkages to the inside handle and outside handle. use a lock deicer and spray the latch and warm up the car by parking in a warm place or running the heater until it thaws. You will eventually have to remove the door trim panel & lube everything and look to make sure no exces water is getting in at the base of the window. look for gaps on the seal at ends and seal them.

Read full answer

Jan 01, 2009 • 1997 Lincoln Continental

4helpful

1answer