Door opening when cold - sticking windows
Discussion
My 996 like some other Porsche models has frameless windows. The window needs to retract a little to open the door, which it does when you tug the handle. Once or twice I have needed to open the car when it has frosted and the window does not retract leaving me in a nasty position with the door half open and the window holding it shut.
My car is in good condition. I apply rubber protector to all the rubber and it is supple and not sticky. I use the windows regularly and they work fine. It seems to me this a problem that would afflict any frameless window car including the 991. One has to question how they can do the winter testing in Sweden when they can't open the door.
I now put a rug over the driver's side covering the window completely and it seems to work, but probably won’t when it's really bitter as it freezes inside the door I suspect. I use warm screenwash before I try to open the car all around the window. When I enter the car I start it and run the heaters for 10 minutes before trying the windows. Some cars in the States have automatic start / heating facilities. This seems extreme.
Clearly one does not always have a cover or heated garage. What do people do?
My car is in good condition. I apply rubber protector to all the rubber and it is supple and not sticky. I use the windows regularly and they work fine. It seems to me this a problem that would afflict any frameless window car including the 991. One has to question how they can do the winter testing in Sweden when they can't open the door.
I now put a rug over the driver's side covering the window completely and it seems to work, but probably won’t when it's really bitter as it freezes inside the door I suspect. I use warm screenwash before I try to open the car all around the window. When I enter the car I start it and run the heaters for 10 minutes before trying the windows. Some cars in the States have automatic start / heating facilities. This seems extreme.
Clearly one does not always have a cover or heated garage. What do people do?
As above, it is ice forming between the inner surface of the horizontal door seal and the outer surface of the side window glass that you are up against. The credit card solution works here but adding heat may be necessary...
I have assumed that new or nearly new seals have some sort of nano technology / water repellant qualities on the inner (flocked?) surface that keeps water away. After a few years, these properties are long gone and no amount of treating the visible outer surface of the door seal - the bit that doesn't come into contact with anything - is going to help you here. In a word, you are (it ryhmes with) flocked.
I have assumed that new or nearly new seals have some sort of nano technology / water repellant qualities on the inner (flocked?) surface that keeps water away. After a few years, these properties are long gone and no amount of treating the visible outer surface of the door seal - the bit that doesn't come into contact with anything - is going to help you here. In a word, you are (it ryhmes with) flocked.
chiark said:
Prevention: use silicone spray on the seal. That should/might stop it sticking in the first place.
I've tried this and all it achieves is to stop the creaking noise you get when the seal is dry. Oh and it leaves smears on the glass. Edited by Trev450 on Monday 21st January 16:14
MogulBoy said:
As above, it is ice forming between the inner surface of the horizontal door seal and the outer surface of the side window glass that you are up against. The credit card solution works here but adding heat may be necessary...
I have assumed that new or nearly new seals have some sort of nano technology / water repellant qualities on the inner (flocked?) surface that keeps water away. After a few years, these properties are long gone and no amount of treating the visible outer surface of the door seal - the bit that doesn't come into contact with anything - is going to help you here. In a word, you are (it ryhmes with) flocked.
So why don't you just spray some in there?I have assumed that new or nearly new seals have some sort of nano technology / water repellant qualities on the inner (flocked?) surface that keeps water away. After a few years, these properties are long gone and no amount of treating the visible outer surface of the door seal - the bit that doesn't come into contact with anything - is going to help you here. In a word, you are (it ryhmes with) flocked.
ScienceTeacher said:
My 996 like some other Porsche models has frameless windows. The window needs to retract a little to open the door, which it does when you tug the handle. Once or twice I have needed to open the car when it has frosted and the window does not retract leaving me in a nasty position with the door half open and the window holding it shut.
My car is in good condition. I apply rubber protector to all the rubber and it is supple and not sticky. I use the windows regularly and they work fine. It seems to me this a problem that would afflict any frameless window car including the 991. One has to question how they can do the winter testing in Sweden when they can't open the door.
I now put a rug over the driver's side covering the window completely and it seems to work, but probably won’t when it's really bitter as it freezes inside the door I suspect. I use warm screenwash before I try to open the car all around the window. When I enter the car I start it and run the heaters for 10 minutes before trying the windows. Some cars in the States have automatic start / heating facilities. This seems extreme.
Clearly one does not always have a cover or heated garage. What do people do?
Had this problem when leaving my Boxster out in the cold weather sometimes during a snow storm.My car is in good condition. I apply rubber protector to all the rubber and it is supple and not sticky. I use the windows regularly and they work fine. It seems to me this a problem that would afflict any frameless window car including the 991. One has to question how they can do the winter testing in Sweden when they can't open the door.
I now put a rug over the driver's side covering the window completely and it seems to work, but probably won’t when it's really bitter as it freezes inside the door I suspect. I use warm screenwash before I try to open the car all around the window. When I enter the car I start it and run the heaters for 10 minutes before trying the windows. Some cars in the States have automatic start / heating facilities. This seems extreme.
Clearly one does not always have a cover or heated garage. What do people do?
While the window does not drop the door can be opened though the top edge of the window rubs against the top rail.
While the noise doesn't have a pleasant sound I open the door easy and so far there's been harm.
Before I close the door though from inside the car I use the lower button and some gentle downward pressure on the glass to get it to go down. I then use the window buttons to make sure the window moves freely then just to be sure lower the window and close the door.
Once closed I then raise the window.
If I do not drive the car long enough that the snow/ice on the roof can melt and the top dry out, when I park the car the heat from the cabin will continue to melt this and water will run down over the glass. This can have the window freeze again so just because one frees the windows up one time doesn't mean he is done for the day.
Also, depending upon the weather conditions the glass and rubber seal may stick/freeze together without having inches of snow fall. So I just learned to be aware of this and take opening the door easy.
Oh, I tried Gummi Plfedge but it didn't seem to make a difference.
What I found helped some was to be sure the portion of the window that contacts the rubber seal is clean clean clean. This goes for the rubber seal as well. Use no harsh detergents/cleaners or petro based cleaners.
Also, to a less degree the sheet metal door jam can freeze to the door seal so you have to keep that in mind as you open the door.
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