tworock Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 2010 Transit Connect - Currently experiencing the great "Polar Vortex" of 1/30/19 in the Chicago suburbs! Because of ladder racks, the truck is kept in the drive-way. Went out to start car to make sure I was all good on that front. Here's what happened; I had squirted some de-icer into the locks yesterday before parking for the night. Went out a bit ago just to start the car for a few minutes and the de-icer had done it's job, the key (manual locks) turned like a charm and I opened the door - ALL OF ABOUT THREE INCHES! It feels like a hinge part is being blocked or impeded. I went to try the passenger door - same deal. I'm afraid to give the doors a heavy yank for fear of breaking or stressing a part that's not supposed to be stressed. Anybody have any experience with the hinge mechanisms that might be my problem? Should I give the door a good pull? Edited January 30, 2019 by tworock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Sounds like there was water or slush some where and it froze. Can you get to the front from the rear sliding doors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Method 1 Unfreezing Door Seals or Handles Push on your car door. Apply pressure by leaning on your frozen door. ... Chip away the ice. ... Pour lukewarm water over the rubber seals. ... Spray on commercial de-icer. ... Start the car remotely. ... Heat the frozen seal with a blow dryer. 3 Ways to Open Frozen Car Doors - wikiHow https://www.wikihow.com/Open-Frozen-Car-Doors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tworock Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 (edited) Thanks GBL and Fifty 150. I waited until after mid afternoon in sunshine to try again. Worked it ever so slowly back and forth, maybe 20 times, and got it to open ( I have a protective cargo safety fence between cargo area and cockpit.) Afterwards, still incredibly tight. Application of WD40 to hinges (what's the superior lubricant for the location???) helped a bunch - absolutely no discernible ice anywhere - weird! Had to put a trickle 2 amp charge on the battery when it wouldn't turn over (!) and the windshield edge of the hood, now there was ice! Incredible cause and effect of record cold in the good old Chicago suburbs and Midwest. Hell apparently froze over and I slipped and whacked my noggin on the thin sheet of ice on the neighbors drive. Geezus! Stay warm!! Edited January 31, 2019 by tworock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidparker Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 It was one of those day in Kansas City, that convinced me to move! I still remember the exact moment when I had enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 11 hours ago, davidparker said: I still remember the exact moment when I had enough... Don't leave us all hanging. You've got a story to tell. BSUPC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSUPC Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Oooh. Story time !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidparker Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Well not much of a story. I was living in Kansas City and we had a two week period when the jet stream dipped down from Canada and brought negative temps and snow. My diesel tractor would not start so my wife and I had to shovel the driveway by hand (it was a large one). We both had jobs that we could not call in, so we had to clear it to get the vehicles out of the garage. During the first snow fall and driveway clearing, she twisted her back and was out. The next three snow falls, I was on my own. So the exact moment occurred halfway through the fourth shoveling when my feet slipped on the ice melt from the last snowfall and I fell on my butt. At that moment, while still sitting on my aching butt, I yelled out loud "THIS IS B*** S****". Got up finished the driveway and starting making plans to move. A year later I was in South Carolina. windguy, PhotoAl and BSUPC 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 34 minutes ago, davidparker said: I fell on my butt. At that moment, while still sitting on my aching butt, I yelled out loud "THIS IS B*** S****". Now that is a good story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSUPC Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 That was a good story. But I must say that you lasted longer than I would have. You made it to the 4th, I would have been packed and moved after the first. lol I'm just a hop, skip, and a jump up the road from ya davidparker in North Carolina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 15 hours ago, davidparker said: A year later I was in South Carolina. It actually took him a whole year. BSUPC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beta Don Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 On 1/30/2019 at 9:22 PM, Fifty150 said: Pour lukewarm water over the rubber seals. Pour lukewarm water on your car when it's 20 below outside - THAT should be fun to watch!! Forget about going ANYWHERE that day! Don windguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Well up here you know what is going to happen, Block Heater for the tractor and a good snowblower ! You have to be in the Game! windguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidparker Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 1 hour ago, G B L said: You have to be in the Game! LOL Yes sir, but I realized I was getting too old to compete... It just wasn't fun anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 12 hours ago, davidparker said: It just wasn't fun anymore I could join you sometime if i stop skiing and figure out how to move all the accumulated crap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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