Sorry to hear that. I hope this is not a wide spread problem. I wonder if owners should report this problem through the Tesla ticketing system?
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
M3 windows frozen and will not drop when opening car door
- Thread starter Cenzo
- Start date
I had that happen yesterday, temperature was just below freezing. The door handles worked and the door opened, however the window would not drop and from inside the car it wasn't easy to close the door. I could close it from the outside using firm pressure (the glass didn't seem to hit the chrome trim, but it was close).
What I think was happening is we had light flurries that night when the temperature was just above freezing, which caused the snow to melt and run down the window refreezing at the bottom where the rubber strip with "brushes" is. This was frozen by the morning, making a solid lock.
Not sure if silicone would work on the rubber "brush" though (unlike the rest of the rubber around the glass).
I was eventually able to get the door closed and got moving, 15 minutes later all the windows worked like normal. So I suspect a 15-20 minute preheat would work as well.
Maybe the app should allow scheduled preheat on selected days if the temperature is near or below freezing. Feature request!
JohnSnowNW
Active Member
Consider changing your routine? Here's what I do since I bought a Tesla:
1. Pre-heat for 15-20
2. Get in a nice warm car
3. Drive in relative comfort (with less regen downtime)
thelastdeadmouse
Member
The problem with being so reliant on preheating is that
- You don't always have a connection. Both the car and your phone need to have an internet connection, and if they're on different networks not having reception on either prevents preheating. Add to that all the "server error" issues many of us get when trying to use the app.
- You need to know when you're going to leave. This is fine if you're talking about back and forth to work, but if I go out to dinner, a friend's house, virtually any social event, I don't know when I'm going to leave. Plus now I have to be that guy with his cell phone out in the middle of the movie just so I'll be able to get into my car later?
Dan Detweiler
Active Member
But preheating the car truly requires no effort(access app from comfort of your home)...and your car will be toasty warm to boot.
When I had an ICE car and it was frozen I'd need go outside in the freezing cold, chip the ice off my car, warm up the car(wasting fuel) etc.
And in ICE cars locks freeze, windows freeze etc. I mean winter is winter....
Lon12
Member
The Tesla app is the best I've used (Bolt, Leaf, Mitsubishi). I love pre heating or holding the temperature. Not having to drive for 15 minutes warming up the engine block with my hat and gloves on is fantastic.
LMAO on the movie comment. The only cool guy...
Not to mention just needing to leave right away due to an emergency.
There needs to be a better way than having to do something at least 20-30 mins before you leave.
Dan Detweiler
Active Member
Well, if you're in a hurry I assume the old ICE car methods would still work. (Hot water poured down the windows and door seals.) Not a recommendation by the way. Without preheating the problem becomes the same as an ICE car.
Dan
Had the same thing happen this morning. Didn’t really think it would but I had pre heated the car for 5 min before going outside to it and the rear door handles were stuck. The front ones were not. No precipitation either, just temps in the mid 20’s last night.
I get pre heating the car for 20-30 min but we shouldn’t have to do this. Model S has been fine with the motorized handles. Model 3 shouldn’t have a problem with stuck door handles. Definitely something Tesla will have to find a solution to
I get pre heating the car for 20-30 min but we shouldn’t have to do this. Model S has been fine with the motorized handles. Model 3 shouldn’t have a problem with stuck door handles. Definitely something Tesla will have to find a solution to
super20g
Member
If you turn on the climate control to preheat the cabin, will that just stay on indefinitely if you forget about it or is there an auto-off if you don't enter the car within a certain timeframe?
whitex
Well-Known Member
If your car is not plugged in at home (say you live in an apartment and charge at work), long pre-heat reduces range. You also have to remember to it and you forget, you just delayed your morning departure. Imagine having to make an emergency trip, say you family member calls saying they've been in a accident and need you to come pick them up, you tell them "sure, just give me 30 minutes to pre-heat my Tesla first, so I can get into it".
Model 3 was designed and tested in California. If Elon doesn't use a feature, it's probably not tested well (nobody will get yelled at if it doesn't work). Following Elon's "fail fast" motto, winter testing is to be done by customers, so here we are. No worries though, Tesla will eventually improve winter usability for Model 3, and give you the opportunity to buy the new and improved model then - that is what they've done in the past with S & X. Extensive testing that conventional auto manufacturers do takes too long and costs too much.
My windows were frozen yesterday too, around -5C. I had the same issue with the window not retracting and slightly scraped the chrome trim. I eventually took a credit card and jammed it between the window glass and the rubber gasket, breaking through what felt like ice (even though there was no rain or snow). Then I was able to get the window to retract. Total pain as I was also dealing with a frozen charge port locking tab (not the door but the little metal tab). Once actual winter weather hits, we may be in for an adventure.
This problem seems like it can be solved with a soft recall or even OTA update, though - no? Some reddit commenter pointed out the easiest solve would be to point the vents at the window while pre-heating, let alone adding any heating elements to doors/windows...
I also think applying silicone to the rubber seals is a 5-minute task. Should I need to do it after spending $60K on a car? Hell no. Does the overall problem feel clickbaity and like a good one for the internet to explode over? Kinda. But what do I know - I'm just an idiot taking a delivery in New England tomorrow and driving to Virginia 3 days later for Thanksgiving. If you see me with a blown motor or some other QC issue on 95, say hi.
I also think applying silicone to the rubber seals is a 5-minute task. Should I need to do it after spending $60K on a car? Hell no. Does the overall problem feel clickbaity and like a good one for the internet to explode over? Kinda. But what do I know - I'm just an idiot taking a delivery in New England tomorrow and driving to Virginia 3 days later for Thanksgiving. If you see me with a blown motor or some other QC issue on 95, say hi.
eCharcoal
Member
Pre heating the car for 30 minutes without plugging in is gonna suck up tons of power from the battery. That kinda loses the whole purpose of driving an efficient EV. I don’t see an easy fix for this issue. Kinda worrying.
Lon12
Member
The S never had defrost vents that pointed to the side windows. The model 3 does. I was very happy to see that improvement.
usofrob
Member
I wonder if the doors aren't opening because the windows doesn't roll down. As with the button on the inside, it seems like it rolls down the window before pushing open the door slightly. So, the window being stuck prevents the door from opening.
Seems like the easiest quick workaround is to slide a credit card down the window to unlock it from the seal if you see this problem.
I agree that pre-heating for 30 minutes is a very weak workaround for many of the reasons mentioned above.
Seems like the easiest quick workaround is to slide a credit card down the window to unlock it from the seal if you see this problem.
I agree that pre-heating for 30 minutes is a very weak workaround for many of the reasons mentioned above.
Maybe that's why a key card was included instead of a FOB?
