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MASTER THREAD: Winter issues, frozen windows, door locks, seals, etc.

Discussion in 'Model 3: Interior & Exterior' started by Bleedblue82, Dec 5, 2018.

  1. Birdman325

    Birdman325 Member

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    Aug 15, 2017
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    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    I have noticed moisture on the window when I roll it down and back up even days after I wash the car or it rains. I often wonder just how much moisture / water is sitting in the door panel. Agreed, I have never seen this in any other car.
     
  2. SigNC

    SigNC Active Member

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    I've wondered the same.
     
  3. cp123

    cp123 Member

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    Apr 18, 2019
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    Location:
    NJ
    So "gummi Pflege Stift" vs the "3inone rv care window and track dry lube" which one is safer for the window seals and glass? I read on some other forums that silicone lubricant can cause damage after it dries out. How do these 2 work out? TIA!
     
  4. rlb4

    rlb4 Member

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    Location:
    Northern NJ
    I used Gummi Pfledge last winter and it worked well. No issues with my tinted windows. I need to re-apply it now as we just had our 1st sub 30 degree temps and my windows were sticking.
     
    • Informative x 1
  5. Big Earl

    Big Earl bnkwupt

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    Springfield, VA
    Gummi Pfledge has worked very well for me.
     
  6. Mr GM

    Mr GM New Member

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    Northern Virginia
    For those that have used these, specifially where and how should the Gummi Pfledge or RVcare Window Lube be applied.
     
  7. newowner365

    newowner365 Member

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    Aug 16, 2019
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    Location:
    montreal
    Im from canada and its hitting roughly 5-10 degrees farenheit at night. The handles definitely freeze and the windows definitely stick.

    The Pre-conditioning the car at least 30 min before definitely gets the job done. no frozen handles or windows and also avoids having to blast the heater while driving which saves a lot of range.

    Hope that helps!
     
  8. rlb4

    rlb4 Member

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    Location:
    Northern NJ
    Apply to all rubber door/window seals.
     
    • Like x 1
  9. coleAK

    coleAK Member

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    Alaska
    I’m in Alaska and had no issues last winter with frozen windows. All you have to do is pre heat, 10-15 min most of the time before your ready to go and you’ll be good. Only had one issue with frozen door handles and that was a day it was 28F and raining, ended up with 1/2” of ice coating on everything, nothing could have stopped that.
     
  10. Marius A

    Marius A Member

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    NORWAY
    It's been -5C here for a few days now, and I must say that I'm struggling quite a bit with the car in these temperatures. I'm not looking forward to -15C.
    Today I started the defrost function (from the car, as I can't connect to the car with the app). After about 5 minutes on running on full blast I could connect to it from my app and I started the defrost function we got in 2019.32 (or was it the one before?).
    15 minutes of this and the windows are still stuck, so if I open a door the window does not recline. I drove my daughter to kindergarden (6-7 minute ride), had the defrost mode on while I went inside with her (5-ish minutes more), got back to the car, windows are still immovable. Drove home, still no reaction, sat there for some minutes with heater on full blast, sweating like a madman, and finally I got the windows to react.

    Is that normal? How are you other Scandianvians and Canadians dealing with this?

    Bonus story: I once had a Fiat Uno 1986 model where the doors wouldn't close when it got below -20C, I used a piece of rope to tie the doors together.
     
    • Funny x 1
  11. Watts_Up

    Watts_Up Active Member

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    May be you should try using a Cordless Hair Dryer
     
  12. Beardley

    Beardley Member

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    Sep 17, 2019
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    Location:
    Upstate NY
    I was struggling with the windows as well, but a coating of silicone lube so far seems to have taken care of that. We has snow followed by ice yesterday and now we're back to snow. Windows peeled down no problem.

     
    • Informative x 1
    • Love x 1
  13. Marius A

    Marius A Member

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    With no Cyber Monday discount? No way!

    Brilliant, I'll try that later today.
     
    • Funny x 1
  14. Char

    Char Member

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    May 29, 2019
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    Location:
    Mississauga, Ontario
    Great idea but,
    Careful, the description of that one says it only blows cold air. NO HEAT!
     
    • Funny x 1
  15. toolman335

    toolman335 Member

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    Oct 3, 2019
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    Location:
    Rochester
    Yeah I got the WD40 silicone and it works like a charm. Some people say it could dry the seals out but it's a small price to pay for not breaking windows. Just use a very light amount.
     
    • Like x 1
  16. BulldogsRus

    BulldogsRus Member

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    • Like x 1
  17. 5_+JqckQttqck

    5_+JqckQttqck Active Member

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    1,851
    Location:
    Toronto
    The full defrost did it's job this morning (see attached pic); just give it a good 15-20minutes to melt the ice (if frozen). Every surface of the car was wet and the snow brushed off. All windows moved as they should. Temperatures were -3C outside; -10C if counting wind chill.

    If the car is plugged in, start defrosting earlier, give it a good 20-30minutes see if that helps.
     

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  18. Marius A

    Marius A Member

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    Will try that. I had a funny occurrence today. I talked to roadside assistance, and they managed to get my car online. I started the heating to see if that worked, but I got an error message. Then I couldn't connect again. They are going to escalate and whatever, that's not the interesting part.
    Even though I got an error, it actually started heating the car. When the car came back online some hours later I got a notification on my phone about the heating being on for a long time.
    So today I've driven 17km, and used around 200km on heating the car for no purpose :D
     
    • Funny x 2
  19. Birdman325

    Birdman325 Member

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    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    I have found Gummi Pfledge applied to all of the window seals to make a material difference.
     
    • Like x 2
  20. SMAlset

    SMAlset Well-Known Member

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    #40 SMAlset, Dec 2, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
    Saw a video someone posted on here (watch below). Try this in morning before heading out. On your phone set climate temp all the way to High. Apart from the increased heat it will turn your car’s fan to high as well and actually send warm air into your door and out the handles. From video also appears to do same for charge port. I’ll link to video and you’ll be able to see air flow thru door handles.

    It would also be smart to have your “face/torso vents” split to direct some of the warm air towards the windows. Since you can’t reposition vents in app, do this before you park the car for the night. I’m not sure but seems like settings I do after car is in Park are not kept so guess that makes some sense although don’t think of car being off until I exit and screen goes to black.



    I lived in mid-west for a time and remember having frozen car windows and door handles, plus locks. Also recall needing to tie my door handles together inside to keep the doors closed while driving as the closing mechanism was frozen and I had to get to work. Boy those were the days! Had forgotten all about that until reading @Marius A's post above.
     

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