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Frozen windows

K

KPNut

New member
I need help. I have a 2005 plate Boxster. I work shifts and the car is my daily drive. Every winter the windows freeze up and won't drop when I try to open the car. I can carefully open the door without the widow droping, and it's possible to close the door again, but only from the outside, because I have to easy the glass into the hood recess. When I lift the door handle, I can hear a clunk clunk clunk noise as the mechanism tries to drop the window, but it's all frozen solid, even with a slight frost, and the internal lights diminphase with the clunking sound. Even whenI open the door, the widow will not drop using the door switches until the car has warmed up. This is really useful at 5 am!

My local OPC denies it happens and appears disinterested. I find it hard to believe that a can designed for German winters can suffer from a problem like this! Any advice would be much apreciated.

KP
 
Sounds like there must be moisture in the window channels which is freezing, you could try squirting some de-icer in them when you eventually get them open. I've had this happen with door seals and this method worked with them.
 
I agree with Timbo, I cleaned the snow off my Boxster today (its not move since Sunday) I always squirt a little deicer on the drivers window and leave it for a couple of minutes and it usually does the trick, problem is when the deicer is in the car

Tommo
 
apply some light oil based solution to the rubber seals- something like Autoglym rubber and bumper care - this will keep a light film of lubricant on the seal which repels water and allows the glass to slideagainst the seal.
 
Thanks very much everyone. I was beggining to think it was just me. I'll give your ideas a try.

KP
 
Exactly the same thing happened to me on Saturday with my Cayman. It had never occurred with my Boxster and threw me a bit. The motor went clunk clunk clunk for a few seconds then stopped. I lowered the window using the window button and returned it to closed, then shut the door and it performed its curtsey and all was well.
I do not recall applying any physical assistance when lowering the window.
Was I just lucky? It was not 5am, about 9.30am so the temperatures could have been rising.
Would a little physical help, applying a little pressure on the top edge of the window whilst using the lowering button be a good idea, or a major mechanical no no? I am a bit of a dum dum with the mechanicals.
 
I have learnt that the best thing to do when trying to open the car when things are iced up, is to pour tepid water around BOTH windows, to melt any ice, thus allowing the car to open both windows when you open the door. Doing just the drivers window is not enough (as we have found).

Great idea for a country that never freezes (this window drop feature) ... bit stupid for those where it does.

Another other 'not so clever' feature, is not being able to turn the second alarm siren off with a flat battery :0( Good idea if someone tries to steal the car, bad idea if the alarm is going off at 3-00am due to a flat main battery (from experience)
 
Hi all

This happens with my 987 S as well, its really bad and I'm sure one day the window will crack! I use warm water to clear the ice every morning and this works but it still a really bad design fault

it never happened with my 986!!

S2RJN
 
My dealer told me that there is no way to reliably stop this but that there is an easy way to sort it when it happens. Take the key and gently put it between the glass and the horizontal door rubber (where the glass slides down into the door). Then GENTLY slide the key along the length of the window. This lifts the rubber seal off the door and breaks the frozen adhesion... and hopefully not the window ;o) It takes about 5 seconds, doesn't involve pouring corrosive antifreeze into the door or down the paint and doesn't alert your neighbours to the fact that your car isn't as clever as it looks!

It does actually work...and unlike the antifreeze the keys shouldn't be in the car!
 
De icer isn't corrosive and won't affect the paintwork, its only diluted alcohol after all. I'd be more worried about prizing the seal from the window.
 
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