DaRickSta81

Hello folks!

Just wonder if anyone else is having issues with moisture being frozen between the felt like weatherstripping that lines the door and the body of the car?

The blast of sub-zero (Celsius) weather in Toronto recently has caused all the doors on our GLK250 to be frozen solid. A couple of good firm pulls on the door handles seems to do the job, but leaves bits of felt stuck on the body of the car. This leaves me a bit concerned as I'm literally ripping the felt off the weather strip each time I open my car door.

Just wondering if it's just me? or maybe there's a rubber only weather stripping that I can get from the dealer that doesn't trap moisture as much?

Thanks!

briguy510

I have not encountered this particular issue as live in a much warmer climate. You may be able to lessen the problem. I work in the automotive industry and there are many chemicals we use for different purposes. Silicone spray might help in your case. Silicone is very slippery and nothing sticks to it. Wiping some on your door seals and the area on the body where it contacts may prevent the door from sticking.

rmfnla

That's pretty bad for a car designed in Germany considering what their weather is like...

iewoals

Same here. Where I'm at it has been in the teens. The doors do freeze shut. And yes this is a stupid design. Two nights ago I had to shuttle kids into the back through only one door since that was the only one I could get opened. Tugging harder felt like I'd pull the door handle right off.

It does happen to the other car too. But seemingly more often to the GLK.

rshew

I've had the same problem with freezing temperatures. Only the rear passenger doors froze shut. I've wiped on some silicone lubricant onto the door's weatherstripping. I'll see with the next freezing temperatures as to whether this will fix the problem.

DaRickSta81

Thanks everyone!

We went to the local auto body shop and bought some silicone based rubber/vinyl conditioner spray and just soaked the weather-stripping in it. Seemed to work for that one door, though there is still some ice build up on the car side of the door (i.e. the painted body side where the weatherstrip closes up to).

I think I'm going to give that part a really good cleaning when the weather warms up and put on a couple coats of car wax there. Hopefully between the wax on the car side and the silicone spray on the weatherstrip, the water will find somewhere else to settle.

I'm also going to bring it into the dealer this Friday to see if they can do anything (maybe replace the weatherstrip since we peeled off a bit of the felt now). But I have a feeling they're just going to say "hey, we live in Canada, deal with it.. )

Thanks again!

Mystic2k

Hi DaRickSta81,

Do you have any feedback from the dealer?
I just got my CPO 2011 GLK350 in October. I experienced the same problem in the past weekend, so hard to pull door open. The black thing just came off the door and sticked on the car.

So silicone lubricant to solve the problem?

Thanks.

DaRickSta81

Hey Mystic2k,

Yep, I took it in the dealer and they said this is common for folks who park their car outdoors. Apparently, when it's cold outside and you warm up the car inside, the temp difference on the inside of the weather seal causes condensation. When you park the car, the temp inside the car quickly drops and the condensation freezes and hence you get a frozen weather strip to the metal door frame.

I bought a can of silicone spray lubricant (http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/...ws/reviews.htm) and generously sprayed that felt/rubber weatherstrip. I caught any excess spray in a rag; being careful not to get the spray on the window or anywhere else (it's a B*tch to clean silicone spray off glass and other material). Then I busted out the turtlewax and put 3 coats of wax on the inner door frame where it mates with the weather stripping. Finally, I put a dry rag in the door bin on the driver door and instructed my Fiancee to give the metal door frame a quick wipe down (to dry up any built up condensation) before she parks the car for any length of time in the cold.

So far, it seems to work. (fingers crossed). In extreme cold, it still "sticks" a little; but it doesn't seem to freeze to the point where we have to pull hard on the door to open it any more.

My only problem now is I put so much silicone on the weather stripping that when I accidentally touch it opening/closing the door, I have to go wash my hands

Hope that helps!

-RT

fabbrisd1

Yes - the Germans deal with it....

Mystic2k

Thanks guys.
I thought the weather is tougher in Germany.
I guess I just have to apply any of those recommended lubricant/grease.
Too bad, no cover for GLK.

zarken

Did you ever try the silicon as my doors on GLK are frozen 80% of the time on cold days, I called Mercedes Canada they took the information and said they would call back.

sblvro

any pics?

Mystic2k

I haven't tried silicon yet. Only the rear doors have this problem. The front doors are fine.

Please update what you get from dealer. Thanks.

zarken

Received a return call from Mercedes Canada today. They have indicated there is no problem of this kind to their knowledge. I suggested they check the MB Forums. They would not recommend any solution such as silicon or other treatment when asked. They advised I take it to the dealer. Until then we shalll continue on those cold days to check for a door that opens and crawl over seats as we have in the past. At least the neighbors find it entertaining.

rmfnla

Shot from my office window just now...