Problem- My Windows Freezing and Seizing Up!

5571 Views 20 Replies 12 Participants Last post by RickBullotta, Jan 11, 2010

Saundena

Discussion Starter · Nov 30, 2008

Tonight, was the first VERY cold night here in NY (about 10 F). I noticed that when I opened my car's door, the window would not lower 10mm as usual because it was frozen shut. I didn't think much of it until I put the car in reverse and the door ajar alarm went off. Apparently, the door had not closed completely when I pulled it shut. SO, I stopped, put the car back into park, opened the door and this time pulled VERY hard to make sure it shut tight- it did. But this was only the beginning of my issue. I soon realized that although the door was completly shut, the window was not lined up with the door seal leaving a significant gap between the rubber and the window!

It took about 10 minutes with the car in idle and me pushing and pulling on the windows to make them seat properly.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know if the feature that lowers the window when the door is opened can be disabled?

Kind of dissapointing to see this type of problem on a $50K car.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

RGBArgee

· #2 · Nov 30, 2008

Had this on a 2002 (52) A4 Cabriolet. WD40 worked a treat.

Booster

· #3 · Nov 30, 2008

It happened to me too:

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/showthread.php/design-fault-5091/index.html?t=5091&highlight=window

RGBArgee

· #4 · Nov 30, 2008

Audi Lad came up with the WD40/ thin smear of silicone spray/grease on the rubber seals trick too.

speary

· #5 · Dec 1, 2008

Just keep an old credit card or similar to hand. Slide it along between the bottom seal and the glass before opening the door. Start at the handle end as its easier to insert and slide it all the way to the mirror end.

Highrisedrifter

· #6 · Dec 1, 2008

Both the credit card and WD40/silicone ideas are useful. I think I shall see if I can get some spray, failing that, keep a few of my business cards in my wallet for use for when I inevitably need them for this.

kelroyton

· #7 · Dec 1, 2008

Another warning

Just to add something to this, one of my friends owns a Mercedes S Class which also has frameless windows and he washed his car recently and overnight the temperature plummetted. Consequently the next morning the water which had gathered on the seals froze and when he opened the door the seals were significantly damaged and had to be replaced; which they did under warranty.
So be very careful when opening frozen doors. I like the idea of WD40 fix but not sure if I would like my car to smell like an engineering factory floor.

RGBArgee

· #8 · Dec 1, 2008

kelroyton said:
I like the idea of WD40 fix but not sure if I would like my car to smell like an engineering factory floor.

KY Jelly anyone???

Viking

· #9 · Dec 5, 2008

Encountered this problem this morning. It rained last night and temperatures were below freezing this morning. Opened the door fine but the window would not drop down causing the door adjar problem. I was worried I would bust the window trying to slam the door shut. So I just waited for the car to heat up until the window would drop and close the door properly.

Macwm

· #10 · Dec 5, 2008

Silicone lube for frozen windown seal

Aplly a bead of Sil-Glyde (NAPA) to the outer seal at the bottom of the window, has solved the problem!

Viking

· #11 · Dec 5, 2008

Macwm said:
Aplly a bead of Sil-Glyde (NAPA) to the outer seal at the bottom of the window, has solved the problem!

Thanks for the reply!

How many times do you reapply the seal and does it streak the window if you roll them down?

kenny

· #12 · Dec 5, 2008

the problem i had was the window freezing in the door not to the seal so the window would not drop to allow the door to shut again

similar to others above, it can be so annoying as the door wont shut

Viking

· #13 · Dec 5, 2008

kenny said:
the problem i had was the window freezing in the door not to the seal so the window would not drop to allow the door to shut again similar to others above, it can be so annoying as the door wont shut

I think that is what happened to me I am not really sure where the ice built up that it prevented the window from rolling down.

Booster

· #14 · Dec 6, 2008

kenny said:
the problem i had was the window freezing in the door not to the seal so the window would not drop to allow the door to shut again similar to others above, it can be so annoying as the door wont shut

Yep. Same here. Its bloody annoying!

speary

· #15 · Dec 8, 2008

The window is freezing to the bottom seal. As I said in my earlier post, just run an old credit card or a similar thin bit of plastic between the seal and the glass before opening the door. It takes about 10 seconds and works every time

kenny

· #16 · Dec 8, 2008

thanks for that, i will try that next time. will have plenty of chances to test up here in scotland lol

lewy2x2m

· #17 · Dec 8, 2008

Yes.. its a pain stupid audi!!!! (i did think it was cool in the summer

)

kenny

· #18 · Dec 9, 2008

tried the credit card or similar

along bottom seal and it worked a treat....thanks for the advice speary

speary

· #19 · Dec 10, 2008

kenny said:
tried the credit card or similar along bottom seal and it worked a treat....thanks for the advice speary

Your welcome

steely_resolve

· #20 · Jan 9, 2010

Folks I have a good tip regarding the stuck window problem in sub-zero temperatures, get hold of a can of Silcon Lubricant Spray from your Audi dealer, code D 007 000 A2.

Light Wood Circle Sphere

This was suggested on a thread by Michael Moore on the VW Vortex forum :

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeropost?cmd=tshow&id=1808853

I bought a can of this and applied it yesterday, this morning at 8:30 I tied my door handle when the outside temperature was around -3.5 degrees and almost instantly the drivers window lowered slightly to open the door. The temperature overnight reached around -6.0 degrees so really pleased there seems to be a cure for this problem.

I have had this problem ever since I bought the car back in 2008, and also suffered the same issue with my previous car a 1994 Audi Coupe. Seem to be a design flaw by manufacturers making cars, especially coupes and convertables without frames around front windows.

Anyway, hope those of you that are tempted to try it have the same level of success as I have.

Dave

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