Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:58:06 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Frozen locks
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTin9f5hMP6KQv71U0-t6bXhoCSM0CJtL3Jae=wwb@mail.gmail.com>
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In Alaska vehicles left out doors generally faired better on the locks
issue. This was primarily because in the very dry air, eventually
accumulated ice would sublimate and then the locks would work fine.
During periods of weather which fluctuated up and down past 32 F y ou
would get condensation that would- below freezing - seize the locks.
De-icing fluid was popular there for those particular times. I always
kept some on hand bt usedit rarely. Vehicles going in and out of heated
garages daily had problems with the freeze-thaw routine. If left inside
for several days until the moisture evaporated, the doors would work for
a while, but the first little warm spell, or back into the garage would
cause problems again. Most vehicles were left outdoors in winter, as
Alaskans found better use for garages than to park a car in them. Some
did - but not most. It was drive home, park, plug in the block heater,
plug in the battery hot plate, turn on the HotSpot space heater to low,
and one was all set for the next day. Even so, many a would-be Alaskan
spent at least the first winter with a vehicle where at least one door
would not catch when closed, and windows that would not operate - not
even a little bit. For a long time I drove an '85 Jeep Wagoneer Widetrac
LTD - fulltime fourwheel drive with high and low range. Nice vehicle.
very plush - leather uphoslstery, power everything inside - except the
sunroof overhead - which was manual - and that was a blessing. All that
electrical stuf would stop working in the deep ALaska cold, but that sun
roof worked. When on a highway trip, where driving was steady, I would
turn on the heat, pop the sun-roof open an inch or so, and the draft
would draw huge volumes of heat through the vehicle. Made for a very
pleasant and toasty ride - at least in the front seats. No rear heater
like in the Vanagons, so when I had back seat passengers, I had to close
the sun roof otherwise it was freezing in the back seat. Of course those
back seat passengers didn't help the interior frost build-up. The
defroster would keep the windshield clear, but the other windows would
frost over, during really cold periods - "0"F and below. When I got my
first Vanagon - and '85 GL, I thought I was in heaven. That rear heater
made all the difference in the world. Kept the van outdoors in winter,
never had lock problems.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 12/13/2010 9:40 PM, Peter Lapp wrote:
> Mine definitely freeze when it gets cold, but I don't really have a
> solution. This weekend I had to put some force on the key to get it in the
> door, but then couldn't turn it. Luckily, I could get in the side door.
> Maybe I'll have to take mine apart too and have a look.
> Luckily it doesn't happen that often, since it usually doesn't get too cold
> here.
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 12:43 PM, Matt Thyer<matt_thyer@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yes it does! I took mine apart last spring (while it was still cold) to
>> paint it green (so the guys at OR filling stations wouldn't argue with me
>> about what fuel my diesel takes) and there was, wow, a whole bunch of crud
>> in there. So that's what nearly 30 year old grease looks like!
>>
>> Catch ya later alligator,
>>
>> MT
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> Roger VanTill
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:22 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Frozen locks
>>
>> Hey Craig, I haven't had door lock trouble, but on my old '86 I had to take
>> the gas cap lock apart and clean all the corrosion off the workings to get
>> it to move freely in the winter. I think the crud in there holds the
>> moisture and freezes it up in the cold.
>>
>> On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 5:06 PM, craig cowan<phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I've been plagued with frozen door locks for years now. The seals are
>>> in good shape. What's the solution?
>>> (They are obviously, only frozen in the winter months)....
>>>
>>>
>>> -Craig
>>> '85GL turned WESTY
>>> BOSTIG in the back
>>> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Peace out, sauerkraut.
>> Roger
>>
>
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