Frozen windows in winter...

[Brian_Blessed]

Trivial maybe, but rather safe than sorry.... DB11 can't be garage currently so is sitting looking pretty outside. With the current cold weather in the UK, the side windows are freezing fully up and to some extent also the door handles.

Solution to date has been to just sit with the engine running for 5 minutes until warm and then things start to move. Car covers don't seem like any less hassle.

I know pouring hot water onto cold glass is a bad idea but presumably coolish/10degree water is fine and faster for the times I'm in a rush?

Any magic solutions for non-garaged cars?

[RoNNy379CH]

I always have a spray bottle with pure wiping concentrate in it for our everyday car.
Spraying a little on the windows and handles should work relatively quickly.

[Jimjimhim]

Same as any other car really. I use a bit of tepid water and it works brilliantly. Quicker and cheaper than any other product.

[Westlondondriver]

Warm but not boiling water if the handle was really stuck but generally I found a spray of de-icer did the trick on my DB11 for both the handle and the glass.

[Jon39]

We see videos of prototype cars being driven in Arctic conditions.
I wonder what precautions the test crew take, before parking overnight?
If anyone knows the correct techniques, it must be the cold conditions test teams and also motorists who live in an Arctic climate.

Even if we can manage to operate the door locks after an icy night, sometimes the rubber door seals are frozen together. Using force then, can potentially destroy the rubber seals.

I have been lucky throughout life using warm water, having never cracked a windscreen, but I am unsure how much sudden temperature difference, an area of glass can tolerate.

[BiggaJ]

I've always used warm water on windscreen and side windows. As long as there is now crack on the windscreen it's always worked well.

[LooneyTunes]

Silicone spray can help a bit with the door seals.

PTFE based spray works very well for locks.

[skyebear]

Brian_Blessed said:

Any magic solutions for non-garaged cars?

[Brian_Blessed]

I think this thread now covers all the options from tepid water through to flame thrower. Think I'm prepared for all eventualities!