Winter weather problem

[Tony C]

Hi All and happy new yaer!
I've run across a winter weather problem that I recognize most folks will never see. My C5 is a daily driver and lives outside. Recently I've run across a series of cold wet days and have found both my doors frozen closed and my windows frozen closed. I believe the door issue may be a combination of the latching mechanism (a problem I intend to treat with some carefully sprayed WD40) and the weather stripping. I believe the window problems to be entirely the weather stripping. My question is has anyone found a good weather stripping treatment that will keep them from freezing to the glass and fiberglass?
Thanks, Tony C.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Use GM's "Synthetic Lubricant with Teflon" - applied to the weatherstrip with a small terry cloth towel. You can wipe it on, then wipe off the excess with a small towel. It is a thick gel.

The part number is 12371287 - it is packaged in a 3 oz. (85g) tube and is very easy to apply.

Good luck.

 

[Jistari]

Or, you can apply pretty much the same thing if you use " a solvent free silicone based di-electric grease". You can pick up small tubes of it in any big box store. Its cheap and chemicaly very similar to the gm product.

A little goes a long way (dont know how big the tube i used to do everything except the back hatch) but it was only a few ounces, maybe two. A lot smaller than a tube of tooth paste.

 

[PreacherNutshot]

Seconding the di-electric grease. I do all of the weather stripping, including the targa top (cuts down on squeaks and rattles) and prevents sticking.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I have also used the dielectric grease. The GM synthetic lube is not as "wet" or "greasy" as the dielectric grease.

I hope this helps.

 

[dogfish246]

Try Tuis Stuff

I got krytox for Christmas, and the stuff is amzing! At $50 for a small tube it is expensive, but you get what you pay for! All you do is rub the stuff into the weather stripping with your finger. It stopped the squeeking in my car, and protects the weather stripping.

 

[Dustoff529]

Ahhhh to live in the SOUTH

Not to gloat since we are supposed to have some "below freezing" temps later this week....

Guess all this global warming is responsible for the brutal COLD temps...

When I have your wounded
Charlie

 

[gmjunkie]

Don't know if this is what is causing me to NOT have any problems,But I use Liquid ICE Polish by Turtle Wax!! I do the entire car 3 times just before winter allowing it to cure at least 12 hours between coats!!
Yes,I do the Complete Car,Under Carriage,Engine Compartment,Wheels,Jambs,All Rubber and Weather Strips!!Yep,"EVERYTHING" except the Belts,Tires,Windshield and Interior!!
Yep,It sets outside in the weather most of the time,although it doesn't get terribly cold here,it does get Colder than a "Well Diggers A$$" at my Moms in NE Missouri and I've never had any problems!!

 

[65-to-00]

glass areas

My windows stick on our Volvo XC and I use Rain-X on the glass in the usual way and then apply some to the rubber seal strips (at the door), a very liberal application on these rubber areas and they don't stick at all now. The Volvo has very weak window motors and it tears my guts out listening to them strain against even the slightest frost.

For that matter, because of the weak motors I apply the Rain-X even in summer and they go up and down a lot faster.

 

[Jistari]

Many many things will work on rubber weatherstripping, in the short term.
There is talk that you shouldnt use things with any type of "solvent" in them, so anything that normally is applied and is supposed to "dry" probably has a solvent in it.
Supposedly they will all work in the short term (even mayonaise will make weatherstripping look better <== thats a joke, but you get the idea) but they say over time some compounds will degrade the rubber and it will either get hard (and not do what it was designed to do) or crumble.

Having said all that, guys that have really old cars say its all bunk. They have been spraying regular silicone spray (which has a ton of solvents in it) on their rubber for years and say that it still works/looks good.

Me, I use the di-electric because it is recommended by GM in lieu of their product.

Your milage may vary.

 

[killain]

I bought three small tubes of Silicone grease that I treat all of the weatherstripping every year. Works great, appply to the rubber and then wipe off any excess and the rubber stays soft and pliable all through the year. The cost is minimal and the three tubes will last at least five to eight years or more.

 

[bugman34202]

Di-Electric Grease/ Silicone Lubricant, great for almost any rubber component on your car, and more.

 

[gmc_kurt@yahoo.com]

yes i have 1

its called a garage, i live in chicago and i could never bring my vette out in the snowy winter. your tires arn,t made for it and either is your suspension..

 

[Patman]

its called a garage, i live in chicago and i could never bring my vette out in the snowy winter. your tires arn,t made for it and either is your suspension..

The original tires are obviously not meant to be driven in the snow (although I did, and they aren't bad when they've got lots of tread on them!) but what do you mean about the suspension? GM fully tested these cars in cold weather, so there is nothing about the suspension that would prevent these cars from being winter driven.

 

[Patrick]

The original tires are obviously not meant to be driven in the snow (although I did, and they aren't bad when they've got lots of tread on them!) but what do you mean about the suspension? GM fully tested these cars in cold weather, so there is nothing about the suspension that would prevent these cars from being winter driven.

I'm not entirely sure what Kurt meant by 'suspension,' but for my experience, the Corvette's low stance means it's awfully easy to get high centered when the snow gets deep. Couple that with all the power a C5 can generate directed at the rear wheels, with no weight pushing it down on a nearly frictionless surface, and driving one in snow can become an exercise in frustration.

 

[Patman]

I'm not entirely sure what Kurt meant by 'suspension,' but for my experience, the Corvette's low stance means it's awfully easy to get high centered when the snow gets deep. Couple that with all the power a C5 can generate directed at the rear wheels, with no weight pushing it down on a nearly frictionless surface, and driving one in snow can become an exercise in frustration.

If by suspension he meant the actual ride height, then I'd definitely agree with him there. In areas that don't get plowed properly (or at all), the C5 is definitely not the car of choice. I do find that when I drive mine in deep snow the undercarriage gets constantly battered by large chunks of snow.

But with the right tires, and living in or near a major city that gets the streets plowed properly, these cars are very capable of being winter driven (been doing it in mine since 2004!)

 

[Patrick]

If by suspension he meant the actual ride height, then I'd definitely agree with him there. In areas that don't get plowed properly (or at all), the C5 is definitely not the car of choice. I do find that when I drive mine in deep snow the undercarriage gets constantly battered by large chunks of snow.

But with the right tires, and living in or near a major city that gets the streets plowed properly, these cars are very capable of being winter driven (been doing it in mine since 2004!)

My streets get plowed regularly after a snow storm. They also get sanded. There's nothing I hate worse than hearing sand and gravel getting kicked up against the undercarriage of my Vette. I wince every time I hear it.

Sometimes before a storm is coming, mag-chloride is put down on the road. The mag-chloride has a tendancy turn to exposed chrome blue, and it's worse than pine tree sap trying wash the residue off.

All told, the safest place for my Corvette in wintry conditions is in the garage.