Trunk lid frozen! Common problem?

**DugiHowser** · 01-23-2014 05:10 PM

Hey everyone,

Sorry to keep posting my problems but seems to be one little annoying issue after the other.. Last week it snowed and was pretty damn cold and I tried to open my trunk and it won't budge! I thought it was frozen around the edges so I pored hot water and still nothing. I then thought the lock froze so I tried to unlock with my key and still nothing.. I hear something turning or unlocking when I unlock the trunk lid but it just won't budge. Is the latch frozen or broken? Am I just

out of luck till it warms up? Is this common?

**CELison** · 01-23-2014 05:23 PM

It's brick out. It's just frozen

**Breppinq** · 01-23-2014 05:54 PM

just frozen when u open it spray some silicone spray on a rag or white lithium grease and rub it on all the weatherstrips like on the doors/trunk/hood all that

**DugiHowser** · 01-23-2014 06:07 PM

wheww! thanks guys

**blmlozz** · 01-23-2014 06:15 PM

I would use a specially formulated seal conditioner. silicone and greases will help in the short term but dry out the already 14 year old rubber in the long term.

**Breppinq** · 01-23-2014 06:59 PM

i hear Aerospace 303 protectant is good

**DugiHowser** · 01-23-2014 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Breppinq

i hear Aerospace 303 protectant is good

Where should I look for that? Pep boys, advance auto?

**Smitty2A4** · 01-23-2014 07:54 PM

Use this stuff on all of your rubber trim...

http://www.amazon.com/einszett-91480.../dp/B004B8GTQG

It will help prevent this and keep your rubber from drying out. There is little you can do if the push button/lock for the trunk release is stuck however, it kills me that these cars don't have a pop open trunk!

**DugiHowser** · 01-23-2014 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Smitty2A4

Use this stuff on all of your rubber trim...

http://www.amazon.com/einszett-91480.../dp/B004B8GTQG

It will help prevent this and keep your rubber from drying out. There is little you can do if the push button/lock for the trunk release is stuck however, it kills me that these cars don't have a pop open trunk!

Said the same thing! But my push button isn't really stuck, it just won't release. I mean could it be that frozen that I can't force it open? After poring hot water through?

**Shhmaudi** · 01-23-2014 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by CELison

It's brick out. It's just frozen

Lol I love socal

**Smitty2A4** · 01-24-2014 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by DugiHowser

Said the same thing! But my push button isn't really stuck, it just won't release. I mean could it be that frozen that I can't force it open? After poring hot water through?

I had my drivers side door freeze shut earlier this winter, it was really bad I remember freaking out about it and then I just gave up before I broke the handle, so I think its certainly possible that it could be that frozen.

**james 408** · 01-24-2014 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by DugiHowser

Said the same thing! But my push button isn't really stuck, it just won't release. I mean could it be that frozen that I can't force it open? After poring hot water through?

you're probably making matters worse. next time your trunks open take a peek in there... the rain (or hot water) obviously doesn't get channeled right to the seals, it gets channeled around them. your hot water probably never got to the important part. although i'm sure you've added to the ice buildup in the channels.

This is common on all vehicles on all seals. water on the contact surface of the seals forms an ice-bond to the closed panel. put it in a heated garage for a bit, drive it, or you can try heatgun/hotwater, but like i said, if you don't get it unstuck the first time, you could end up making things worse =D the muscle-it-open tactic has been known to tear/remove weather stripping too.

**DugiHowser** · 01-24-2014 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by james 408

you're probably making matters worse. next time your trunks open take a peek in there... the rain (or hot water) obviously doesn't get channeled right to the seals, it gets channeled around them. your hot water probably never got to the important part. although i'm sure you've added to the ice buildup in the channels.

This is common on all vehicles on all seals. water on the contact surface of the seals forms an ice-bond to the closed panel. put it in a heated garage for a bit, drive it, or you can try heatgun/hotwater, but like i said, if you don't get it unstuck the first time, you could end up making things worse =D the muscle-it-open tactic has been known to tear/remove weather stripping too.

If my Avant project wasn't in pieces in my garage I would love to park in it to unfreeze it.. I'll just have to wait till it warms up a bit I guess

**Delmed83** · 01-25-2014 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Smitty2A4

Use this stuff on all of your rubber trim...

http://www.amazon.com/einszett-91480.../dp/B004B8GTQG

It will help prevent this and keep your rubber from drying out. There is little you can do if the push button/lock for the trunk release is stuck however, it kills me that these cars don't have a pop open trunk!

The Gummi-Pflege stuff is OK. I have the actual weatherstrip lubricant from AUDI which cost $80 for a small bottle back when I bought it in 2010. I still have half of it.

Part# G 052 172 A1

**oppositelock** · 01-25-2014 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Delmed83

The Gummi-Pflege stuff is OK. I have the actual weatherstrip lubricant from AUDI which cost $80 for a small bottle back when I bought it in 2010. I still have half of it.

Part# G 052 172 A1

$80!?!?! Does it contain Ferdinand Piech's urine or something?