[ladyvdub]

We've already got our first snow storm here in Toronto and this is my first winter with the EOS. Everytime i unlock, the windows can't shift down due them being frozen. Hence, I always have to yank the doors open with force. When I start the car, the window's don't slip back in btwn the seals as it is supposed to. Infact, it doesn't even go back up.

Will this damage my windows eventually?

I'm planning to get a car starter....hope that helps???

 

[GOgg]

I would ensure the top seals are well lubricated to stop water freezing between the glass and the seal, that would help somewhat (at least it does with me in Scotland). If its water freezing on the mechanism I don't think there is much you can do apart from keeping your Eos in a warmish garage. But you are stuck if it happen when you are parked away from home. I alway keep a can of de-icer to unstick the windows with me in really cold weather.

HTH

 

[SKIDOO]

Good suggestions GOgg. Must remember to carry the de-icer as well.
Ladyvdub, by 'car starter' do you mean that wonderful invention you have in Canada that lets you start the car up and running before you go out and get in it? We were just amazed at those when we first saw them in Quebec, wish we had them here. That would solve your problem.

 

[ladyvdub]

Thanks GOgg - never used a de-icer before, but will definately look into it!

SKIDOO: yup! It's a remote starter which you can use to start the engine from inside your house or a few distance away from the car so it heats up before you go in the car.

That's the only solution i can think of...other than carrying a scraper in my purse (which we usually just keep in the car).

 

[Lisywisyloo]

My windows were frozen the other morning and I did not like the sound it made when windows dropped, have bought de icer to keep in doors for when I need to defrost, scared to unlock whilst frozen, feel sure it will damage something !
Lisa

 

[Slye]

I have the same problem. The windows won't go down. You can still open the doors but the widows have to be left ajar when you start driving. About 30 minutes later, when the car is warm, then the windows will go down and up at their proper place.

I called the dealership and I was told to lower the driver's window by using the key in the lock below the door handle. I don't understand how it should make a difference. It is the same motor working on the same frozen window. Also, it does not solve the problem for the passenger's side window where there is no lock on the door.

Not happy with this. Car was sold as a four-season car even for our Ottawa weather. Carrying de-icing liquid is a band-aid solution and I don't feel like I should have to spend $400-$500 to buy a remote starter that will do no good to the environment. Idling is bad for the car and costly.

A frien of mine has a Ford Mustang and he has the same problem. Ford Canada said nothing they can do.

Dealership said I should book an appointment if problem persists. Not sure what they can do anyway. Will see how it goes.

 

[Eos_Up]

I think if you look in the manual, it says you can damage either the windows or the seals by forcing the door open. If this happens, the window is frozen to the seal.

The manual also states that if this happens, rather than force the door open, you should apply deicer fluid to the window and then wait until the ice thaws.

This is NOT a good solution when you're standing out in the cold waiting for the ice to thaw, especially if you will be late getting to work! I keep my Eos in the garage when I'm home, so the only time this is likely to happen to me is when I'm on a rode trip and the car sits out all night. I plan to get a can of deicer fluid and keep it in the trunk. I assume that I could get the trunk open if this ever happened to me.

If I didn't have a garage and I lived in an area with freezing temperatures, I would strongly consider getting a canvas cover to place over the car. This should prevent this type of problem from ever happening.

 

[evolvingpowercat]

I gararge my Eos both at work and at home so I hope this won't happen to me! Our winters are pretty dry around here (Kansas, USA) so the chances of having this happen here while parked outside are few.

Having the de-icer sounds like a good idea, here is another idea:

I think I will throw a roll of the blue 3M masking tape in the boot of my Eos so that if I park outside and it looks like the freeze up could happen I can run a piece of the masking tape across the glass to weatherstrip boundary to keep the water out. Then would pull the blue tape off and toss before unlocking the door and moving the glass down.

Randy
White 2007 EoS 2.0T w DSG and 18" all seasons, still love it!

 

[Slye]

We have at least 4 months of subzero temperatures here in Ottawa so the solutions that I have seen here, even though they are good, are not really practical over a long period.

Has anybody talked to their dealership about this problem?

 

[Eos_Up]

VW's problem??? No, it's not...

It's not a problem. The car was designed this way. It's a convertible. I think it's to VW's credit to make the car as much like a sedan as possible. In other words, a tight fitting window assembly that allows winter driving without a lot of wind noise and even drafts at highway speeds. This is one of the major if not the biggest thing I tested when I drove the Eos. Top down, fine, blow like crazy. Top up and windows closed, I want the comfort of a tight vehicle.

I traded in a Mustang convertible and it did the same thing if left out in the cold (especially if there is rain or snow coupled with freezing weather.)

There is no way to keep the windows tightly closed against rubber seals and not expect them to freeze if left in these conditions.

I know you probably love your Eos as much as I do, but maybe you bought the wrong kind of vehicle for your climate conditions, especially if it's an only car you can drive.

 

[davidp]

I don't have a garage just a drive so if I know its going to be freezing overnight I place a thin nylon cover over the top of the car. It just covers the windows and has four hooks on elastics that clip on the wheels. You can get them from most car accessory stores. Wen you pull off the cover it pulls off the overnight ice and leaves clean windows. OK for the UK but not sure how good that would be in Canada if you have such prolonged cold winters.
David

 

[pjgraham86]

I have a full size car cover for mine too - Scotland doesn't suffer winters like Canada though so I probably used it two or three times max last year.

I don't know if it would help to spray de-icer on the seal/window join at night before the frost/ice descends - would that prevent it freezing ? Again, probably not a long term solution and maybe not good for the seals over time but worth a try ?

P

 

[SiJ2000]

Lubricated seals will help to some degree, but as the car gets colder, water will condense on the surface (morning dew) and this is what freezes, so the issue is more likely to be ice along the rubber seal at the bottom of the window...

 

[SiJ2000]

Also, this is not a design issue. This is quite normal for any car which doesn't have a windows surround as part of the door....

This includes all convertibles and also some normal cars (like the Mini). A few coupe cars are like this too.

 

[neh321]

My windows were frozen the other morning and I did not like the sound it made when windows dropped, have bought de icer to keep in doors for when I need to defrost, scared to unlock whilst frozen, feel sure it will damage something !
Lisa

Frozen? In Surrey?! At least you're not likely to get -40 like they do in Ottawa!

 

[SKIDOO]

Simon, your the techy - is the de-icer likley to damage the seals ?
Gary

 

[GOgg]

No it won't affect them nor the krytox lubricant. Both are immiscible and pretty inert. It's also in the handbook, if I remember correctly, that you should use de-icer.

 

[SiJ2000]

It should be OK... Don't let it run onto the paintwork though!

 

[Patti Gibbons]

Frozen Windows

Well, aside from the fact that my car may need snow tires so I can navigate the snowy icy roads, I could not get into it this morning. Fortunately I read the threads this weekend about this and armed myself with 2 cans of de-icer and carry a small ice scraper in my purse. This isn't very practical, nor do I want deal with this when I am rushed for work, or running around town. My dealership assured me that the car would be fine in the winter.....

I do have an appointment with them, but it seems like all they can do is lube the seals well, and I will have to get a car cover of a sort, and try and get my husband to make room in the garage for the bad weather --- which doesn't help when I am out or at work and it is storming out.

Thanks for letting me vent. I love the car in general, but we have about 4-5 months of winter here......

patti in the Catskill Mountains!

 

[Stephb]

I have a full sized car cover and a top cover i put one on one day change it the next dry that off in the garage and then change it the next day not had a problem yet

Steph xx