The sliding doors on my 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan keep freezing shut in the winter. How do I prevent this?
Christie from Durango, CO
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I was advised to wipe the rubber surrounding the door with silicone. It is sold as a liquid at the drug store.(not the type in a tube for plumbing etc.)
Every winter before temps drop to freezing, I spray the tracks and all around the inside of the doors where they seal with WD40. Works like a charm. No more frozen shut doors. You need to respray upon occasion to keep them from freezing. After having frozen shut doors several times one winter, grr. someone mentioned WD40 and out of desperation, plus I had a can on hand. I tried it. I have now been using it for several years. By the way, it doesn't hurt your paint either:-)
I had the same problem with my 2005 one. Traded it as I got sick of my son being late for school every time the doors were stuck.
Perhaps try spraying WD-40 all along the seals and do it often.
This may sound crazy but you should try it. WD-40 is a miracle tool. Google it and you will find a multitude of uses for WD-40. It displaces moisture from hinges and locks.
I live in Chicago and the problem has already happened over 5 times this year to BOTH DOORS! I will try the WD-40. Thanks!
Ok. So I see everyone with a Toyota Sienna in new england winter is suffering from frozen doors - me too. I have manual doors, they freeze shut when it's cold and there's any moisture in the air! I'd like to try the WD 40, but how do I do this if the doors are already frozen?
Ok. So I see everyone with a Toyota Sienna in new england winter is suffering from frozen doors - me too. I have manual doors, they freeze shut when it's cold and there's any moisture in the air! I'd like to try the WD 40, but how do I do this if the doors are already frozen?
We don't have a garage. Help!
It happens to our Kia Sedona (new) as well - everytime it is below freezing (which is most of the winter in Canada!). The dealer said some lithium grease would do the trick and put it on the chain and rubber seals. It worked for two (warmer) days, and then we're right back to sliding doors not opening. I'm sure going to try the WD40. Thanks for the idea.
Our '04 minivan has this problem for a long time. WD40 does cure it but you will need to reapply it liberally throughout the winter.
By the looks of it there hasn't been a response in awhile. I have an 04 sienna which had the doors freeze shut at temps just below freezing, was extremely difficult to open until vehicle warmed up. The solution wasn't to lubricate, didn't work, but rather to replace the seals altogether. The 05 models and up have a re engineered seal, which upon replacing completely solved the problem.
We've been well below freezing, 10F and lower and have had no issues. There should be a Toyota campaign for this part, but there isn't. Cost was approx. $150 labour included. Try bugging Toyota head office, maybe enough complaints will lead to a campaign to replace an obviously poorly engineered part.
Spray the door jam with some wd40 or some pam cooking oil that should help.
Dear fellow Sienna owners,
I have experienced a similar problem over the years. I went to Google to search for help and came across this site. I called Toyota Corporate and they told me there was a service notice was sent to dealers in 2008. I have an appt. on Tuesday morning to see what they have to tell me. I will report back.
What did the dealer say?
I have the exact same van, same year everything! It happens to me too! I'm desperate to know a cure for this also!!!!
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