Sliding door issue

[nesty]

Been getting a bit worse now the cold weather coming. Now having trouble getting the door open even with my special knack.

Generally always had to push the handle down nothing happens. To get the door open I have to put my finger down the gap on the right side and give it a yank with the handle pressed down. However today really didn't want to budge, but it did after excess effort!

I've greased the runners but no effect!

Any idea what the prob could be?

[CovKid]

May or may not be related but the spring on the rear section appears to be unresponsive when temperatures drop, due I think to old grease. I've had the same problem on mine with it either not opening or not shutting correctly in the cold (and had similar on a midi-van I owned) but this summer I cleaned off all the grease with paraffin and oiled it all instead. This seems to have worked so far.....

I think basically the cold and the grease makes the spring and lock mechanism very slow in operation which is why I'm now using oil instead. Still use grease on the runners - thats fine, but check lock and catch mechanisms are not gunked up as above.

[ermie571]

My slider doesn't open when it freezes. Going to try a little vaseline on the door rubbers. Good thing you can get to the back from the front!!

Was one noteable day last year when nothing would open........err I will be in to work...once the van defrosts. It unlocks ok....just doesn't open!!! I'm not sure that my boss believed me....

Em
x

[CovKid]

Yep, sliding door does freeze shut if its freezing cold. When its that bad I lock it until warmer weather