Hi all,

Recently, it's been cold in our part of the world, around -4C at nights. That's lead to some odd issues with the our 1999 ES300. Our doors froze shut, couldn't open the car. Actually that's just funny.

One morning, around 0C degree's, the power windows wouldn't work, frozen I guess.

another morning, I had to open the door with the key, hit unlock a couple of times (actuators not firing properly), and the car lowered the drivers side window about two inches (with power), odd .. that wasn't a drop, it lowered it and stopped it. Anyone else ever had that, is that a function ?

 

Extreme temperatures can have that sort of effect on any vehicle. Be very careful using the door handles and locks, and I would use them at a minimum during this type of weather. I wouldn't attempt to use the door actuators and other moving parts like that until you thoroughly heat the cabin. These parts are somewhat fragile and are pain to replace!

 

At that temperature you really shouldn't have any problems. I'm in Montreal Canada and it can get to -35c in the winter. Never had a problem.

Start by Making sure your window tracks, door seals, locks, etc are all well Lunricated. And that there is no moisture.

Phil

 

Thanks for that advice, I will lubricate those.

I wasn't expecting issues, but we dropped below zero last night, and I guess I forgot to lock the doors because we found the car have been broken into last night, everything open, ash tray's, glove box, coin tray, etc. There's nothing much in our car so I think they walked away with nothing, kinda my fault really, but this is such a nice area I guess we got lax.

Annoying, but I guess this means my wife was right, her bra's and undies _are_ going missing off the washing line from time to time.

 

If it snows where you are, you may want to raise your wipers to the Winter position for the duration of winter.

The owner's Manal explains how to do it.

Most people don't even know that there is such a feature.

Phil

 

Im in Wellington its been quite cold here too!.
On our import Camry Gracia station wagon
On the drivers door if you unlock the door with the key and hold it there it will wind down the window and same for lock it will put the window up
Some random extra feature?
maybe your car has that too!

 

Are the wipers automatically in the Standard position if you never move them then?

 

I guess it does. so, the feature is, if you hold the door on unlock or lock, it will activate the window. neat.

 

I can confirm this feature on my 99, but the last owner had the dealer replace the ECU and cut two brand new updated keys

 

Your wipers will be in standard (low) position most likely. Just hold the arm close to the pivot point and gently pull up towards the windshield with increasing pressure. It shouldn't take too.much effort

 

No problem here between -30degC to +30degC.
Do you hear the door lock / window actuator?
Its either frozen mechanism or wiring issue.

 

Interesting Someone should do pictures of the Standard weather position and Snow position