I know it sounds very ugly, but if you are truly committed to representing Challengers during winter months during less than favorable weather conditions, I have some simple side window precautions you must undertake to save your weather seals and window motors.
#1 . Forgo the fancy applicants that try to remedy this problem. A simple can of silicone spray will suffice.
#2 . Put the little straw thingy in the nozzle and with the side glass completely up and door closed start at the rear base of the side glass and spray a steady stream about an inch above the water dam the entire length of the glass ending at the triangular seal in front. I hold a disposable shop cloth below the tip of the straw to keep the spray off the door.
#3 . Take the shop cloth you just used and apply a generous amount of silicone to it. Open the door and wipe all the weather strip at least twice making sure to "condition" it thoroughly. Pay particular attention to the upper weather strip, where the side glass tucks into when the door closes. Fold the cloth sharply enough to make sure you can apply the silicone in the crevice. Also take note that there is an outer weather strip on the bottom of the door itself which should be treated.
#4 . Don't be afraid to be very generous with the silicone! It may be ugly looking on the glass but it does no harm to the weatherstripping. It is also far less expensive than the seals or window motors.
#5 . Keep a bottle of window deicer and a scraper IN THE TRUNK! In the case of thick ice the trunk will open much easier and the deicer will aid in removing thick ice from the glass.
#6 . Always have an old credit/ membership card in your wallet. In some cases the above steps will not be enough. The card can be worked between the side glass and water dam at the base of the glass and then run the length of it to aid in freeing.
You will learn to recognize what steps need taken to keep damage from happening, before the first freeze I have learned to treat the weatherstripping and glass. Sometimes the glass will just refuse to drop and a few times I have resorted to a firm thump to the top edge of the side glass. It sounds terrible but that motor continues to try to bring the glass down until it overloads and resets. I have actually got in the habit of using the card if I think there would have been residual water at the water dam after parking the car.
These steps were all learned over the past 4 winters and my windows still work like new going into the 5th. Also keep in mind that when you wash your baby it is a good idea to reapply silicone at least to the direct contact areas of the glass.
I was wondering if a Teflon spray on the weather stripping would help with freezing. Any suggestions appreciated.
