Cold weather situations...

[tapestrybabe]

so yeah, here on the east...
its gotten pretty cold...
we ended up getting some flurries too...

anyways, the other day...
i went out to my car...
and i couldnt open my car door...
cuz it got frozen shut...
well, eventually i got it open...
after some like prying and what not...
so yeah, i guess i'm wondering...
if there is an easier way to get my
car door open in this type of situation...
or if there is anyway to prevent such a thing...

also, when i started up my car...
the engine made like a really funny screeching noise...
but after i warmed up my car, it stopped tho...
and i guess i'm also wondering...
if such a noise is normal...
in cold weather like that...
or should i be concerned
with such a thing...

[avs]

so yeah, here on the east...
its gotten pretty cold...
we ended up getting some flurries too...

anyways, the other day...
i went out to my car...
and i couldnt open my car door...
cuz it got frozen shut...
well, eventually i got it open...
after some like prying and what not...
so yeah, i guess i'm wondering...
if there is an easier way to get my
car door open in this type of situation...
or if there is anyway to prevent such a thing...

also, when i started up my car...
the engine made like a really funny screeching noise...
but after i warmed up my car, it stopped tho...
and i guess i'm also wondering...
if such a noise is normal...
in cold weather like that...
or should i be concerned
with such a thing...

I guess the way to get the door open easier is to get a remote starter for your car. Turn your climate control the max heat night before you leave. When you wake up the next morning, turn on the car with your remote starter 5-10 min prior from going to your car and you'll have yourself a nice warm toasty car.
OR the quick and easy way is to get a bucket of hot water and pour it on your car.
I don't know if there's a easy way to prevent this. I guess you can wipe off any water or moisture around your door handle and around the door area.
Make sure you pick up a lock de-icer from home depot or something. It helps.

As far as belt screeching, i guess it's normal for the belt to scree due to temperature changes, but if it do continue while you're driving. You should definitely get it check out.

[mrazntre]

if you haven't already gotten the belt checked out, do so. like AVS said, it's probably just the moisture causing the belt to slip on the pulley even if the tightening bolt on the tensioner pulley is properly torqued. (this would be another cause for the screech if the bolt isn't tight enough).

Metal pulley + rubber belt + water = screech.

Other causes of the screech would be a worn/stretched belt, but I don't think that's the case since it stops screeching when the car is up to speed. A worn belt could do the same, but you really won't know unless you start your car on a warm day (which prolly isn't going to happen any time soon).

IF the belt screeches alll the time, then you'll need to do something about it.