Having issues with the PT in winter

[Quintin]

Hi guys, my first winter with my PT.
I'm in the Toronto area so it's frigg'n cold.
Here's the one issue how many of the Pt's who go thru winter have had their hood latch freeze, mine needs the engine to run for a while before i can add windshield solution, before you ask the pt was washed about a month ago, i've even WD40 the latch to no avail.....
The second issue is i've noticed an oily film starting to cover everything under the hood....

The PT's could stand to be a bit more water tight around the doors and back gate.......
any thoughts or suggestions would be great...oh it's a 03 automatic..
Thanks

[pt-gta]

I live in Markham, I too suffered the frozen hood latch, the first deep colds snap we had. I had popped the hood to fill my fluids. Had to wait a day until it wamed up again. Don't know what else to suggest for the latch. I was goging to try WD-40 and a hairdrier, but decided to wait.

Don't know what the film could be. I am not looking forward to the engine compartment cleaning Clifford will need after all this.

[PT_Sean]

WD-40 is a degreaser, AND a water disspersant too. I would suggest putting some wheel bearing grease on the latch plate and around. It sounds like the latch is not pivotting properly, and by "degrasing" it with WD-40, its not helping.

The film- that COULD be serious. Is it OIL? Is it COOLANT? Check the oil filler cap, make sure its tight. Coolant- if its overflowing, the overfill MAY be forced BACK into the engine and sprayed around.

Has the dealer sprayed the hoses and engine with ARMOURALL perhaps recently??

[joseph szostek jr]

I put mine away for the winter, but if you can't, take it to your dealer with your concerns, they might be helpful, ya never know and welcome.

[GOLDMEMBER]

I would agree with Sean sounds like the film maybe from Armourall

There is "white" Grease which maybe less offensive

[Quintin]

Originally Posted by PT_Sean

WD-40 is a degreaser, AND a water disspersant too. I would suggest putting some wheel bearing grease on the latch plate and around. It sounds like the latch is not pivotting properly, and by "degrasing" it with WD-40, its not helping.

The film- that COULD be serious. Is it OIL? Is it COOLANT? Check the oil filler cap, make sure its tight. Coolant- if its overflowing, the overfill MAY be forced BACK into the engine and sprayed around.

Has the dealer sprayed the hoses and engine with ARMOURALL perhaps recently??

Thanks, the film it seems like oil and i noticed it after the first oil change I doubt the dealer did anything other than change the oil.
Hmmm looks like i should get back to the dealer it's close to the third oil change but you've got me concerned. I am also going to mention the hood latch.
Thanks Sean.

[Quintin]

Originally Posted by GOLDMEMBER

I would agree with Sean sounds like the film maybe from Armourall

There is "white" Grease which maybe less offensive

I'll have to phone them about this. Thanks...

[Quintin]

Originally Posted by pt-gta

I live in Markham, I too suffered the frozen hood latch, the first deep colds snap we had. I had popped the hood to fill my fluids. Had to wait a day until it wamed up again. Don't know what else to suggest for the latch. I was goging to try WD-40 and a hairdrier, but decided to wait.

Don't know what the film could be. I am not looking forward to the engine compartment cleaning Clifford will need after all this.

I just let the engine run for about five minutes...seems to work. It's a bear though cause I'm running the 400 roads.....and you know what that means if your hood is frozen and have an empty resevoir...your going to have to pull over and let the car run until it pops open....
Man.......

[Rockin_Ron]

I had a hood latch problem also. The spring is either to dirty not lubed enough or just to weak to pull the cable back. I just moved the cable back with a screw driver ( at the spring location) and dropped the hood...no problem! But a pain in the butt!!

[DJ RickH10]

Originally Posted by Quintin

The PT's could stand to be a bit more water tight around the doors and back gate.......
any thoughts or suggestions would be great...oh it's a 03 automatic..
Thanks

I dont know about the freezing hood latch or the oil you're seeing inside your hood. I live here in Seattle, a very rainy city. I drive in rain most of the time and I never see any moisture come into my PT from anywhere. It sounds as though maybe you have defective seals around your hatch. I could see how those may be affected in subzero weather. Even though the rubber seals are supposed to remain flexible, they can still harden in colder temps, eventually losing their elasticity, thereby allowing moisture inside. Something you may try is putting your shelf on the lower level so more heat gets to the rear hatch area. Good luck.