[Vwdiesel] Cold problems (door)

[Mark Laplante]

Folks,

It has dropped below freezing here on the overnights, and although I can start my 82 Rabbit fine with about 10-15 minutes of cranking, I can't drive it since the driver's door won't stay closed. 

This started on Saturday on my way to work. I guess my arm was resting on the door and it came open about 1/2" but seemed to catch again at that point. I was able to hold it closed all the way to work, parked it in the sun, and in the afternoon when I left (45-50 F) it worked fine. 

This morning it would not latch at all, so I left it at home. (Making one-handed right turns from a stop with manual steering didn't sound like much fun.)

I suspect this could be as simple as lubricating the mechanism, but I'd like suggestions on what to use, or what else to check. With so many of you living where the winters get 
_really_ cold, I'm sure I'm not the first to have this problem. Could it be related to alignment even though it works fine when it is warm (the doors are a little stiff opening the last half of their travel). 

Thanks,

Mark