Frozen lock

[lowriderdog37]

It got down to 20 deg here last night. I went to unlock my car this morning and the locks were frozen solid (all of them). I had to take a lighter to the housing to get it loose enough to use.

This happen to anybody else? Any ideas on how to prevent it?

[babymog]

The little door in the lock is its only defense.

A liberal spraying out with Silicone spray will help to displace water. It will also displace grease though, ...

Those of us in the frozen north avoid washing the cars within a day of sitting out in freezing temperatures. My daughter's E 320 sits outside, so we don't lock it on cold nights. Keyless entry was invented in Detroit, probably by an Engineer who was frozen out.

[kerry]

Move south.
I usually heat the key with a lighter then stick it into the slot.

[rcounts]

Originally Posted by kerry

Move south.
I usually heat the key with a lighter then stick it into the slot.

Ditto - only I have a spare key with no rubber head on it and I hold it over the burner of my stove for a few seconds with a pair of pliers - gets MUCH hotter. I then work it into the lock and let it sit there and absorb the heat to thaw all the tumblers. I used some PB Blaster to displace all the water last time. They haven't froze up since (looks for wood to knock...)

[Brian Carlton]

On a recent ice storm, the '87 decided that it wasn't going to accept the key into either door and allow rotation of key.

Fortunately, the Dodge van did allow the key to function and out came the propane torch. Made quick work of the ice all over the door and windshield. Have to keep it moving, however.........don't linger over any rubber.......

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

On a recent ice storm, the '87 decided that it wasn't going to accept the key into either door and allow rotation of key.

Fortunately, the Dodge van did allow the key to function and out came the propane torch. Made quick work of the ice all over the door and windshield. Have to keep it moving, however.........don't linger over any rubber.......

Isn't that a good way to crack the glass?

Sometimes they freeze so bad that the key won't even go into the lock....then you have a problem. (heated key won't work...) My solution was keyless entry....haven't needed a key in 3 years...its great! A heat gun aimed at the lock for a couple minutes would probably get it warmed up. And would be a bit safer than torches/lighters!

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Isn't that a good way to crack the glass?

Sometimes they freeze so bad that the key won't even go into the lock....then you have a problem. (heated key won't work...) My solution was keyless entry....haven't needed a key in 3 years...its great! A heat gun aimed at the lock for a couple minutes would probably get it warmed up. And would be a bit safer than torches/lighters!

If you keep the flame about 1 1/2 inches away from the vehicle, the heat is just perfect to melt the ice without any damage to glass/paint/rubber.

The torch is the perfect solution.

[rg2098]

Ditto on the keyless. For $50 you never have to worry about it again.

[Lycoming-8]

Actually a heat-gun style hair dryer is the best of all. Will allow you to hold right on the key hole, or go around the door perimeter when you are dealing with really nasty ice. Not really hot enough even on high in cold weather to harm paint, rubber or glass. Have used it to get ice on the windshield started when anything else would have done nothing or cracked the glass.

Oh, and the last one cost me a $1.50 at the thrift store!!

[gregszustak]

Last time I used straight isopropyl alchohol.
I have a small bottle with a squirt tip.

[lowriderdog37]

Originally Posted by kerry

Move south.
I usually heat the key with a lighter then stick it into the slot.

I am in the middle of Texas! It was a freak cold spell that I am told isn't normal around here.

I want to do the keyless entry when I install an alarm (within the next few months). I didn't want to search through dozens of boxes to find the torch, and didn't have time to mess with enough extension cord to make it to the car.

I got in and made it to work on time, just didn't know if there was a better trick to get in. With any luck, I will be in Florida in a few months and won't have to worry about it again.

[Chad300tdt]

I installed keyless entry in both of my 123s too. Before that, I would hold my hand on the lock for a minute and it would free the lock. I tried the lighter, but it was windy every time I needed to free the lock, so that didn't work.

After I sprayed some penetrating oil in the lock it was better, but the keyless entry is perfect every time.

[mgburg]

My little door broke off about 2 years ago on the driver's side (the passenger's side is parked too close to my van to allow me to get in on that side ).

I now carry a small cocktail drink straw in the vest pocket of my jacket...

Remove straw, blow the "pocket-fuzz" that's collected OUT of the straw first, THEN insert straw as far as it will fit into the lock, then (this is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT) VERY LIGHTLY blow through the straw and as the lock is melting, manuever the straw further into the lock 'til it won't go anymore. Have your key ready to quickly insert and twist...

TA! DA!

You're in and you should, hopefully, have enough car battery to start the bugger and warm back up...

I've had to do this 3 times this winter (Only God remember HOW MANY TIMES last year)...works every time. And the drink was my only expense...

Now, before you ask, the reason you SLOWLY AND LIGHTLY BLOW through the straw is that blowing fast only COOLS, it doesn't allow the heat from your mouth/lungs to get through the straw and to the lock...besides, do you need to hyperventilate yourself WHILE you're freezing your @55 off and your lock up?

Not really!

[rcounts]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Sometimes they freeze so bad that the key won't even go into the lock....then you have a problem. (heated key won't work...)

It will if you heat it up really hot like I described. It will only go in a little ways initially, but let it sit a second or two and it will go in a little farther and so on.

So far I haven't had to heat the key a second time. It transfers enough heat to the tumblers to thaw them out and get it working - even when I couldn't even get the key more than 1/4" into the lock to start with.

I like the keyless entry idea too though...

[Jeremy5848]

You have a choice: keyless entry or entryless key.