Stopping the Locks from Freezing ?

pudzey101 · 19-11-2013 2:28pm #1

hi lads what's the best thing 2 do to stop ur car doors locks from freezing?? I had trouble with the last car and I don't want to be cot out this year..

Kenny Logins · 19-11-2013 2:29pm

WD-40.

dgt · 19-11-2013 2:30pm

Sometimes wd 40 can jellify.

If you're caught out you can urinate on the lock, which I've seen people do....

djimi · 19-11-2013 2:35pm

Id actually love to know the answer to this also. My Integra can be an absolute bollox for this when the weather gets really cold. Central locking has a habit of playing up in that when you press the button to unlock the car it will open the locks and then immediately lock them again.

Its not really an issue unless its really cold (ie heavy snow).

O.A.P · 19-11-2013 2:39pm

Get yourself an aerosol can of de-icer for the winter, they cost no more than a tenner and they work well. Pouring hot water on them will make it twice as hard to open the following morning or that evening.

pudzey101 · 19-11-2013 2:39pm

djimi wrote: »

Id actually love to know the answer to this also. My Integra can be an absolute bollox for this when the weather gets really cold. Central locking has a habit of playing up in that when you press the button to unlock the car it will open the locks and then immediately lock them again.

Its not really an issue unless its really cold (ie heavy snow).

same with my dc2

does wd40 work guys?

Kenny Logins · 19-11-2013 3:04pm

Has worked for me, but might not be the best solution (I just always have some handy). I believe hand sanitiser sprays are good too.

pippip · 19-11-2013 3:19pm

Water pistol (need kids as excuse for having it in the first place) and windscreen solution used pure.

cena · 19-11-2013 3:25pm

dgt wrote: »

Sometimes wd 40 can jellify.

If you're caught out you can urinate on the lock, which I've seen people do....

I have done that. Worked very well

Chimaera · 19-11-2013 3:58pm

The 'WD' in WD40 stands for water dispersant, which is a hint to what it can do. Spray it liberally into the cylinder while the lock is thawed out, work the lock for a little bit to get the WD40 into all the moving parts, then oil it to keep everything working (again working the lock after applying the oil). You could try spray grease if you're especially worried about oil draining off.

sebastianlieken · 19-11-2013 4:12pm

Are you just talking about getting the key in the slot?

Carry a cheapy little lighter with you and heat up the key? (don't melt the plastic on the key)

listermint · 19-11-2013 4:14pm

Central Locking

biko · 19-11-2013 4:18pm

I've used wd40 since the "big freeze" and never a bother with the key (even when the door itself froze shut!)
I had issue for ages with central locking so used key.

Silicone oil works too and can be applied to both lock and door rubber seal.

sebastianlieken · 19-11-2013 5:28pm

biko wrote: »

I've used wd40 since the "big freeze" and never a bother with the key (even when the door itself froze shut!)
I had issue for ages with central locking so used key.

Silicone oil works too and can be applied to both lock and door rubber seal.

good thinking with using a lubricant on the door seal. I have some red rubber grease that will be going on mine.

king_of_inismac · 20-11-2013 8:18am

I use lithium grease in the locks (instead of wd40). One shot at the start of winter and that's it. Wd40 is great for certain jobs, but there's so many other lubricant options that are more suitable for jobs like this.

bidiots · 20-11-2013 8:26am

listermint wrote: »

Central Locking

Central Locking still needs a key to open.

Unless of course you mean 'Remote' central locking, which is as much use as tits on a bull to the OP.

dr.fuzzenstein · 20-11-2013 9:06am

listermint wrote: »

Central Locking

It does always work, but I find a lot of times the door itself would have frozen shut.
Always worried my seals will come apart when yanking it open...
Only solution to that would be a bucket of hot water or finding another door to get in.

20-11-2013 9:07am

SAAB owners manual advices to use motor oil to prevent locks freezing. Light sewing machine oil is ideal too. Just apply some on the key and then use the lock a few times to work it in. What does your manual say?

For instant relief use any alcohol. This is what the lock antifreeze type of products have. But it's important to oil the lock immediately after to stop freezing being a reoccurring issue.

pudzey101 · 20-11-2013 9:13am

haha bidiots

ya know me too well

baby oil or wd40 on my key and work it around the key hole would do the trick id say

corkgsxr · 20-11-2013 9:41am

sebastianlieken wrote: »

good thinking with using a lubricant on the door seal. I have some red rubber grease that will be going on mine.

Messy stuff.

Wd40 the lock when its not frozen. Prevention rather than solution.

But if your stuck use a lighter on the key. Takes a min but it works

Chimaera · 20-11-2013 9:47am

king_of_inismac wrote: »

I use lithium grease in the locks (instead of wd40). One shot at the start of winter and that's it. Wd40 is great for certain jobs, but there's so many other lubricant options that are more suitable for jobs like this.

WD40's role here is to drive out the water from the mechanism before lubricating it properly to prevent water getting back in.

Gary ITR · 20-11-2013 11:07am

As has already been said, WD40 on all the moving parts then some 3in1oil or spray grease. WD on its own isn't the answer, it can jellify.

I took the door cards off my DC2 and went over everything and never had a problem during the big freeze. LSD helped a lot in the snow too :-)

Gary ITR · 20-11-2013 11:08am

Double post

_Kaiser_ · 20-11-2013 11:37am

Didn't even know this was a common thing. I remember walking out of my house in Cavan one of the mornings in 2010 during the bad winter and the temp readout showed -14 (however accurate that was it was VERY cold anyway

). Still centrally unlocked and started first time.

dr.fuzzenstein · 20-11-2013 12:01pm

Gary ITR wrote: »

As has already been said, WD40 on all the moving parts then some 3in1oil or spray grease. WD on its own isn't the answer, it can jellify.

I took the door cards off my DC2 and went over everything and never had a problem during the big freeze. LSD helped a lot in the snow too :-)

Beware the brown acid. The brown acid is bad.

djimi · 20-11-2013 12:03pm

Gary ITR wrote: »

LSD helped a lot in the snow too :-)

Didnt help me much that time it snowed heavily; my car was nigh on unusable for about a fortnight :pac:

dr.fuzzenstein · 20-11-2013 12:44pm

djimi wrote: »

Didnt help me much that time it snowed heavily; my car was nigh on unusable for about a fortnight :pac:

The car or you?:cool:
Or you could have just ridden the rainbow colored unicorn.

Gary ITR · 20-11-2013 2:01pm

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

The car or you?:cool:
Or you could have just ridden the rainbow colored unicorn.

Ya prick... I lol snorted on the luas :-\

listermint · 20-11-2013 2:09pm

bidiots wrote: »

Central Locking still needs a key to open.

Unless of course you mean 'Remote' central locking, which is as much use as tits on a bull to the OP.

Apologies if some people out there need the term remote central locking clarified. I wouldnt be caught in a car without it.

Ewe peasants..

jimgoose · 20-11-2013 2:26pm

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

The car or you?:cool:
Or you could have just ridden the rainbow colored unicorn.

You are today's winner of d'Internet! :pac::pac::pac:

ianobrien · 20-11-2013 9:04pm

OP, don't use too much WD-40 as WD-40 has a nasty habit of melting plastic. The barrel is probably all metal but there is probably plastic in the lock somewhere. Also, WD-40 has a nasty habit of gathering dust and forming a nasty paste which can grind into moving parts. Silicon spray is probably a better bet than WD-40.

Also, wipe the door rubbers in the evening to dry them as my car has a nasty habit of freezing the door rubbers to the door if the rubber is wet....

Stopping the Locks from Freezing ?

Comments