Frozen Locks
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 995
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From: Lancaster, MA & RPI
Frozen Locks
Ever since it has been getting cold here in MA my door lock has been more difficult to turn. Now that the temps. are really dropping, the lock becomes inoperable. I can put the key in it and wiggle it a little bit back and forth, but it won't turn. Then, this morning as I am going to start my car to head to school my ignition was frozen. I had to use a hair dryer to warm it up so I could start the car. The key would go in, and there didn't appear to be any ice, but it wouldn't turn. It warmed up a little later on and the locks worked fine, but this is a real PITA. I got some graphite powder to lubricate the locks, but then early this night the door lock was still frozen. Any ideas? I don't really mind the door lock, but I have to be able to start the car!
Thanks in advance for any help!
Thanks in advance for any help!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,089
Likes: 2
From: Syracuse, NY
I'm having a similar problem in mine. The ignition hasn't given me any problem, but sometimes it takes a little 'coaxing' to get the door lock to work.
Also had a problem with the little lever not coming back out on the passenger side door. I just took it out & covered everything with greese & now it works.
Also had a problem with the little lever not coming back out on the passenger side door. I just took it out & covered everything with greese & now it works.
Race Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa, California
Powder graphite. Flush the locks with "safe" contact cleaner so you don't mess up the paint or plastic then use a "dry" graphite lube. Sometimes this "dry" graphite is suspended in a fast drying base.
Other wise you have to move to Palm Desert!!!
Yes it was Christmas week when I took this picture. The Jacuzi is down by the tennis courts.
Other wise you have to move to Palm Desert!!!
Yes it was Christmas week when I took this picture. The Jacuzi is down by the tennis courts.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
From: Northern Cali
i used to live in northern vt and then went to school in new york state. i had a pos ford and the little flap that is supposed to cover the key hole on the drivers door had a busted spring so the lock internals were open to the elements. i carried a bottle of "lock de-icer" which smelled like isoprophyl alcohol but had some propellant to spray it into the lock. after a couple hits of that, i would take out my little graphite "puffer" and puff a bit of that inside.
the graphite is a great lubricant but it won't do squat if your locks are already frozen.
the graphite is a great lubricant but it won't do squat if your locks are already frozen.
Race Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa, California
With water in the tumblers you will have to use a "solvent" that can remove the water -- alcohol (as was noted above re: lock deicer!).
It's been ages since I wintered in Colorado Springs so I don't know what the freezing point or water absorption of WD-40 is. Interesting to note that WD stands for water displacement.
I think the deicer is the trick followed by the graphite.
The picture I attached is taken from the back of Bing Crosby's first Palm Desert house looking north over Palm Desert and part of Palm Springs. I was invited by a girl friend for a few days before Christmas many years ago. No! Bing had sold the house many years before! The girlfriends fathers insurance agent for his multimillion dollar companies let her father use the house for a family get together -- nine kids, most married. I stayed in the "small" guest house -- about 1600 square feet -- the few days I was there with one of the single sons. Most of the families stayed in condos her father rented in the gated resort just down the access road.
It's been ages since I wintered in Colorado Springs so I don't know what the freezing point or water absorption of WD-40 is. Interesting to note that WD stands for water displacement.
I think the deicer is the trick followed by the graphite.
The picture I attached is taken from the back of Bing Crosby's first Palm Desert house looking north over Palm Desert and part of Palm Springs. I was invited by a girl friend for a few days before Christmas many years ago. No! Bing had sold the house many years before! The girlfriends fathers insurance agent for his multimillion dollar companies let her father use the house for a family get together -- nine kids, most married. I stayed in the "small" guest house -- about 1600 square feet -- the few days I was there with one of the single sons. Most of the families stayed in condos her father rented in the gated resort just down the access road.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,210
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From: Ams, NL
Living in a rather "wet" environment, this phenomena is very familiar to me.
Your problem is moisture in the lock, preventing the pins to follow the key pattern.
The moisture gets in when the grease in the lock drum has dryed out and / or the seals got aged, so after some 10 years of normal operation.
Lock de-icer as above is the way to get it going.
Graphite will just grease but not prevent entry of fresh moisture.
An occasional spray of "white grease" or silicone grease will help till winter is over.
Suggested pring project: Take cylinders out, clean and re-grease with lithium based grease.
Replace "O" ring seals and re-assemble.
Do door handles as well while you are at it.
They will be good as new then and trouble free for the next few years to come
Same cause and remedy for the lever in the door handle that got stuck.
TakeCare
Your problem is moisture in the lock, preventing the pins to follow the key pattern.
The moisture gets in when the grease in the lock drum has dryed out and / or the seals got aged, so after some 10 years of normal operation.
Lock de-icer as above is the way to get it going.
Graphite will just grease but not prevent entry of fresh moisture.
An occasional spray of "white grease" or silicone grease will help till winter is over.
Suggested pring project: Take cylinders out, clean and re-grease with lithium based grease.
Replace "O" ring seals and re-assemble.
Do door handles as well while you are at it.
They will be good as new then and trouble free for the next few years to come
Same cause and remedy for the lever in the door handle that got stuck.
TakeCare
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Michael S. Palmer
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 2
From: Asheville,NC (Don't move here!!!)
The 'emergency' temporary get-you-in cure, if the key will start into the hole in the lock at all, is to heat the key with a match or lighter, then insert it and wait for a few seconds before turning. Obviously, don't overdo this with a plastic-headed key like ours, or when holding a metal key in bare fingers... 
<img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> It may take a couple of repeats if it's really cold out.
The long-term cure, as mentioned, is to dry out the locks (both alcohol and WD-40 have worked for me, but can remove wax if allowed to dribble), and grease them properly. I'm with Hans on the white or silicone grease, unless your area tends to be very dusty part of the year. Then the dry graphite is better, but less good at keeping water out.
Jim, more coffee!!!!
<img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> It may take a couple of repeats if it's really cold out.The long-term cure, as mentioned, is to dry out the locks (both alcohol and WD-40 have worked for me, but can remove wax if allowed to dribble), and grease them properly. I'm with Hans on the white or silicone grease, unless your area tends to be very dusty part of the year. Then the dry graphite is better, but less good at keeping water out.
Jim, more coffee!!!!
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
I have had good luck with silicone spray. Spraying into the lock when warm (ahead of time). Insert the small plastic tube into the hole and spray away. Triflow also seems to work ok and is recommeded by our local locksmith. In desperate situations (before I started spraying the locks) I have warmed the key with a lighter until the lock freed up.... stick it in and apply the lighter to the exposed metal.... of course this would be a problem for plastic handled keys. --Roy--
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 0
From: Ams, NL
[quote]944S Boyeee : Vodka!!!!
Wayyyyyy better than any lock de-icer! <hr></blockquote>
MMMM.... Vodka = 35% ethanol in water...
Ethanol vaporises, leaving the water....
Smells like hell if you use the commercially available stuff, good for some years inside if you got snatched with the bootleg version...
I think I prefer this as "anti-freeze for personal use only"
TGIF
TakeCare
Wayyyyyy better than any lock de-icer! <hr></blockquote>
MMMM.... Vodka = 35% ethanol in water...
Ethanol vaporises, leaving the water....
Smells like hell if you use the commercially available stuff, good for some years inside if you got snatched with the bootleg version...
I think I prefer this as "anti-freeze for personal use only"
TGIF
TakeCare
Big thirst, Sore Thumbs
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Napoleon
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Napoleon
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 52,898
Likes: 586
From: Valhalla, capital of Gretchslyvania.
BTW
The heating trick with the hair dryer gets you going, but also makes water condense there, causing the future problem.
Unless you use one of the above methods to displace water then lube.
Personally i prefer white Lithium grease.
The heating trick with the hair dryer gets you going, but also makes water condense there, causing the future problem.
Unless you use one of the above methods to displace water then lube.
Personally i prefer white Lithium grease.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, KY.
Watch the silicone and WD40 type penetrants in the ignition cylinder. They'll destroy the plastic body of the ignition switch and cause trouble down the road. I'm also kind of leary of white lithium grease. It's pretty heavy and real good at attracting and holding dust.