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Frozen door locks - help!

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
This morning alarm set off in van, 1995 Toyota Previa, went down to turn it off. Put key in lock but it wouldn't turn. What's the best way to unfreeze?

Temp. here currently, 9:59 AM, is 28 degrees. High today supposed to be 34 degrees. Light ice everywhere.

Any suggestions appreciated.
 
Use a cigarette lighter to heat up the key. May take several reheats, but better than breaking off a key in the lock.
 
Use a hand held butane torch you get at a hardware store.or try forcing gas line anti freeze in it or alcohol.hope this helps
 
If you are really carefull a propane torch works well, I"ve used it many times myself. Hold it only close enough that the heat gets it not the flame. One note I have never used it on door handles where the lock is surrounded by plastic, I would not suggest trying it on those. If this is a normal key with no little micro chips or other stuff on the end you could try warming the key with the torch or a lighter and then inserting it in the lock and trying to work it back and forth. Might take a few rounds to get it but that should work too. Good luck.
 
Try heating up your key with a lighter or match, then try getting it into the lock. It sometimes works. A blow dryer directed at the lock will usually work, if your vehicle is close enough to an electrical source. Lock de-icer that is sold in a small aerosol can with a nozzle that sticks into the lock is best. It is sold just about everywhere this time of year, hardware stores, grocery stores, drug stores, auto parts stores. I buy a can every year and squirt it into all the locks before it gets cold. Never had a frozen lock in the 25 years I have been doing this.
 
Go to Carquest or Autozone and buy some lock deicer, it comes in a little plastic squirt bottle with a flat nozzle that fits into the lock tumblers..give it a squirt, it deices and lubes the internal parts and will get rid of the moisture that is causing the problem..where I live lots of folks keep it in their coat pocket! You sometimes need it. Hot key will get you in but the moisture is still there and it may freez up again
 
Heated key can do the trick. After you get it thawed try some WD-40 or other spray lubricant to keep water out and freezing again.

Lock de-icers can cause long-term issues without some follow up lubrication. Many of the tumbler assemblies have housings that are made of zinc that can corrode with repeated use of de-icers. Found this out the hard way on my window lock on the pickup truck cap.
 
When you get it to turn, give it a good shot of WD-40. WD stands for water displacer. Try it you'll like it.
 
Guess I didn't give enough info. - got the key in the lock but lock assembly won't turn.

Thanks for the de-icer info, almost made that mistake. Will see if I can get hair dryer to work. Don't know if it will be effective on lock assembly.

I'm going to try that now. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Either that or a round trip ticket to a warmer climate.
 
Thanks everyone - problem solved, for now.

Enough sun on van to warm it up and locks work the way they should. Got moisture in the van the other night, think that might be part of the problem.
 
at least squirt some WD 40 or silicone in there (just don't put your keys in white pants pockets afterwards). Problem here is that it doesn't usually get below freezing (makes a lot of moisture) and when it does, it gets down to about 20 and the whole door freezes shut.

Dave
 
Old trick I have used and from an auto magazine, tips section Hairspray will work too.
It has the alcohol needed to melt frosty ice in a lock.
 
Can"t recall for sure from my NM mountain days, but I think we used to heavily wax both the gasket on the doorframe and the one on the door, or the metal if only one gasket was used (to keep whole door from freezing shut).
Teakettle or coffeepot of hot water worked wonders (on our old clunkers we didn"t have to worry about the paint!).
 
I see that you already have it solved, but for the others, sometimes the door on the other side will still unlock. Always best to try that yourself before someone else does.
 
This don't work every time, but if you got nothing else, squeeze the key real hard between your thumb and bare forefinger till it hurts. Immediately stick it in the lock and wiggle a little. I have padlocks I do this to all the winter. Never found padlock that works in cold.
 
I've never tried it, but one car magazine years ago said the emergency method when you didn't have anything else was to pi$$ on it. I have used a cup of hot coffee when the mini mart didn't have anyhing else. Lee
 
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