Frozen car door lock

Any way to fix a car door lock that gets frozen easily? My 97 Accord
has had problems with the driver side door lock the last 2 winters.
Last year, there were days when I had to turn the key several times to
get the door to unlock. This year seems to be worse. This morning,
the door wouldn't unlock at all. Had to unlock the passenger side and
then I could unlock the driver side from the inside.

Last time I went to the dealer for maintenance, I mentioned the
problem to them, but they didn't see anything wrong. They lubed the
locks though, but that obviously isn't the solution. Something must
be wrong, as the car went thru its first 10 winters without ever
having this problem.

 

Start with Lock Ease (liquid graphite) found at Wal Mart and
similar stores. Follow the directions on the bottle.

The lock would likely also benefit from a good cleaning. It
is a pretty easy DIY job. The dealer should be willing to do
it, too.

 

Start with Lock Ease (liquid graphite) found at Wal Mart and
similar stores. Follow the directions on the bottle.

The lock would likely also benefit from a good cleaning. It
is a pretty easy DIY job. The dealer should be willing to do
it, too.

 

Is the weather flap broken and hanging open?

It's water that has migrated inside the lock and frozen there. You need to
displace the water (don't use WD-40; that stuff reeks).

Here's a quick temporary fix: Get a cigarette lighter. Heat up your key and
stick it in the lock. Remove after a few seconds then do it again. The key
should now turn.

What country are you in?

 

Is the weather flap broken and hanging open?

It's water that has migrated inside the lock and frozen there. You need to
displace the water (don't use WD-40; that stuff reeks).

Here's a quick temporary fix: Get a cigarette lighter. Heat up your key and
stick it in the lock. Remove after a few seconds then do it again. The key
should now turn.

What country are you in?

 

Elle and TeGGer have good recommendations. Especially note TeGGer's warning
about WD-40... it works great for a season but gradually becomes a stubborn
gum that nothing seems to remove.

The dealer doesn't seem to have a good handle on your problem. I think a
locksmith would fix it on the first try. An alternative: if a remote keyless
entry is in the budget, it does a great job of making the lock situation
mostly moot.

Mike

 

Elle and TeGGer have good recommendations. Especially note TeGGer's warning
about WD-40... it works great for a season but gradually becomes a stubborn
gum that nothing seems to remove.

The dealer doesn't seem to have a good handle on your problem. I think a
locksmith would fix it on the first try. An alternative: if a remote keyless
entry is in the budget, it does a great job of making the lock situation
mostly moot.

Mike

 

When I sad WD-40 "reeks", I meant it REEKS.

It STINKS.

It SMELLS BAD.

Surely they could have made the stuff smell less like an oil well?

Don't need that. Some very light aerosol oil is all that's needed, provided
the weather flap still closes. And even if the flap is broken the oil still
works, you just have to refresh it more often.

In Canada you can buy a substance called "Rust Check". Works absolute
miracles on locks. Any kind of graphite is a bad idea when water is
involved.

 

When I sad WD-40 "reeks", I meant it REEKS.

It STINKS.

It SMELLS BAD.

Surely they could have made the stuff smell less like an oil well?

Don't need that. Some very light aerosol oil is all that's needed, provided
the weather flap still closes. And even if the flap is broken the oil still
works, you just have to refresh it more often.

In Canada you can buy a substance called "Rust Check". Works absolute
miracles on locks. Any kind of graphite is a bad idea when water is
involved.

 

I'm not sure what that is.

I'm in the USA.

 

I'm not sure what that is.

I'm in the USA.

 

I'm not sure what that is.


When you look at the part of the lock the key slides in, there should be a
spring-loaded metal flap that the key pushes aside when it enters the
cylinder. If that flap is not springing into place, water and dirt have easy
access to the cylinder.

Mike

 

I'm not sure what that is.


When you look at the part of the lock the key slides in, there should be a
spring-loaded metal flap that the key pushes aside when it enters the
cylinder. If that flap is not springing into place, water and dirt have easy
access to the cylinder.

Mike

 

It's the little metal door that closes off the key slot when there's no key
in it. Its spring rusts and breaks, then the door falls open, leaving a big
open key slot. Water then gets in and freezes. You need to make sure there
is a very light oil-based lubricant in the lock so as to keep that spring
from rusting (graphite cannot do this).

Water also gets in even when the door isn't broken, although to a lesser
extent. Remember to always wipe the lock clean of water and snow with a
tissue before putting your key in. That alone will help prevent frozen
locks.

Too bad. In Canada we have a product available to us that works magic in
preventing frozen locks, and in preserving the weather flap. I don't know
of any direct US equivalent. You could use the very lightest machine oil
you can find, like gun oil, but even that might be too thick.

 

It's the little metal door that closes off the key slot when there's no key
in it. Its spring rusts and breaks, then the door falls open, leaving a big
open key slot. Water then gets in and freezes. You need to make sure there
is a very light oil-based lubricant in the lock so as to keep that spring
from rusting (graphite cannot do this).

Water also gets in even when the door isn't broken, although to a lesser
extent. Remember to always wipe the lock clean of water and snow with a
tissue before putting your key in. That alone will help prevent frozen
locks.

Too bad. In Canada we have a product available to us that works magic in
preventing frozen locks, and in preserving the weather flap. I don't know
of any direct US equivalent. You could use the very lightest machine oil
you can find, like gun oil, but even that might be too thick.