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De-icing car door lock

(21 Posts)
Lisagran Wed 30-Jan-19 09:22:17

Slight panic this morning as I couldn’t get my frozen car door unlocked at first. Eventually I was able to unlock it - phew! I later then looked online for ideas if it happened again. I gather heating the key up is not recommended nowadays as many parts are plastic. Hand sanitiser was suggested (contains alcohol?). Just wondered if anyone had tried that or had other tips?

PamelaJ1 Wed 30-Jan-19 09:39:41

No I don’t but I have a related problem. I’ve always de iced my car by chucking lukewarm water at it.
Now my DH has retired I can’t do that anymore! It’s a heinous crime.?

Fennel Wed 30-Jan-19 09:45:23

I pour boiling water over the lock.
When we lived in the country I used to park the car/van facing east and it got the morning sun.

Katek Wed 30-Jan-19 09:57:37

De icer sprayed on/up the lock, followed by a spray of WD40 or silicone based lubricant into the keyhole as it drives out the moisture.

NEVER use hot/boiling water on windscreen unless you want to replace it. Thermal shock will crack the glass at any point of weakness-stone chip for instance. Oh, and stock up on de icer at the end of the season when they’re giving it away!

Cold Wed 30-Jan-19 10:07:09

I always buy those little containers of lock de-icer spray

Be careful about throwing water around your car as it will freeze into a sheet of ice and cause danger

Lisagran Wed 30-Jan-19 10:27:37

Thanks for tips!

Auntieflo Wed 30-Jan-19 11:26:54

Just wondering what they do in places such as Canada, in winter. Do they have special locks, or tips for unfreezing them?

Auntieflo Wed 30-Jan-19 11:27:18

Apart from those given above!

Fennel Wed 30-Jan-19 11:44:02

Probably keep their car inside a ?centrally heated? garage.

NanTheWiser Wed 30-Jan-19 12:04:17

Yup, had to unfreeze my car door locks this morning too. I dribbled a jug of hot (not boiling) water down the door gap, which did the trick. I had already covered the windscreen in anticipation of a freeze, but this had stuck fast!
Shall be spraying some WD 40 on the locks later.

Alima Wed 30-Jan-19 12:46:16

Warm the key with a lighter. Voila. I always de iced the car windows with a jug of tepid water. Worked every time and never broke a window. Your DH sounds rather anxious Pamela!

Maggiemaybe Wed 30-Jan-19 13:32:49

Re the windscreen, I saw a Facebook video recently of someone clearing theirs by running a freezer bag full of warm water slowly across it. I haven’t tried it yet but it would avoid the problem of water run-off freezing on the ground.

Cold Wed 30-Jan-19 13:55:10

Auntieflo - Just wondering what they do in places such as Canada, in winter. Do they have special locks, or tips for unfreezing them?

I live in Sweden we had a foot of snow on Monday and last night was minus 14C.

I use lock spray for stubborn ice - however all of our cars have engine and interior car heaters. You plug your car into the wall of the house, carport or garage and set the timer so that the heater comes on a few hours before you want to go out. It means that the engine is not totally cold and also means you get into a nice warm car.

Jalima1108 Wed 30-Jan-19 14:41:32

Just wondering what they do in places such as Canada, in winter.
As my sister said - from centrally heated house through the door to heated garage into car, drive to underground car park and up to centrally heated office!

Can't you buy sprays with a tube/pipe attachment to spray a little de-icer into the lock

Jalima1108 Wed 30-Jan-19 14:42:49

Other makes and retailers available:
www.amazon.co.uk/Sonax-1837630-331-541-Lock-Icer/dp/B0024WZYXA/ref=sr_1_14/258-9026580-0399106?keywords=car+lock+deicer&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1548859314&sr=8-14

Lisagran Wed 30-Jan-19 15:38:32

Thanks Jalima

The freezer bag of hot water sounds good for the windscreen too

Auntieflo Wed 30-Jan-19 15:42:59

Cold , that sounds so sensible. Although our car is kept in a garage, it can get quite cold, and when we take ‘her’ out and the temperature is 3°, she beeps pitifully.

PamelaJ1 Wed 30-Jan-19 17:42:40

Actually he’s usually very laid back Alina but he’s convinced he is correct occasionally and this is one of the occasions.
Cold I don’t use much water so no danger of creating an ice slide.

Baggs Wed 30-Jan-19 17:44:30

Squirt of WD40 into the lock works.

Jalima1108 Wed 30-Jan-19 18:45:15

It reminded me of the decongestant that you squirt up your nose Lisagran
Don't get them muddled up!

Lisagran Wed 30-Jan-19 18:53:39

grin