Keeping Lock Cylinders from Freezing (OT)

[JerseyHarold]

Our '98 Lumina has always had an issue of the front door lock cylinders freezing under about 30 degrees. I've tried soaking the innards with WD-40, but it doesn't help. The key goes in halfway and stops, or goes in all the way and the cylinder won't turn. We resorted to holding the key with pliers and heating it with a Bic lighter, or leaving the car unlocked sometimes.

Our son recently got his license and takes the car to High School several days a week, and we don't want him getting locked out.

What other things can I do to stop the locks from freezing?

[55 Fargo]

Lock de-icer spray, or methyl hydrate in small squirt bottle.

A lot of the lock de-icer sold in Canada seems to be part methyl hydrate and WD 40

Try this link, sold at Canadian Tire in Canada, who sells this in the US of A

http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/0381130P/no-motomaster-lock-lube-de-icer-reviews/reviews.htm

Edited December 3, 2010 by Rockwood

[greg g]

Try to find a graphite based lube. Use some pb blaster, then clean it out with some alcohal based solvent then lube it withthe graphite.

[JerseyHarold]

Lock de-icer spray, or methyl hydrate in small squirt bottle.

A lot of the lock de-icer sold in Canada seems to be part methyl hydrate and WD 40

Try this link, sold at Canadian Tire in Canada, who sells this in the US of A

http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/0381130P/no-motomaster-lock-lube-de-icer-reviews/reviews.htm

I Googled Motomaster Lock Deicer and it looks like it's only sold in Canada.

Will PB Blaster followed by BrakeKleen, as suggested by Greg, harm any plastic linkage clips on the lock rods? I guess I can experiment on the passenger's side door since it's smashed anyway.

[BobT-47P15]

I wonder if the brake stuff will damage paint.

[55 Fargo]

I Googled Motomaster Lock Deicer and it looks like it's only sold in Canada.

Will PB Blaster followed by BrakeKleen, as suggested by Greg, harm any plastic linkage clips on the lock rods? I guess I can experiment on the passenger's side door since it's smashed anyway.

Use a little a squirt bottle with methyl hydrate or alcohol, if there is frost or ice in the locks......

[JerseyHarold]

I wonder if the brake stuff will damage paint.

That's my concern as well. The right front door is smashed (but everything still works) so it won't hurt to experiment.

[greg g]

I didn't say brakleen, I mentioned alcohol.

[JerseyHarold]

I didn't say brakleen, I mentioned alcohol.

You're right. Sorry about mis-quoting.

[PatS....]

I used to use winter windshield washer fluid, or 50/50 engine antifreeze on the door rubbers and the locks when I would wash the car in winter to prevent the doors freezing shut and the locks from freezing. I used an old oil can cleaned out to get the fluid into the locks.

[old stovebolt]

Our '98 Lumina has always had an issue of the front door lock cylinders freezing under about 30 degrees. I've tried soaking the innards with WD-40, but it doesn't help. The key goes in halfway and stops, or goes in all the way and the cylinder won't turn. We resorted to holding the key with pliers and heating it with a Bic lighter, or leaving the car unlocked sometimes.

Our son recently got his license and takes the car to High School several days a week, and we don't want him getting locked out.

What other things can I do to stop the locks from freezing?

Try putting a small piece of tape over the lock cylinder opening. I realize the cylinder has a "trap door" cover, but it may not be fully closing, thus allowing some aspect of weather / cold to migrate into the lock. A piece of 10 mil

vinyl wrap tape or even duct tape might work.

[55 Fargo]

Here is the suff I like best, sold By Canadian Tire Stores in Canada....

[thrashingcows]

I use "Fluid Film" spray.

I use the little tube to go into the lock cylinder. The push all the way to the back and start spraying as I pull it out. Never had a problem with locks freezing up with this stuff inside. You will get some on your key for a while, but after a few weeks it will clear up.

[55 Fargo]

Although the left coast is damp in winter, you Guys don't get the real cold we get.

A lot of times, if you wash your cars, and its below 0 f the same night, sometimes locks freeze up, or if moisture is getting into the cylinder or something, then it's cold out, maybe the car was in the garage at or near 32 f, then it freezes up.

I'm "just saying"......

[1955 plymouth]

I use a product referred to as dri-slide or bike aid. it is a graphite based lube with a fluid carrier like wd-40 type fluid, it dissipates and the graphite is left behind. Motorcycle stores carry this product, works for all kinds of cables, hinges, locks,...etc...

here is a link to a site selling the stuff.

http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB='2814-00'

[Don Coatney]

Sorry but this thread reminds me of this story.

If you didn't see this on the Tonight show, I hope you're sitting

down when you read it. This is probably the funniest date story ever, first

date or not! We've all had bad dates, but this one takes the cake.

Jay Leno went into the audience to find the most embarrassing first

date that a woman ever had. The winner described her worst first date

experience. There was absolutely no question as to why her tale took the prize!

She said it was midwinter, snowing and quite cold, and the guy had

taken her skiing in the mountains outside Salt Lake City, UT. It was a day

trip (no overnight). They were strangers after all, and truly had never met

before. The outing was fun, but relatively uneventful until they were headed

home late that afternoon.

They were driving back down the mountain, when she gradually began

to realize that she shouldn't have had the extra latte. They were about an

hour away from anywhere with a rest room and in the middle of nowhere! Her

companion suggested she try to hold it, which she did for a while.

Unfortunately, because of the heavy snow and slow going, there came a point where she told

him that he'd better stop and let her go beside the road, or it would be the

front seat of his car.

They stopped and she quickly crawled out of the car, yanked her

pants down and started. In the deep snow she didn't have good footing, so she

let her butt rest against the rear fender to steady herself. Her companion

stood on the side of the car watching for traffic, and indeed was a gentleman

and refrained from peeking. All she could think about was the relief she felt

despite the rather embarrassing nature of the

situation.

Upon finishing however, she soon became aware of another

sensation. As she bent to pull up her pants, the young lady discovered her buttocks

were firmly glued against the car's fender. Thoughts of tongues frozen to poles

immediately came to mind as she tried to disengage her flesh from the icy

metal. It was quickly apparent she had a brand new problem due to the extreme

cold.

Horrified by her plight and yet aware of the humor of the moment,

she answered her date's concerns about "what is taking so long" with a reply

that she was "freezing her butt off and in need of some assistance!" He came

around the car as she tried to cover herself with her sweater and then, as

she looked imploringly into his eyes, he burst out laughing. She too, got the

giggles and when they finally managed to compose themselves, they assessed her

dilemma. Obviously, as hysterical as the situation was, they also were f

aced with a real problem. Both agreed it would take something hot to free her

chilly cheeks from the grip of the icy metal!

Thinking about what had gotten her into the predicament in the

first place, both quickly realized that there was only one way to get her free.

So as she looked the other way, her first-time date proceeded to unzip his

pants and pee her butt off the fender.

As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show

prize hands down, or maybe it should be "pants down." And you thought your

first date was embarrassing. Jay Leno's comment,"This gives a whole new meaning

to being pissed

off."

[kbuhagiar]

Sorry but this thread reminds me of this story.

If you didn't see this on the Tonight show, I hope you're sitting

down when you read it. This is probably the funniest date story ever, first

date or not! We've all had bad dates, but this one takes the cake.

(snip)

As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show

prize hands down, or maybe it should be "pants down." And you thought your

first date was embarrassing. Jay Leno's comment,"This gives a whole new meaning to being pissed off."

What, no second date?

[Young Ed]

I remember seeing that episode of Leno. Not sure I remember him saying pissed off-that might have gotten added as the story was told and retold. But If I remember correctly the couple had gotten married and were seated together in the audience.

[Plymouthy Adams]

frozen locks..move to a warmer climate...worked for me..

[JerseyHarold]

frozen locks..move to a warmer climate...worked for me..

One of these years....