5 Ways to Fix a Frozen Car Door Lock
Anaheim doesn't see much frost, but many locals drive up to Big Bear, Mammoth or other mountain areas in winter. A car door lock can freeze overnight in the cold, and forcing it is a quick way to break a key. Here are safe ways to thaw it.
1. Hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol
Products containing isopropyl alcohol lower the freezing point of water. Put a little on the key blade, insert it gently and wait a moment before trying to turn it. Never force the key.
2. A commercial de-icer
Lock de-icer sprays are made for this job and often include a lubricant. Spray a short burst into the keyhole, wait, then try the key. Keep a can in the glove box... or better, in your bag, since the glove box is inside the frozen car.
3. Gentle heat on the key
Warm the key's metal blade with a lighter or match for a few seconds, then insert it and let the heat transfer. Hold the key with a glove, never heat the plastic head (it contains the chip and can melt), and never point a flame at the car.
4. Warm your hands, not the paint
Cupping your hands around the lock and breathing through a straw onto it can melt thin ice. It's slow, but safe. Don't pour hot water on the door: it can crack cold glass and will refreeze in the lock.
5. Clear the seals
Sometimes it's the rubber door seal that is frozen, not the lock. Use an ice scraper around the edges of the door and push firmly on the door to break the seal before pulling the handle.
What not to do
- Don't force the key; frozen pins resist and the key can snap.
- Don't pull hard on a frozen handle; the internal linkage can break.
- Don't use a hair dryer on a long extension cord in wet snow.
When to call a locksmith
If a key breaks off in the lock, the lock is damaged, or the car still won't open after thawing, a car locksmith can extract the key, open the car and cut a replacement. In Anaheim, call 714-660-0112 or see our automotive locksmith service.
