Locks Frozen

[JSPajak]

Well, I couldn't get into my 77 F150 this morning. We had rain which turned to snow and it got a little cold (18) last night.

I did finally manage to get the key into the lock cylinder but I couldn't turn it either way.

I remember the lock freezing up similarly in my 68 Fairlane wagon in the past.

All was not lost as I was able to get into the 00 Excursion for the ride to work.

Any ideas other than leaving the truck unlocked?

[codyingersoll123]

small handheld propane torch on low??? take it easy on the paint though...

I dont know though because Im born and raised here in SWFL where its blue skys and 70's right now....I dont know what cold is...never seen snow...so thats just my 2 cents...its a shot in the dark though

[kuzzins27]

Um, a 97 cent can of lock de-icer from Walmart? I also use this for my padlocks.


In a bind, heat your key with a lighter and insert it for a couple minutes to thaw the mechanism, repeat until key turns.

[IZZYAZ]

Get the lock de-icer. Then when everything is warm and dry, spray in the lock with some silicon spray. Also hit the latch, hinges, etc. I also spray it on a rag and wipe down the weather stripping. Never been iced out of a vehicle since I started doing this.

[northerndave]

if you are in a pinch & don't have time to fetch a can of lock de-icer.... well I was going to say open a bottle of "hhet" or other brand of gasline antifreeze, hold the neck of the bottle firmly & squarely against the key lock & gently squeeze the bottle until you can feel that it has melted the ice & is starting to take the alcohol. (that's what gasline antifreeze is, isopropyl alcohol) so, if you don't have a bottle of gasline antifreeze either, check the medicine cabinet in the house for a regular bottle of rubbing alcohol. it'll cut through the ice, what spills inside of the door shell will evaporate & what you spill on the outside on the paint will not hurt your paint.

[Mil1ion]

In a hurry ?

Just heat the key with a lighter.......insert into lock...let sit for 5-6 seconds.

Reheat key and insert again as many times as it takes attempting to turn it every time.
The heat from the heat will heat the lock.

aside from the lock de-icer..You can also buy a battery operated lock thaw device for $5.00

[northerndave]

forgot about the hot key trick... a classic.

ahh the good ole days.

[m78]

We get a bit of freezing rain here and it gets down around all the door seals so you couldnt open the door if the key did work.
I've taken the forced air construction style heaters to thaw them out.

[Mil1ion]

Canada has tons of In-car heaters for sale in stores to prevent that from happening.

Thing is though ,they have to already be in the car/truck plugged in to the extension cord ready for power 2 hours before you start the vehicle.

[northerndave]

damn near everytime I go to climb into my 77 half ton or my 70 3/4 ton in the winter I have to load test the door handle to get the door open, those froze shut doors really suck.

[m78]

I loaded my E350 van with pressure treated lumber one warm day, which filled the van with humidity. That night the temp dropped and the humidity condensated then froze to everything on the inside.

[tomcasino]

This won't help free a frozen lock but it will help lubricate. Graphite can be purchased at any auto store. It comes in a tube and you just squeeze it into the key hole. Makes any kind of lock work nice and smooth.

[bucks77ford]

Well, aside from the ideas mentioned, a more expensive way would be to build a heated garage.

On the serious side, the lock deicer works well.

[73f100shortbed]

Call in sick from work. Then watch tv till locks thaw.