Ironically, I received a letter in the mail today from my cousin in Ohio, age 22. She has a 94 Mustang 3.8 V6. She asked me, what can she do to keep her doors from freezing? What is happening, is when the car sits outside during freezing weather, the door is froze against the strike and latch mechinism. The lock will turn, but the doors are frozen on the latch area. Then sometimes the lock is froze and will not turn? Now i remember, using a lighter to heat the key, and sometimes that would help. But it has been 20+ years since I've spent a winter in the snowbelt areas of the USA. Since several of you here live in the cold part of the country, I'd rather ask my friends here who know what works and what doesn't when it comes to frozen door locks? Any tips, I will print the first 10 posts and send them to my cousin. Thanks guys! ED
PS I remember thawing a frozen lock with a hair dryer. However, if your car has sat in a parking lot all day, during a snowfall and frigid temps, then what do you do?

 

Does Wisconsin count as snow country. The best way to get in is to do a bit of prep before and during freezing weather. I use silicone spray on the door rubber to keep it from freezing the door shut, keep the latch mechanism well oiled and also give it a shot of WD-40 to keep the water off it. I also use the WD-40 in the lock key slot to keep the water from settling there and freezing. Someone else here said the WD-40 thing affected their paint. I make sure I wipe any excess off the paint and have never had that problem. I do all this prep at the begining of the snow season and every 3 weeks or so or after having the car/truck washed.

 

Make sure to keep a lock de-icer in her purse. Little spray can with a straw tip, full of alcohol and lubricant. Spray in the lock, will open it garunteed. As for the freezing on the latch, do as said above, spary rubber with silicone, and mechanism with WD-40

 

I would not use an oil based lube in a lock where it gets really cold. Oil can freeze too. Use a graphite lock spray. The carrier evaporates and leaves just graphite which doesn't freeze. In heavy freeze you don't want a lot of grease on the mechanism or the latches. Clean and dry is better than greased up in this case.

Almost forgot the idea about silicone spray on the door rubbers. YOu could also use a silicone grease dressing, I think they make one specifically for auto doors, I think I have some but can't get to it right now.

My bigger problem is Ice freezing over the joints bbetween the door and the body.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

My dad has done the things that midlf and I have said and never had an issue. He lived in Alaska for 10 years, Duluth Minnesota for 3 and Wisconsin for 10 before moving to St. Paul

 

All good advice. Silicone on weatherstripping and graphite is best for locks. I have a liquid graphite specially designed for locks. Can't remember where I got it. I used to carry the alcohol lock deicer, when I had a car that was prone to frozen locks. I think the deicer is only temporary.. it actually can wash lubricant off the mechanisims making it easier to freeze up next time. If you do need to use it make sure to get some graphite in there after.

 

I agree with Jim Henderson that graphite is the best lock lubricant and I also would not want an oil in the lock. That is why I use the WD-40. It sure isn't really an oil. It leaves just enough film to chase the water without being thick enough to stiffen up. If I could find a way to keep all parts clean and dry I would go for it. Second best is covered with a film that repels water. The biggest concern with locks for me has been the cover plate mechasim freezin up and not letting the key into the lock. The WD-40 takes care of that. WD-40 is basically garbage except for what it was designed for, Water Displacement.

re: door/body gaps freezing up. Years ago the spouse was driving around in freezing rain and couldn't get the doors or windows to open from the inside. She drove over to the garage she usually went to and they could not get the doors open from the outside. They eventually put the car on the rack nearest the overhead Modine heater and lifted her up into the heated air blast. Door gaps were frozen along with the latches. Maybe that's why she married me, cause I can set her car up so she can always get into, or out of, it.

 

Definitely go with the graphite for the frozen locks. I use one called Lock-Ease. It comes in a small aerosal can. Spray Silicone also helps on the rubber door seals,etc as it repels water. I haven't had good luck with WD-40, unless you use it more often. The graphite seems to last longer. I think I got the Lock-Ease at an Auto-Zone or maybe PepBoys, can't remember.

 

I've found that PB Blaster's TDL (Teflon Dry Lube) Spray is an excellent product for lubing door locks and hinges. It uses a penetrating carrier that evaporates completely, leaving only a film of teflon behind. I get it at Pep Boys. Great stuff whenever/wherever a dry lube is in order.