lil305gta

What can I do to prevent my door locks from freezing. I was just recently assigned to the Netherlands and it is cold as h@$#. Any advice would be useful.

AutoRoc

Carry in your coat pocket one of those small pressurized lock de-icer things. They're a lifesaver if you're in a rush and all of a sudden....yer locks are frozen. Also...if the situation ever gets bad enough, unlock the passenger side, it might not be frozen. And then there is unlocking the hatch and climbing in.

bubba353z

I'd also suggest a regular shot of WD-40 or white lithium grease (or something similar). You want to displace as much moisture as possible. A little WD-40 (on a rag) to wipe down the weather stripping will help keep the whole door from sticking to the frame.

It was -2 last night, so I feel your pain......

speedingpenguin

also, just hold the end of the key over a lighter for a few seconds, i've read that can help sometimes.....just be careful if you've got VATS or whatever, dunno if the little plastic **** thingy would melt...haha

LandryP

Climbed in through the hatch Today in Massachusetts even though I had sprayed the jams, latches, locks and stripping with WD 40 last week. Couple years ago I was driving a rotted 86 Camaro in the winter and pretty much tore the door skin off the car when the door froze shut. I don't think there is a good way to stop it aside from parking the car in a heated garage

Kwiksilverz28

Sorry, I can't resist......

Move somewhere it doesn't get to -2. I kill me......

bubba353z

Hmmm, any suggestions? I'll take a few -2 days over 100 deg and 100% humidity in the summer

Kwiksilverz28

I lived in NH and NY for 25 years. I left and will never look back. The discussion could go on for hours, but I worked on an ambulance in the snow for 13 years, and had frostbite more times than I ever should have.... So, no thanks! I will sweat a little!

Really, WD40 and white grease are the best ideas....

bubba353z

I'd say you've earned a little sunshine and warm weather....

IROC-T

Californees' the place you want to be,so pack up your car and move to Beverly....hills that is,movie star,swimmin' pools.....


Graphite might help in the locks.

bubba353z

After an ice storm (Wed) dropped about two inches of ice on anyone parked outside, I'm starting to think about Florida..... Fortunately, my daily driver was parked in the garage and the Z is in storage for the winter.

It also got me thinking about car covers - to try and keep the ice from forming a cocoon around cars kept outdoors. This might help w/ frozen locks. Anyone have any input? I'd be afraid that the moisture would get under the cover, and freeze it to the paint. Anyone with a repainted car have problems with it lifting the paint?

Kwiksilverz28

I have never personally had experience, but the guru that repainted part of my 98 after vandalism told me not to use car covers. Cotton sheets, or if you have to use a cover for some reason (like when I paint other stuff in my garage and the car is parked in the driveway to keep overspray off), but VERY short term.

Keep the locks lubed up, and if the little spring door fails, replace the lock. They are not really that expensive....

bubba353z

I used a cover on one of my cars, when we had an ice storm (in Charlotte NC of all places) - no problems, but it was original paint. It was one of the inexpensive outdoor types (nylon I think), but it didn't hurt anything - even when it stuck to the car.

I'm thinking that a resprayed car may not have the adhesion that the original paint has - I know that every car I've had repainted chipped more easily than original paint. I figured the frozen cover will lift the new paint.

I wouldn't use a cover on a showcar, unless it was stored inside. They can chaffe the paint, if the wind is blowing (same reason I didn't use a bra, when they were all the rage). That's why you see most cars on open trailers w/o a cover. I do think for a daily driver / beater, a cover is better than what some of the unfortunate souls experienced in Columbus in the past week. I guess it just depends on your needs.

IROC-T

A few years back I remember seeing an elcetric thing(battery) shaped like a key ,that you could put in the keyhole and push the botton and supposedly thaw the lock. Don't know if they worked,or who sold them,maybe look in a JC Whitney catologe.

1981zzz

spray some white lithium grese in the locks and the door latches it stops the water from staing on the parts it repels it i did it to mt car no freezing locks





sold 81 z bought 86 iroc sold now have 87 jeep cheroke 2 wheel drive with 1989 5.0 mustang engine and tranny goes like hell will buy another z soon