Freezing winter temperatures can wreak havoc on car door locks, especially if the vehicle is left in the cold for long periods. The last thing you need on a busy morning before work is the hassle of frozen car door locks. For quick thawing solutions, check out the tips on this page.
Test all of the car doors to see if they are frozen. If luck is on your side, enter the car through another door. Once you start your car and turn on the heat, any remaining frozen locks should thaw within minutes.
Heat your key. Sometimes a frozen lock needs a little warmth to get the tumblers moving. Wearing thick gloves, use a match or lighter to heat your key and insert it into the lock. The heat will melt ice inside the lock and allow you to unlock the door.
Keep an empty paper towel or toilet paper tube in your glove compartment during winter months. In the event that your lock freezes, place the tube over the lock and warm it with your breath.
A hair dryer to heat the key or the lock itself is another good option, but having an electrical outlet nearby can be a problem. Consider a battery-powered, portable hair dryer if your car typically isn't within reasonable range of an outlet.
Prevent your locks from freezing by keeping a can of de-icer on hand and spraying locks at the end of the day. Since most frozen door locks are the result of condensation inside the tumblers, de-icer will help keep the condensation from freezing. You can find de-icer in most hardware and automotive stores, and on display during the winter months in gas stations and convenience stores.
