How to Prevent Frozen Car Locks
The smallest amount of moisture in your car door lock and a few hours of below-freezing temperatures can leave you unable to get into your vehicle. This can not only be an inconvenience, but could leave you locked out of your car in places where you are safer being able to get inside. You can prevent frozen car locks easily by simply lubricating all the locks on your vehicle once a year. While you are taking care of your locks, there is also another simple solution to prevent the door itself from freezing shut.
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Things You'll Need
- Graphite lock lubricant (tube or spray)
- Silicon spray lubricant (if desired)
Instructions
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1
Remove the cap from your tube of graphite lock lubricant. If you purchased a spray can of graphite, stick one end of the small straw into the nozzle so the straw sticks out at a 90-degree angle from the can.
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2
Insert the tip of the tube (or tip of the straw) into the keyhole of the lock. You do not need to stick it in very far, just enough to get the tip in. If you push it in too far you will not get the graphite lubricant all the way through the lock, but will force it all into the very back of the cylinder which will not help prevent your lock from freezing.
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3
Spray the graphite into the lock. Squeeze the tube once, or press down and then release the nozzle of the spray can quickly. You only need a short blast of graphite to lubricate the lock.
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4
Remove the tip of the graphite lock lubricant tube or spray straw from the lock and go on to the next lock on the vehicle and repeat the process.
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Tips & Warnings
The weather stripping around the door and the door jamb can also freeze together and prevent you from opening your door. Spray some silicone lubricant on the weather stripping to prevent this from happening.
Do not use graphite often in a lock. Once a year is enough, or the graphite can build up and jam the lock.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit winter image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
