How to Unlock a Frozen Manual Car Door
Frozen car doors are one of the downsides to living in a cold, snowy climate. If you open your car door with a key, you may find that it refuses to turn in a frozen lock. The car door itself may also be sealed shut with ice. To unlock a frozen car door, first remove the visible ice. Then, try to melt the ice within the lock. A lock de-icer, lighter or hair dryer can all work.
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Instructions
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Use an ice scraper. Chip away ice from the edges of the door, if ice has accumulated there.
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Squirt de-icer into the lock. Push the nozzle of the de-icer into the lock, apply it and remove the product. Try the key. Keep your lock de-icer in your purse, briefcase, office or home--not in your car.
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Warm up your car key. Wear gloves to protect your hands from the hot metal. Warm the car key by holding a lighter under it for a few seconds. Insert the key in the lock. Repeat this several times if it does not work at first.
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Use a hair dryer. Plug an extension cord into an exterior outlet and run the cord out to your car to operate the dryer. Set it to a high setting, and aim the hair dryer at the car lock for several minutes before trying the key again.
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Tips & Warnings
Try opening a different door before attempting to open one that is frozen shut. It may be that not all of your car doors are frozen.
Never pour hot liquid in or on the lock. It will re-freeze and make the problem worse.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit car in a snow image by Sergey Kolesnikov from Fotolia.com
