Locks or doors are frozen - not such a rare problem in the life of an ordinary Russian motorist. After all, severe frosts and difficult weather tests lead to freezing of doors and locks. However, with all the difficulties of such a situation, one should not succumb to worries and worries - it is enough to take into account the recommendations of specialists in order to choose the safest and most effective means for a quick solution to the problem.
Frozen locks or doors - comparison of effective solutions from experts
Many motorists can say with confidence that in the winter before leaving, first of all, you need to warm up the engine. But practice speaks of something completely different - engine warming up in winter often fades into the background. After all, first the motorist still needs to get into his car. A similar problem especially relevant in conditions typical for our country of severe frosts, when the lock and car doors can freeze.
Calls or doors are frozen - do not succumb to unnecessary worries
We often heard from different motorists that if the locks and doors are frozen, the situation does not present any problem. The problem is solved extremely quickly and easily. But in fact, such a "theory" does not work - you need to show diligence and knowledge to get inside the car itself. For the desired result, when the locks in the car are frozen, it is necessary to take into account the advice of specialists. Only under this condition can you be sure of opening the car doors without negative consequences for its reliability and beauty.
If the doors in the car are frozen - how not to act
For example, many, when opening a car lock, decide to fill it with a special liquid - it is widely known as "anti-freeze". She gained wide popularity among drivers. This recognition can be easily explained given the fail-safe effect. Just a few minutes are enough to get rid of the problem and find yourself in the cabin of your car.
However, few people want to think about the possible consequences of using such a "non-freeze". Since it contains isopropyl alcoholwhich can interfere with the functioning of the door lock. The consequences of such measures can be sad - up to the complete breakdown of the castle. Hardly anyone will be pleased with the prospect of additional costs for the purchase of a new lock and its replacement.
Why do different products pose a threat to frozen doors?
Also pretty effective remedy in the fight against freezing of locks, the use of compounds becomes the main active ingredient in which kerosene acts. However, such a tool is not inferior to "anti-freeze" not only in terms of efficiency, but also in terms of harmful effects on the lock. It is possible to "unfreeze" the castle rather quickly, but nevertheless, then these funds can themselves provoke its freezing.
Effective and safe ways to open frozen car doors
According to experts, the safest way to combat freezing of the castle is to use pure medical alcohol. Under the influence of alcohol, the lock is instantly freed from the existing ice, without negative consequences for the state of the mechanism itself.
But it is worthwhile to understand - not only locks, but also the door itself, can encounter freezing. Sometimes they freeze together, which makes life much harder for motorists. Therefore, to solve the problem here, you also need to take into account certain nuances, which we will talk about in more detail.
Frozen doors are safe remedies
After solving the problem with frozen locks, go directly to the doors. In this case, the main thing to remember is that it will be strictly forbidden to apply excessive force. After all, the result of such "excesses" may be a torn off rubber seal on the door - or you can tear off the door handle, but never open it.
If the car door is frozen without opening, try to press it gently several times. Thanks to such simple manipulations, it will be possible to crumble the ice a little under the influence of its own power - opening the car door without much difficulty.
We have reviewed the main ways to successfully combat freezing of car locks and doors. But it is also necessary to consider ways to effectively prevent freezing. It is better to prevent a problem than to urgently deal with it, risking not only your time, but also the condition of the car.
Ways to prevent freezing of car locks and doors
Freezing of the lock is caused by moisture ingress. If you notice the first "symptoms" of freezing of the castle, the car should be placed in a warm box for a couple of hours. Such a simple method will allow you to get rid of the moisture accumulated on the lock - after all, it evaporates quite quickly at temperatures above zero.
Effective ways to prevent freezing of car locks and doors
Also, it does not present serious difficulties and full-fledged prevention of freezing. car doors... It is enough to take care that moisture does not get on the door seals. This problem can usually occur when cleaning the car from snow. Therefore, show your accuracy and care during this procedure.
If you have not been able to prevent snow from getting inside the machine, while wetting the seals, try to keep the door open until the moisture freezes. A similar approach is preferable when washing the car in the cool season. Moisture freezes, after which you can close the door. The resulting ice will crack and fall off by itself without endangering the lock or car door.
For absolute confidence in the reliability of your actions - when closing, you can press the handle several times, as if opening a frozen door. Note also that this method is great for combating freezing of the car trunk.
If the driver's door is frozen and does not want to open, you can try to open the other doors one by one. In rare cases, they will all be blocked, usually passenger seats make it possible to get inside the cabin. Most often this is the most "unclaimed" door, so you can start with it. If you managed to open at least one door, it's a matter of time - to warm up the car and free all the others. When you turn on the stove, you can also get rid of the problem with frozen windows.
Method number 2:
Most often, it is not the lock mechanism itself that freezes, but the rubber seal. Moisture can get between it, which acts as "glue". When opening, you should not pull the door towards you, because you can simply rip off the seal. The method of pressing the door tightly (with all possible forces and stops) works better. This can break the frozen ice and make it easier to open the door.
Method number 3:
In particularly difficult cases open a frozen car door warm water will help. For this, do not use boiling water (you can damage the seal, and the coating itself). It is not necessary to spill the lock, but the gaps between the doors and the car body.
The best alternative to water would be special de-icing mixtures available from the store. This will significantly shorten the opening process. Instead, glass washer fluid that contains ethyl alcohol is also suitable. It is better to buy a suitable product in the form of a spray and with a thin nozzle. When leaving the car, do not forget it in the cabin, because this will make the purchase pointless.
Method number 4:
Warming up with warm air is not always possible, but this method can be used if necessary. For this, a building or home hair dryer is suitable, preferably with air supply temperature control. You should not choose too powerful a mode, because such processing can damage the paintwork.
Alternatively, you can warm up the lock with a hose connected to the exhaust pipe of another machine. You can also use a container of hot water kept near the castle. You can warm up the key with a lighter and then insert the lock. You cannot directly heat the castle itself with an open fire, because this will damage the coating.
Method number 5:
If the door lock is jammed, you can open it using pure alcohol. Lubricants, especially those based on kerosene, are not recommended. In the future, the residues of the substance will absorb moisture, which will lead to the appearance of stable problems with opening the door.
Method number 6:
Buying a special defrosting keychain will help avoid problems with regular freezing of the castle. The design has a thin probe that is inserted into the lock hole. It heats up to 150-200 degrees and allows you to warm up the lock from the inside. You can buy such a miracle device in specialized stores or on sites on the Internet.
Prevention methods
In order to protect yourself from unnecessary hassle in the future, it is better to prepare in advance for winter season... The main ways to prevent the situation if the doors in the car are frozen, what to do for this is discussed below.
Preventive actions:
- Do not wash your car on the eve of a cold snap. If necessary, it is better to use the services of professional equipment, in which the car is also dried.
- Provide " iron horse»At least a temporary shelter in case of frost in a garage or covered parking. Regular problematic door openings will inevitably affect the condition of your car and lead to rapid wear of the lock mechanisms.
- Do not allow moisture to enter the door seal. If this happens, it is better to give it time to dry or wipe the rubber with a rag.
- A special silicone spray will help prevent the door seal from freezing. For this, processing is carried out several times per season. If the doors begin to open with force, the spray should be reapplied.
- Most often, the doors freeze due to the temperature difference between the street and the warm interior. It's pretty easy to avoid this. When leaving the car, it is worth opening all the doors for a while. After the temperature inside the cabin equals the ambient temperature, the car is no longer threatened with freezing.
- To protect the castle, it is worth purchasing a special winter lubricant. Regular use will help avoid opening problems.
Unfreezing a car door lock in frost is a painstaking task. This usually happens at the most inopportune moment and with a catastrophic lack of time. Our useful tips will help to quickly cope with the problem, as well as prevent freezing of mechanisms in the future. Armed with the right tools at hand, you can get into the car faster without damaging the closing mechanism.
As always, such a nuisance occurs at the most inopportune moment: you are late for work, for an important meeting or at the station, and the frozen doors of the car completely refuse to let you into the cabin. If you want to know what to do in this case, then you can listen to our simple, but quite effective advice.
1. Try an alternative way to enter the salon. First, try to open any other car door (including the luggage door) through which you can get inside.
Remember that frozen doors are easier and more convenient to open from the inside. If the doors from the inside also do not lend themselves, then it will be useful to turn on the interior heater on full power and wait a bit until they thaw.
2. Use de-icing liquid wrench grease... Today, this is probably the most popular way to open a frozen castle. "Liquid Key" can be purchased at almost any store that sells automotive chemicals and spare parts.
Just do not make one of the most common mistakes made by short-sighted motorists: do not store anti-icing fluid in the glove compartment of a car. In frosty months, a bottle with a "liquid key" has a place on a garage shelf or in your everyday purse.
3. Try to melt the ice. If it is the larva of the lock that froze, then you can unlock it by inserting a key previously heated on an open flame of a pocket lighter. By inserting the heated key several times into the keyhole, you will gradually melt the ice that has blocked the lock.
If it is possible to connect an electric hairdryer to the network, then a jet of hot air directed at the frozen area will help you effectively solve the problem. You can also use the rechargeable version of the household or building hair dryer.
Some experienced car enthusiasts claim that they easily melt ice by leaning their warm fingers against it for a few minutes. Just do not try to solve the problem by dousing the lock or injecting hot water into it: it will not only freeze quickly itself, but will also increase the area where the car door is seized by ice in the future.
4. Remove ice around the door. Using a special ice and snow scraper, gently beat off and remove the ice crust that has accumulated around the car door. If the scraper has been recklessly forgotten inside the cabin, then any object with sufficiently thin and strong edges will do. Just be careful not to damage the paint on the body and the seal.
5. Use. Conventional winter washer for windshield car can be effectively used to remove ice. The liquid should be carefully and slowly poured over the frozen edges of the door, using any suitable bottle with a narrow spout for this. After a while, the door should be free.
6. Heat the door. As with a frozen lock, you can melt frozen door edges with a jet of hot air emitted from any suitable electrical household appliance (hairdryer, fan heater, etc.). In this case, you should also not be too zealous so as not to damage the layer of car paint.
As always, carrying out various preventive measures will help eliminate even the theoretical possibility of freezing of car doors and locks. In the arsenal of every car owner who practices driving in winter, there should be.
Winter is a difficult time of the year for a car and its owner. Many people face such a problem as freezing of locks and doors near the car. Taking care of their prevention in winter period should be constant. The car enthusiast should be familiar with the methods of opening a frozen door or car lock. Otherwise, he cannot avoid troubles and spoiled mood on the road.
Imagine that you are skiing in the forest. Time moves towards evening. Having dashed off, you go to the car, try to open the doors with the key, but it didn't work. The lock is frozen, and the key does not turn in any way. The picture is not funny ...
Prevention of freezing of car locks and doors.
In order not to get into a similar situation in winter, take the following preventive measures:
Apply a few drops to the key engine oil or brake fluid... Activate the lock several times. Try to get enough lubricant. Available for sale special liquid from freezing - WD-40. You can grease it, and if the lock is still grabbed, then the "vedashka" will defrost it.
Manufacturers write that such a bottle should be in the glove compartment of a car.
Nothing like this! You should always have a bottle of liquid with you - in your pocket! Then he will be able to help you out in an unexpected situation.
If there is a plug with a lock on the gas tank of your car, lubricate it too. Otherwise, you will be left with an empty tank until the first thaws.
Door seals also require lubrication, for this they use:
- Silicone - For example: a shoe polish impregnated with silicone. Rub the seals with it until shiny.
- Glycerin (regular pharmaceutical).
- Regular baby cream.
- Solid oil. It protects well from freezing, but if it gets on clothes, it can stain it.
After washing the car from freezing locks and doors, do the following:
With the engine and the stove running, open the trunk and all doors in the car. Let the machine sit for a few minutes. This is necessary in order to freeze moisture on the seals and locks.
Open and close all locks and doors several times. The resulting ice will crack and fall off. This means that the next day you will get into your car without any problems.
An effective method of blowing out door seals and locks with air under pressure, which is used to inflate tires. Then immediately lubricate with anti-freeze liquid.
However, let's remember about a car in a dark forest with an icy castle. How to get out of an unpleasant situation?
5 ways to open a frozen car door lock
1) Heat the key with a flame. Hot insert it into the lock. Hold it there for a while. Try to open. Repeat this procedure several times. Usually the result is positive.
2) Open the hood. Soak the key in the brake fluid from the reservoir brake system, or in the "non-freeze", which is in the washer reservoir. Insert the key into the lock and work with it. Get the ice to dissolve.
3) The hair dryer will ideally warm the lock or the frozen door. But in the forest, he is not your assistant.
4) Pure alcohol generates heat when used. Melting ice in the castle will also be within his power.
5) You can warm up the lock with the gases of another car, if, of course, its owner gives the go-ahead. Put on the hose suitable size on exhaust pipe another car. Lean the other end of the hose against the lock of your car. Thus, the heat of the gases will do its job.
After you have managed to solve the problem with the lock, the frozen door may not open. If this happens, gently tap and press on it. Then try to open it again. Most likely you will succeed.
Do everything carefully so as not to damage the door handle and tear out the seals.
What you should NOT do:
- Never pour boiling water over the lock and door! Otherwise, the door paint will turn into rags. The thin skin will swell and water will enter the cracks. Soon it will freeze, but you will not be able to get out of the car.
- Do not try to breathe into the castle larva! On freezing metal, warm and very humid air forms an ice plug. It will be difficult to melt it.
- Do not use liquids that contain kerosene. The castle will be able to open, but in the future it will freeze again. This is due to the absorption of moisture from the environment.
And yet, there is a more rational solution in the fight against freezing locks:
Install on car central locking... Then, by radio command from the remote control, the car door will always be ready to swing open for its owner.
In winter, the car requires special attention. An experienced chauffeur anticipates problems in his car. He does his best to prevent them on the road.
Bon Voyage!
