How to open a frozen car door? Simple ways to defrost a lock. Defrosting the lock

In cars parked outside, a freezing lock on the door is almost commonplace. How to get to a frozen car? How to preventively protect the door mechanism? How to defrost a lock?

Light rainfall / snowfall and a drop in temperature around zero degrees Celsius are enough for the morning car starting ritual to be significantly extended. Water that accumulates in the vicinity of the lock and door seals, and then freezing water effectively prevents non-invasive entry into the car and causes a lot of nerves (especially when we rush to work). In such a situation, the key to success is not haste, but proper preparation for winter operation of the car and skilful use of available resources. It is also worth knowing a few "tricks" useful in times of crisis and knowing what methods not to use, so as not to harm yourself even more.

First of all, frozen doors must not be forced open under any circumstances. Breaking the handle or the seal is not such a rare phenomenon, and in the case of modern cars it can turn out to be quite expensive. Before we try to properly open the frozen driver's door, check if we can get in through another door or even the trunk lid (its lock is usually better protected against water accumulation, hence it will most likely open). After an uncomfortable "road" through the center of the car, we will finally be able to start the engine and turn on the heating, and thus dissolve any ice remaining on the car body.

How to safely open a frozen door? Defrosting the lock

Getting in through the trunk is not a particularly pleasant activity, especially when it's cold outside or it's raining / snowing. A much simpler and often effective way to open a frozen car in an emergency is to use a dedicated lock defroster. It is worth buying it even before the advent of negative temperatures: preparations in small packages (about 50 ml) cost just a few zlotys and are very convenient in everyday use, because they do not take up much space in a purse or jacket pocket. And that's where you should wear a de-icer - keeping it in a car glove compartment won't let you use it when it's needed.

Before applying the defroster, gently remove the most visible layer of ice on the surface of the handle and the lock with the tip of the key. Remember to lubricate the mechanism after using the defroster several times, because it will wash out the grease and in the long run will limit the free operation of the door lock.

Emergency opening of a frozen car by home methods. Defrosting the lock

The Internet is also full of so-called battery-operated defrosters, or "hot keys", which, under the influence of temperature, remove the ice after inserting it into the lock. Such a device costs about PLN 40-70. We can achieve a similar effect by using an ordinary lighter. It is enough to heat the tip of the key with it (but with feeling, not to "red", so as not to damage the remote control) and place it in the lock for a few seconds to dissolve the ice. The desired effect is sometimes achieved by putting a bottle filled with warm water to the lock (specifically its bottom), but here we have to wait about a minute for the lock to regain full freedom.

Sometimes, difficult entry into the car at low temperatures is not the result of a frozen lock, but of the door seals. Even more so, we shouldn't yank them, because the road to breaking the rubber is short. Before we try out car chemistry, let's try to knock around the door: perhaps this will "let go" the ice responsible for the excessive contact of the gasket with the door. If not, you need to use a windscreen de-icer or a dedicated silicone-based gasket agent, i.e. apply it to the gap between the door and the rest of the car body. When the gaskets “let go”, let's wipe off the fluid so that it doesn't create additional moisture. It is worth protecting the seals prophylactically by lubricating them or spraying them with a preparation for a dozen zlotys or even ordinary glycerine.

What not to do when the car door freezes?

First of all, you should not pour hot water on the entire door (including the glass) or the lock itself. Contact of the heated liquid with the cold glass may result in the glass breaking. However, there is a probability that the lock will actually "let go", but not for long - we have just supplied it with even more water, which will immediately cool down and freeze, and then the lock will lock completely. In addition, as we have already mentioned, do not pull the handle sharply, because we will break it or the door seal. And the most important thing: let's always carry a window / lock de-icer with you, because it will be of no use if it stays in a frozen car!

We recommend our other useful articles in winter:

What to do to make the car run smoothly in low temperatures?

The most common questions about winter car use

How to start a car with cables?

Are winter tires mandatory in Poland?