Happy new year all, (bit belated I know). the crappy piece if Italian machinery I use everyday to get to my local train station keeps freexing up in
the weather at the moment.
The door locks freeze shut. Any ideas for keeping them working during this cold weather.
Cheers
Craig
Spray them with a graphite based lubricant (from your local motor factors) rather than oil.
hugh
fit a remote central lock kit ?
Maybe it's something about Italian cars, my Punto keeps doing the same and the doors freeze shut too... never had the problem in 10 years of
owning the Golf AFAIK.
A kettle's worth of (tap only!) hot water is enough to unfreeze the door seal and lock I've found.
In fact, in my family we have our own temperature scale known as the 'kettle' scale. As in, how many kettle's worth of tap hot water
did it take to defrost the windows etc. if it's 3 then it's a super cold morning!!!
Cheers,
James
Quite a few years ago we were out with the guns and after a few hours went back to the car.
Both of us had a p1ss before we got back.
Sods law the locks were froze and no p1ss left to sort the problem 
The picture must have been a sight two blokes stood either side of the car, trying not to look at each other, trying to get a few drops out
You can buy little lock de-icer aerosols - they squirt a shot of de-icer combined with a bit of graphite.
Halfrauds
de-icer
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
Quite a few years ago we were out with the guns and after a few hours went back to the car.
Both of us had a p1ss before we got back.
Sods law the locks were froze and no p1ss left to sort the problem
The picture must have been a sight two blokes stood either side of the car, trying not to look at each other, trying to get a few drops out
Go to the station in the seven - no door locks to freeze up
Thanks folks,
I will try the door de-icer stuff.
cheers
Craig
Good load of lube in them. Mine freezes open. Right pain when i go to get in the locks wont flick down again so i cant shut the door!!
If you use water and it doesnt dry youl have the same trouble the next day.
Also DONT use hot water!!
I used to blow through them to ease them, always remember to try this before the p!ss though. Lots of WD once you get them moving.
had this problem this morning on the wifes car.
I just heated up the key with a lighter, shoved it in the lock and in about 5 seconds it all freed up. simples
quote:
Originally posted by skinned knuckles
had this problem this morning on the wifes car.
I just heated up the key with a lighter, shoved it in the lock and in about 5 seconds it all freed up. simples
I wouldnt use Hot Water. Whilst it does solve the problem, alll you are doing is putting more water in the lock which freezes again.
Best to use water repelling grease / graphite / lock de-icer. Also the grease helps prevent corrosion within the lock, and lubes the parts.
Same reason I would not use hot water to defrost the windscreen. you can end up cracking it. I just use a hard plastic scraper. cheaper than de-icer,
and environmentally friendly too.
Cheapo deicer has a higher water content, and often re-freezes if its really cold.
The scraper works at all temps, and does not re-freeze.
I always start the car first. If it Dont start, then you aint going anywhere, and dont need to waste time and energy on scraping the windows
my door froze open at 7am last week. not fun. greased up all the latches, sprayed (tried to fill...) the lock with wd40 and it seems to be fine now
Its all about central locking!
Or you just leave the doors open, since nobody is going to take the (and i quote) "crappy piece if Italian machinery".
I also had to use a lighter on my girlfriends key yesterday and that worked a treat as a quick fix .
I've been using warm water on my windscreen for the last 17 years and never cracked a screen yet,i suppose if you boiled the kettle and used
boiling water that might crack it 
I feel all of your pain. All winter, every winter.
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
I used to blow through them to ease them, always remember to try this before the p!ss though.