ok, so my tintop is one without remote control or central locking etc... for the last 2 days i have found the door lock jamming, firstly preventing me getting the key inside the lock and once in, not allowing me to turn the key without severe force which risks me breaking the key. so...

any suggestions on how to prevent this from happening? i cant park it in a garage and i dont know where i stand with using a de-icer twice a day in the locks. will it damage them in any way in the long term? is there anything i can spray in that will prevent rather than resolve the problem?

thank you all.

WD40 or 3in1. They should keep the moisture out thats freezing and stopping the lock/key working.

maybeone of these heated key thingy jobs, never used one so may be a piule of crap.

linky

Warm your key before you go out?
(as well as the oil the lock suggestion...)

I used to use a very tiny amount of WD40 then put some Vaseline in using the key.

If the latch is frozen --- usually in the open position only application of heat works

Best way to defrost a car in the driveway is use a hair dryer --- I have an external mains socket for this just hang the hairdryer inside for ten minutes.

To get the WD40 right inside the lock use the small diameter tube that is supplied with some cans.

To get the WD40 right inside the lock use the small diameter tube that is supplied with some cans.

Years ago I had a mini which I was doing tarmac rallies in. It snowed really heavy one day so I took the Mini to work. I had to give my boss a lift home but needed to stop for petrol on the way - we both got out of the car and when we tried to get back in it had frozen solid! Before I had a chance to think, he'd peed on the locks and we were in! It was quite strange but it worked :-)

Wyn

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Originally posted by lsdweb
Years ago I had a mini which I was doing tarmac rallies in. It snowed really heavy one day so I took the Mini to work. I had to give my boss a lift home but needed to stop for petrol on the way - we both got out of the car and when we tried to get back in it had frozen solid! Before I had a chance to think, he'd peed on the locks and we were in! It was quite strange but it worked :-)

Wyn

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If you have used de-icer this will wash out any oil/lubricant... May work once then make it worse..

Like said de-frost, then oil em.. But you will need to get them dry first unless you use something like WD40.

The oil stops the water getting in, and hence freezing solid later... Stops it corroding up as well.

Dan



[Edited on 19/12/09 by Bluemoon]

Most locks work better with a good dose of graphite, rather than any lubricant or water dispersant.

However, if water gets in then nothing will help - how about putting a bit of tape over the slot the night before?

[Edited on 19/12/09 by David Jenkins]

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Eeeew, bet they rusted up horribly a few months later.

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White grease is supposed to be OK for that sort of thing.

easiest of all is to wee on the lock.

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Originally posted by Daddylonglegs
White grease is supposed to be OK for that sort of thing.

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Originally posted by l0rd
easiest of all is to wee on the lock.

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cheers all. will dry out the locks tonight with a hair dryer when i get home and spray some WD40 into them to prevent ingress of water. hopefully that should be enough. in terms of oiling the locks, what type is recommended?

David - where can you get graphite from?

[Edited on 20/12/09 by mads]

we had this problem today with a punto - no not mine either - used a candle lighter thingy - one of those clicky lighter jobs - just warmed the key a bit - worked first time.. dont warm it too much it will melt the plastic tho - just the tip... works great!

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David - where can you get graphite from?

[Edited on 20/12/09 by mads]

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