What's the best solution for frozen door locks, once they happen.

It's 14 degrees F here in Chicago and the passenger side

door opens, but won't latch when closed. Seems

there is a small piece of metal that clasps the

door latch and holds it, thereby keeping the door

closed. This small metal piece isn't moving too

quickly in the cold. Can I spray a penetrating oil

in there to unthaw things with impunity?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Larry --

"It's 14 degrees F here in Chicago..."

It's just about the same on Comm Ave.

If it's the lock itself that's frozen, you can unfreeze it by holding a lighter under the key, and then inserting a warm key into the lock. Once it turns, spray in lock deicer.

"...but won't latch when closed..."

BTDT.

The door latch mechanisms, both on the jamb and on the door, have moving parts. They can freeze. When this happens to me, I warm and dry both mechanisms with a hair dryer, and then flood them with WD-40. ("WD" means water displacer, the original purpose of this stuff.)

Allow the WD-40 to wash through the mechanisms, dislodging and removing grime.

Use precautions when handling a "hot" hair dryer outside in the wet.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Could be wrong, but I thought WD was short for Wing Deicer. Just wondering, not doubting you Don! If I'm ever a contestant on jeapordy...

Andy, I think you got something there....... But maybe that was WD-39.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Although WD40 is a fairly good penetrant and water displacer,

it has a light solvent that evaporates (like most penetrating oils)

and leaves a fairly sticky lubricant. I eschew using it on spring-loaded

mechanisms, especially if the spring isn't very strong. For really

cold weather probably a teflon based lubricant would be preferable

once you get the thing cleaned out. (I think Liquid Wrench has

such a mix.)

George --

Good thought. I rarely use WD-40 'bause it's a crummy penetrating oil (compared to Kroil). But on the door latches, the gooey residual is probably better than the crusty, grimy salt 'n silt that's normally in there after New England winters. And I think the gummy stuff's good for excluding water, which later freezes....

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Hi Don,

Thanks for your advice; it's nice to know that I'd be

in the same jam in New England.

what about after the hair dryer, blasting the latch mechanism on

the door with something to clean it out, like carb cleaner. Then

using a penetrating oil or maybe a few drops of synethic motor oil

to protect from water getting back in.

Thanks,

Larry

Hi Larry --

Your approach sounds fine. In my previous post I suggested flooding it with WD-40, which would both wash out grit and leave some lubrication. Others suggested something besides WD-40, as you suggested. All those suggestions are better than grit and ice. In fact, someone suggested a Teflon lube, which also sounds much better than WD-40.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Actually when I see a super sale on WD-40 I pick up a couple cans. Makes a great cleaner spray for hinges and goey mechanisms....after hosing with the WD-40, clean again with a small amount of evaporating cleaner if you want the residual WD-40 oil out, then I use a good quality teflon spray to lube. (This of course for applications where a water based cleaner is not kosher)

I also have a can of the Amsoil teflon spray stuff (pretty spendy I will admit)...but man than stuff is the real kind. I did the house vinyl windows slides, and you can't see or hardly feel the stuff, but the windows operate like in zero G! (They was really stickie b'fore)

"...a super sale on WD-40 I pick up a couple cans..."

Yeah, I always have a can or two around. Great for the garage door opener, squeaky hinges, dried-out masking tape, and so on. Great fire starter.

"...a great cleaner spray for hinges and goey mechanisms..."

And it's better than Chanel #5. Nothing smells like Momma with a little WD-40 behind....her....whatever....

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Don-

see if you can find a can of AMSOIL MP. Doesn't leave the same residue as the WD 40 does.