User ReviewedHow to Open Frozen Car Doors Three Methods:Unfreezing Door Seals or HandlesUnfreezing Car LocksPreventing Frozen DoorsCommunity Q&A Car doors freeze shut when water seeps between the seal and the car frame, or into the lock itself. To get inside your car, you'll need to dissolve the ice with heat, or with a solvent such as alcohol. Push on your car door. Apply pressure by leaning on your frozen door. Push as hard as you can against the door. The pressure could break the ice around the door's seal, enabling you to open the door. This section assumes you can unlock your car, but not open it. If the lock itself is frozen, skip to the section below. Chip away the ice. Pour lukewarm water over the rubber seals. Fill a cup, bucket or another container with lukewarm water. Pour the water around the seal of the door to thaw the ice. You may need to repeat this several times if the ice is thick. Once the door is open, dry off the inside of the seal with a towel to prevent re-freezing.
Never use hot water, or the temperature difference could shatter your window glass.[1] Even cold water from the hose can do the trick, since it is warmer than the ice. Car doors most often freeze where the rubber seal is worn or damaged, allowing water to seep in and freeze. If you notice any damage, focus on that area while pouring. Spray on commercial de-icer. You can find de-icer products at auto shops and hardware stores. These both dissolve the ice, and leave lubricant behind to help prevent further moisture from collecting.[3] In a pinch, you can substitute a homemade mixture: Rubbing alcohol can dissolve ice, but repeated use may damage your rubber gasket. Some varieties of windshield wiper fluid are mostly alcohol, and can serve the same purpose. Diluted white vinegar is a last resort, as it leaves a lingering smell and — according to some — may leave pock marks on the window glass. Start the car remotely. Heat the frozen seal with a blow dryer.
If you have a battery-operated model or an extension cord long enough to reach your car, this is another DIY way to melt the ice — but potentially a hazardous one. Move the blow dryer constantly back and forth across the door seal. Too much heat in one spot could break the glass, especially if there are existing cracks or chips. Spray lubricant on the key or lock. This works best if you spray the key, or place a straw against the lock and spray through the straw. You may use any of the following:[6] PTFE powder lubricant (best for prevention) Warning: avoid WD40, grease lubricant, and silicone lubricant, which can gum up the lock. Graphite is safe in small quantities. Do not combine multiple lubricants. Blow warm air into the lock. Place a cardboard toilet paper roll or another cylindrical object over the lock to direct the air. Heat the lock by blowing into the roll with your breath or a blow dryer.[8] This may take some time.After parking outside, cover the car with a tarp to keep ice off the doors, locks, and windshield.
[9] Cover the hood as well in extreme weather conditions to prevent more serious malfunction. Shut a plastic trash bag in the door. Before closing your door in icy weather, place a trash bag between the door and the frame so they cannot freeze together. Wipe a protective product over the rubber seals. It's best to use a special rubber conditioner from an auto shop.[12] Silicone spray is usually fine, but may damage silicone rubber, so consider checking with the car manufacturer first. Petroleum products and cooking spray are common DIY options, but they can wear down the rubber over time. Check your locking rods. If you are able to remove your door panel, do so and investigate the rod that operates the lock. If it looks icy or corroded, spray it with de-icer.[13] An auto shop can do this for you if you prefer. Show more unanswered questions Test the lock gently. The key may break if you try to turn it by force. Check all doors in the vehicle, plus the trunk if you can reach the driver's seat by crawling through it.
The frozen doors should thaw as you drive. Avoid washing your car in cold weather to reduce the chance of water entering the door.Why won't my car key turn in the door lock? February 19, 2010 Subscribe The car key goes into the door lock, but it won't turn. What's wrong and how can I fix it?User ReviewedHow to Keep Car Doors from Freezing Shut Two Methods:Keeping Doors from Freezing ShutPreventing and Dealing with Frozen LocksCommunity Q&A In cold weather, car doors can freeze shut, and typically at the most inconvenient time. You can end up with a door that refuses to open, a lock that refuses to budge, or both at the same time. But this is not an impossible task. With some preparation, a little know-how, and ingenuity, you will be in your vehicle soon.The typical cause of car doors and car locks freezing shut is ice. When icing conditions are predicted — rain near the freezing point, freezing rain, freezing fog, or rain and snow — get your vehicle under cover.
Another possible cause is frigid weather, which may cause locks and car doors to freeze without a lot of moisture causing the problem. Of course, not everyone has access to a covered parking space, heated garage, or the like. Avoid locking your doors. If possible, keep doors unlocked. This will avoid the locking mechanism from locking into place. However, leaving the doors unlocked may allow the car to be entered by a thief. Do not leave any valuables in the vehicle if you plan on leaving it unlocked. Place duct tape over your door lock to keep it from freezing. If your car is parked outside, a car cover or tarp minimizes the amount of moisture from snow and rain that can reach the door parts and freeze.This is especially useful during an ice storm or other icing event. Replace torn or missing rubber gaskets. Wipe down the door frame. Coat the rubber with a protective liquid. Rub oil or lubricant over the rubber seals with a paper towel. This will repel water, reducing the amount that enters the seal and freezes.
There is some disagreement over which oil is best to use, but here are a few options: A rubber conditioner or rubber care product are probably the safest options for long-term care. Silicone spray lubricant can last several weeks per application, but it can damage foam rubber seals and should be kept away from paint. WD40, another light lubricating oil, or even nonstick cooking spray are easily available options, but repeated use can dry out or disintegrate the rubber. Rub the key and lock with rubbing alcohol. Choose a rubbing alcohol that contains at least 60% alcohol, so the alcohol will adhere to the lock and prevent moisture from freezing over it. Rub it onto the key and the door lock with a paper towel once per week to prevent ice from forming. This can also work to melt existing ice, but is typically slower than the methods below. Petroleum jelly is another option, but may leave a messy residue on your equipment. Spray a lock lubricant for severe problems.
If rubbing alcohol is not enough to keep your lock usable, select a lock lubricant. Even experts tend to have differing opinions about lubricant choices, but some options are recommended more often than others. Use only one of the following options per lock, since a mix could easily gum it up:[5][6][7] A graphite lubricant typically comes in a squeeze bottle of air that can be pressed directly into the keyhole. Some people find this can absorb moisture over time and leave gunk on the key. Teflon-based lubricant is often recommended, but some people consider the products that contain silicone messy and ineffective. Greaseless lubricants are supposed to attract less dust and debris. Spray frozen locks with a de-icer. Keep a de-icer product in your garage or winter jacket, in case you are frozen out of your car. These are typically sprayed directly onto the lock, and are the most effective option in severe ice conditions. Choose the lock with the least amount of ice buildup, spray, and insert the key.
Hold the key with an oven mitt or tongs, with the toothed tip over a lighter or match, then insert it in the lock. If the key is completely metal, with no plastic handle or computerized fob, you can safely heat the key while it is inserted in the lock. This is not common a practice in cold climates; and there are other, safer alternatives for you and your vehicle. This should only be attempted if no other alternatives are available. Do not do this with a key with a computerized chip. This may easily damage the electronics, and replacements can costs hundreds of dollars. Warm the lock with a hairdryer or your own breath. This method is less effective, but worth a try if no other options are available. A cardboard tube (such as an empty toilet paper tube) placed over the frozen lock will help direct the warm air.[11] Keep trying for several minutes, especially if you do not have a tube or if conditions are windy. If your car is outside, use a battery-operated hair dryer, or an extension cord rated for outdoor use.