As winter begins to settle in, motorists are presented with several issues that are unique to the season. In colder climates, standing water can become a problem, not only on the road, but also on your car's door locks, freezing them solidly in place. As a remedy, many DIYers use common household product WD-40 to prevent their door locks from freezing. However, WD-40 must be applied carefully and cleaned off in the spring to prevent trouble down the road. WD-40, or Water Displacement - 40th attempt, is a multipurpose lubricant spray that has a range of applications well-suited to any home or garage. While WD-40's exact formula has never been revealed, it does contain petroleum distillates and highly refined mineral spirits that provide excellent cleaning and lubricating properties. However, WD-40's formula was intended to displace water, effectively preventing water from pooling or standing on a well-coated surface. This property is what prevents car door locks from freezing in colder climates.
Car door locks require a small amount of moisture, in addition to temperatures below 32° F, in order to completely freeze. Unfortunately, moisture is ever present in the winter months, since rain, snow and puddles are common throughout the season. The requisite moisture can build up on the lock's metal surface before seeping into the door lock mechanism. As temperatures drop, the moisture freezes and prevents the lock mechanism from moving, effectively leaving a hapless motorist out in the cold. An unprotected, frozen door lock is best approached with a de-icing spray or a warmed key. The water displacing properties of WD-40 can be used as a preventative step in winterizing your car or truck. Spraying a small amount of WD-40 into the lock mechanism before an expected freeze will coat the metal components to deter moisture from gathering or pooling. Removing the door lock entirely during WD-40 application can ensure complete coverage of the mechanism, providing the highest degree of protection.
Problems Associated with WD-40 Although WD-40 has many benefits and can prevent car door locks from freezing, its petroleum-based formula can cause problems. By nature, WD-40 is somewhat tacky and can trap road grime, dirt and debris. This could lead to a sticking or difficult-to-turn door lock. If the condition is allowed to worsen, it could prevent the lock from opening entirely. If you do plan on using WD-40 on your car's locks, the locks should be removed and cleaned as soon as warmer weather can be expected. As an alternative, there are several lock-specific de-icing products available at most auto parts stores, many of which can be used without harmful effects or time-consuming cleaning requirements. Seattle Department of Transportation: Winter Driving Tips : Official List of 2000+ Uses : Material Safety Data Sheets How To Travel For Free With Reward Points Which Tires Are Made in America? Homemade Car Lock De-Icer How to Care for a Clematis in Winter Time
Touchless Vs. Soft Cloth Car Wash How to Put Antifreeze in a Hot-Water Furnace How to Clean a Shower Door with WD40BrandsCommon Kia problems The majority of common Kia problems like starting your car won’t be covered under new recall notices, although that doesn’t mean your auto issues shouldn’t be shared with other owners. This page allows Kia car owners to leave complaints with others, or to locate the latest Kia car recalls for USA and global markets. Kia Motors has announced recalls in most years with the past seeing the brand recall new Sorento cars for potential axle defects, other vehicles for rust in cold weather states, faulty brake switch problems, airbag issues, and more. Reach out to Kia Twitter and Facebook pages for service, or use the official VIN lookup tool on this page. If you want to know about your model of Kia and if it’s involved in any recall, then the VIN search is perfect, but recent recall news can also be seen below. We would love to hear about any faults you are seeing right now with your Kia vehicle within the comments.
Kia Car Recalls insight up to February 2017If there's been Kia car recalls in 2017, then customer reports will be found below.Share with Car Recalls readers: Latest Kia Car Recalls for United States2006-2012 Kia Sedona suspension recall starts July 252014-2016 Kia Soul recall over steering concernsKia brake recall for 2011-2013 Sorento modelsKia Soul recall begins March 24, 2015Lubricate your locks with Master Lock recommended lock lubricant 2300D, 2305, and 2311. Master Lock’s lock lubricant 2300D, 2305, and 2311 is specially formulated to not only prevent your locks from corroding, but the formula also prevents moisture from condensing inside the lock, which greatly reduces the likelihood your lock will freeze due to cold weather. View proper care and service of Master Lock Products. Lubricate your locks with Master Lock recommended lock lubricant 2300D, 2305, and 2311. 99% of the time the lock is working perfectly, but consumers have forgotten their combination. If you believe your lock is defective please visit our Contact Us Page and fill out the contact form.
A customer service representative will contact you within 48 hours. Watch our lock maintenance video or view our Care & Service guide. If your lock still does not function properly, it may be defective. Refer to our Warranty Information to find out how to obtain a replacement lock. The time will vary depending on the type of lock, and whether your replacement needs to be custom-built. Generally, you should receive your replacement within 2-4 weeks. All Master Lock padlocks are warranted to be free from mechanical defects for the life of the product. If a mechanical defect occurs, we will replace it free of charge. View instructions for obtaining a replacement lock. Master Lock does not reimburse for locksmith fees and/or services.Having your car door lock stuck is one downside to the need of having to lock your car doors to prevent vandalism and theft. There are many reasons that they may occur, not limited to being frozen, breaking, or needing a bit of loosening.Whatever the cause, it is an extremely frustrating experience if your key won't unlock car door.
Having a vehicle that is not working properly when you need it is not very useful. That is why you will find several ways that you can fix your stuck lock below. Why Is My Car Door Lock Stuck? If there is dirt inside the lock, extreme weather conditions may cause the lock to stop working. When the key won’t unlock your car door, the main culprit is most likely dirt. Dirt between the springs absorb water and when it gets cold enough it will freeze, casing the springs and wafers to be frozen in place.Another cause of a car door lock being stuck may be a simple need for lubrication. Using a graphite powder or W-D 40 may do the trick by removing the debris and dust from the gears and giving them a bit of lubrication to begin moving again. Car Door Lock Stuck, How to Fix It Add a Lubricant to the Lock Is your car door lock stuck? The first thing you want to do, because it is the simplest of all the fixes is to lubricate the door lock tumblers. You can use an aerosol can or tube of graphite powder.
If it is still sticking, slowly wiggle the key then add more graphite. Repeat this process if necessary. It might be a good idea to wait a few minutes after spraying the graphite to give it time to work into the crevices. This is the best method to use when your car door lock is frozen and the key won’t turn. There may be times when the key is worn or broken. Be sure that you check your key for excessively worn sections. You may need to purchase a new key. However, do not use the worn key. If you do not have the original, then you will need to have the dealership cut you a new key. Once you have the new key, keep it in a safe place and only use a duplicate. Remove the Door Panel If neither of the above methods worked, it is time to look further inside your door for the cause. Remove the panel by ensuring that you have released all the hidden screws and clips. Search everywhere otherwise you may not be able to remove the panel, or you may even break the panel. Once you have ensured all the screws and clips are released, pry gently on the corner of the door panel.