Frozen Locks

[xenon]

I knew I was taking a bit of a gamble using my S2 as a daily-driver instead of my '02 325i but so far it has been perfectly reliable. Had a problem with frozen door locks this morning though, a problem that doesn't affect modern cars with remote central locking.

Any suggestions about preventing the lock from freezing / quick thaw-out methods? Heated the key over the cooker this morning to free up the lock but took ages and proper pissed me off. Would a good squirt of duck oil / WD40 help? (by driving out moisture rather than to lubricate)

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

You could squirt a bit of de icer in the locks

 

[Peter Empson]

Being outside all the time mine can suffer from this (the doors seals often freeze shut too). If you oil the lock then it should stop it happening again, when its defrosted I coat the key in whatever thin oil I have available and turn the mechanism a few times, clean the key off and it should be fine (although make sure you wipe the key before putting it in your pocket after using it []).
To unfreeze a lock I've had success with just warming the key up on a radiator.

 

[Fred Hindle]

1. Try pouring some warm to hot water over the handle/lock to get it thawed out in a hurry.
2. You can get a heated key thingy that you insert into the lock to thaw it out then that solves the problem of having water in the lock which will freeze and make matters worse. Have a look at ebay
140188106294

so see what I'm talking about.
3. Hair dryer with extension lead.
4. Move to warmer climate.

Cheers,

 

[xenon]

Thanks Fred.

1. Tried that but didn't help much - seemed deeper inside the lock cylinder.
2. I'll try that
3. Missus would never let me.
4. I'm moving to Florida in April next year but I won't be taking the 944. (No A/C)

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Blow hard a few times at the lock - it works!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Blow hard a few times at the lock - it works!

And doesn't look at all stupid to the neighbours.....[]

 

[Nouveau]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Blow hard a few times at the lock - it works!

And doesn't look at all stupid to the neighbours.....[]

Especially when ones Lips are Stuck to the Lock!

 

[Diver944]

Halfrauds sell a lock lubricator/de-icer, it seems to do the trick most of the time. On really, really cold mornings a quick hot blow job on the locks gets the old girl opening up []