How to Keep Your Car Out of the Cold This Winter
Ice gives cars all sorts of problems. It is dangerous to drive, it closes the windshield, and sometimes even does not allow you to get inside. These tips will keep your car doors and locks from freezing and help you get into your car if they do.
Inspect and clean your vehicle’s door gaskets and frame.
Car doors usually freeze because rain or melted snow seeps into the crevices of your car and gets caught between the rubber gaskets on the door. This is why Cheryl Knight from your mechanic invites you to check the gaskets before they become an issue . Make sure they are not frayed, torn or dirty. Any crevices, tears, or holes will allow moisture to pass through, where it can freeze. If your door gasket has had better times, have it replaced by a mechanic or replace it yourself .
If your gasket and door frame are simply dirty, clean them thoroughly. Knight explains that dirt and debris can also interfere with a good seal on the gasket. Use a clean cloth and warm water to wipe the door frame and gasket, then wipe with a dry cloth to make sure no moisture remains. Make sure you go through the gasket on the car’s frame and the gasket on the door itself. If possible, do this in a garage or in a warm place to keep the water from freezing while you wipe things down.
Protect car doors from freezing with grease
Covering your car or parking it in your garage are the best anti-icing measures you can take, but this is not always an option. Fortunately, there are a couple of other things you can do. First, youtuber EricTheCarGuy recommends that you spray a silicone lube spray on the door gasket and then spread it evenly with a microfiber cloth. Silicone repels moisture and prevents water from entering between the gaskets.
Silicone spray lubricant is pretty cheap too – around $ 8 or $ 9 a can – and you can find it at any auto parts store or in the auto department of a department store. If you don’t have silicone spray or can’t go to the store to get one, cooking spray will work too .
How to open a frozen car door
A little foresight can go a long way when it comes to opening a frozen car door. When you park your car overnight, Bob Kazi, Parts Manager at International Collision Repair , prompts you to insert a towel or rag between the car door and the door frame just above the window. This way, when you go to open the door in the morning, you will have two points to pull on without breaking the doorknob.
It doesn’t matter if you forgot to put your towel on or not, there are a few basic steps to how to open a frozen door. First, scrape off as much of the ice as possible with a hand scraper. Then Mr. Locksmith recommends that youspray the car door seams with a windshield de-icer , which is two-thirds medical alcohol and one-third water if you want to make it yourself . It would be nice to keep a tiny spray bottle in your purse, office, or garage just in case during the colder months.
If that doesn’t work, it’s time to take out the hair dryer. Plug it in, if there is an outlet nearby, turn it on over high heat and blow hot air through the seams until you can open it. However, be careful when opening the door. Don’t jerk too hard. As mentioned earlier, the doorknob is easy to break. And if the gaskets are frozen, pulling them too hard could tear. Be patient and pull gently.
How to deal with frozen door locks
Sometimes the problem is not with your car door. Door locks can also collect moisture and freeze, making it difficult to unlock or open the door. To keep the frozen castle from freezing you,Mr. Locksmith recommends spraying a moisture propellant like WD-40 directly into the castle. This will expel any moisture that may be in the lock and prevent moisture from getting inside. You can also use degreased lock lubricant, but you probably already have a can of WD-40 .
If you haven’t managed to prevent the castle from freezing, there is still hope. Here’s what you do:
- Spray de-icer on the lock, if you have one. Also spray it on the key. You can also lubricate the key with rubbing alcohol. Insert the key slowly and turn the lock.
- If you don’t have a de-icer, heat the lock with a hair dryer, then slowly insert the key and turn the lock.
- If you do not have de-icer, rubbing alcohol, or a hair dryer, heat the wrench. Use a lighter, match, or body heat to warm up the key so that it can melt the ice when entering the keyhole.
Be patient when trying to turn the lock. Do not use excessive force or you risk breaking the lock or key. You may need to heat the key, insert it a little bit, reheat it, and so on.