Can't get into my car - shit's frozen

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SnowDrifter

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Sorry if this is a dumb question for y'all northerners

Had a couple thaw/freeze cycles. Car is all icy. Some of the lock actuators must've gotten some ice on them cause they don't move. Both the drivers side actuators are frozen. I can hear the motor actuating... But stuff just doesn't move. Can't get the driver's side lock cylinder to move either. Passenger side works, but due to how I'm parked I can get in that way unless I shrunk to the thickness of a pasta. Same thing with the rear. I'm backed into a corner spot

How the fawk do y'all thaw / open stuff?
 

Doubeleive

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it doesn't get that bitter cold here but it does get chilly so every day or evening when I know I am not going to be going anywhere else I crank the heater fan up full blast and/or put it on defrost before I shut off the truck. that way when I autostart it in the morning it's nice and warm inside and no ice on the window.
 

adriver

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heatgun, blowdryer, bag of hot water held near the lock??? I forgot about how to do all that long ago..


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Good luck with that... :signs6:
 

VDV18

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Use some hand sanitizer on your key.
 

drakon543

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ok well here are some actual tricks ive done or heard about over the years. late fall make sure you armorall the crap out of the door seals to help keep them from freezing to the door. maf cleaner/electrical based lubricant sprayed on the actuator periodically will help keep them from gumming up in the winter. also some lithium spray grease or something similar on the door latches. next one is go to a local auto parts store and get some of that spray deicer. if you end up with the body iced over spray the deicer around the door to loosen up the door. and lastly get remote start like the rest of us lazy people.
 

adriver

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ok well here are some actual tricks ive done or heard about over the years. late fall make sure you armorall the crap out of the door seals to help keep them from freezing to the door. maf cleaner/electrical based lubricant sprayed on the actuator periodically will help keep them from gumming up in the winter. also some lithium spray grease or something similar on the door latches. next one is go to a local auto parts store and get some of that spray deicer. if you end up with the body iced over spray the deicer around the door to loosen up the door. and lastly get remote start like the rest of us lazy people.

I would eat ramen for a year as a grown ass man, to save up enough to be able to build a garage, before I would get rid of my manual transmission and get a remote start.
 

Tonyrodz

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Happened to a co worker of mine at work once--frozen solid. Got some warm water in a cup and poured it on the outside handle and lock. Worked like a charm. Good luck.
 

drakon543

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I would eat ramen for a year as a grown ass man, to save up enough to be able to build a garage, before I would get rid of my manual transmission and get a remote start.
spend enough time getting stuck in pa road construction you wont want stick in your dd. besides the garage only helps when your home when you drive somewhere at 5 degrees and wet slushy conditions. remote start is your friend mt is great for a toy but not my dd.
 

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