sancho

So we had this odd icing/sleet phenomenon happen the other day where the liquid precipitation froze when it landed anything, leaving everything in sight covered in a ~1.0mm thick icy glaze. It was pretty neat looking--looked like everything was covered in glass. Even my antenna was encased in an ice sarcophogus.

However, I still needed to drive my car and, not surprisingly, when I inserted the key into the door, I met some resistance. I figured, that makes sense--it's just a bit frozen. I'll just jam the key in hard enough that whatever ice is there breaks. It worked. Like I said, this isn't too surprising given that *everything* was covered in ice.

But it's been two days since that ice has melted and I'm still having a heck of a time getting the key in. There's resistance the entire way in--I have to jiggle it a little to get it all the way in. There's no way there's still ice in there, but it wasn't like this before the ice. It almost feels as if some of the internals have rusted or something.

Anyone have this problem before? I'm hesitant to put oil down into the keyhole because it'll oil up the keys I carry everywhere with me, but would that fix it?

84z28350

spray some lube down there...

sqzbox

If it hasn't warmed up yet spray some de-icer in the lock and then chase it with some WD and incert the key several times and see if it smooths out any. You'd be surprised how just a little bit of salt or cloride solution that weasels it way into a lock from driving on treated roads can screw up a door lock assembly!
Whatever you decide to use, be sure it's a penetrating-lubricant
so you wont have to keep doing it every time it snows.
WD has a little red tube that insert's into the nozzle that's just big enough to push open the spring loaded trap door in the keyhole so you can fire it up without spraying lubricant all over your paint! Works for me! Also, take a good look at your key and make sure you didn't bend it a little bit while trying to force it in the look. Older key's bend easyer that new ones!

GTAfanatic

iTrader: (3)

use WD-40 or a lube just push the key hole door in with a small flat head and spray then put the key in and out a few times this should fix it right up.

sqzbox

Dam! I'm having a spelling problem tonight! GTAfanatic, that GTA must surprise a lot of geeks with to much money huh?

sancho

Ah, I almost for got about good ole' WD-40 (is there anything it *can't* do?). I've been at school and away from my garage for so long that I'm forgetting tools and stuff like that.

I'll try that out as soon as I have access to some WD. Thanks guys.

GTAfanatic

iTrader: (3)

sqzbox ?? it late and im half asleep , what is it you are talking about?

sqzbox

355, paxton, 2500 stall, equalls, Haul ***!!! Wish I had it in mine!! Growing up with 60's and 70's cars under my butt is leaving me hungry since I got this 88 formy from my daughter-in-law for a song! My last car before this one was a 73 Lemans w/a 455 in it. 9.24's in the 8th with a 4k lb car was fun and I only had a 6210-600cfm on it! Not much top end, but the torque kept my spine alinged!

GTAfanatic

iTrader: (3)

not to get off topic but i really dont have that much money into my car i got car for a good price and i know a lot of people so i payed at least 1/2 price for everything. I do all my own work so labor cost nothing. I know what you meen with the old car i have a 74 roadrunner and the power in that is much different then my gta it douse help that is has a 400 big block but it still a deferent feel.

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

Here in Jersey I like to think of that as a routine pain in the *** wintertime experience.

A handy trick for when you actually have an all metal key is to insert the key and heat it with a lighter. Melts all the ice in the lock.

PLANT PROTECTION

iTrader: (6)

And if you don't have a lighter, start smoking. I ended up getting a keyless entry system, more involved and expensive than dimented's suggestion but an option none the less.

dr1

When that happens round here, which is at least once a year, the neato effect is lost once it manages to weigh down all the trees so much that if they dont just literally break in half, all of them are raining branches down and taking out power lines, etc ;0
i think it was a couple years ago some of CT lost power for over 3 weeks due to a bad ice storm

anyways man, careful with that key, get some lock deicer and lube etc, keys arent very strong you dont want to leave half of it in the door, heh

88_Import_Slaye

had same problem, I used some of the powdered graphite lubricant, worked like a charm.

rideon1200

OK I dont know if anyone has covered this yet. In my days as a vehicle operator in the USAF, we would urinate on the locks to thaw them out. Thats in the manual. Think about that when you open a military vehicle.

sqzbox

I think he's passed the frozen stage, it's all about corrosion now.
But, if you can't bring yourself to do it Sancho, I'll be happy to swing on by and pee on your camaro for ya!

s0n

there is this shizz at home depot it is by the key section it is this graffite compound works like a dream pick some up if you have a depot.

Difflock

Strangely, in the UK - not known for the extremes of weather you guys get, you can buy a little battery operated hot-wire type device which you push into the keyhole. The heat melts the ice in the lock... TA..DAAA

rideon1200

Strange, I was stationed in the UK when they told us that. After a few pints your willing to do anything.

sqzbox

Hey Difflock, where in the hell do you get parts for a TA in England? Lorry Zone?
Just kidding! But I hear their taking all the double decker busses out of service in London. Do you think I could get one of those cheap? I figure I could mount a turbin engine in it and make a small fortune on the 1/4 mile circut as the fastest, tallest buss in America!!

s0n

You could do that....Or you could fill it with hookers boose and blow and make it the funnest buss in the world.Just food for thought,

rideon1200

Do you have a left hand or right hand drive. I only saw one Camaro in the UK the whole time I was there, and it was purchased from a GI. How far are you from New MArket.