It's cold out... sticky locks!

[ChrisCdotcodotuk]

Okay google, where is Volvo Cars HQ: .... Gothenburg.
Okay google, what is the temperature in Gothenburg? 2c.

Okay fair enough it's a bit warmer in Gothenburg than it is in Reading but for a car designed in Sweden I'd think it'd be a bit better suited to the cold.

Opened my passenger door this morning to get a jacket out of the car and the door as hard to open. It opened, grabbed jacket and slammed door shut. Door bounced open? Eh!

The central locking catch was jammed open.

Grab a screwdriver and prod the lock mech and it moves freely. ODD.
Can't drive off as door swings open. Can't leave car as car is unlocked...

Go indoors, grab hair dryer, heat up mechanism and hey presto its working again. I'm not quite sure what i'm going to do if this happens whilst i'm out and about. Might have to carry a blow torch with me

I was walking into the shed to go grab a tool kit to dismantle the door when I saw an extension lead so I thought about a hair dryer to check first. Glad I did as I'd have certainly fixed the problem by taking the door apart as I'd have got it all warm and toasty whilst working on it.

I'm in a real pickle as to what I'm going to do in the future though. I might have to keep on of my super bright torches handy as that really does kick out some heat.

[LizardOfBodom]

I always do some preventive measures before winter frost - some silicon spray on seals and inside the door latches, and some grease on hinges (anyway, regardless of season). Maybe worth applying some and see if happens again?

[nomnom]

Vaseline on the seals, any moisture in there would turn to ice if its cold enough. Vaseline would prevent the ice sticking to the seals and therefore prevent the seals from freezing shut.

I had a similar problem with my Fabia, which was known to have leaky window seals causing condensation in the car, water vapour can get everywhere

[Snoodini]

As a resident of Gothenburg I can report that my car's doors have no problem down to -20 (that's about the coldest my car has been in). I have used a silicone door seal coating for winter but have never had to do anything to the locks. I would recommend spraying the inside of the lock with a water dispersant such as WD40 or perhaps some spray lithium grease. (do it when it's not freezing temperatures).

[ChrisCdotcodotuk]

Well it happened again this morning. Copper grease didnt do the trick.

Not sure if i should use some PlusGas on it THEN WD40 then Lithium spray grease.

This morning I was sat on my drive with a mini gas soldering iron on the blow torch mode just heating up the door area to free it up. Irritating for sure!

[BOBAD]

Originally Posted by Snoodini

........ I would recommend spraying the inside of the lock with a water dispersant such as WD40........

Noooooooo ! Don't ever use WD40 inside a door lock. It forms a sticky film on the mechanism and dirt and grit sticks to that....... not at all helpful !

Graphite lubricant is available at all locksmiths and is much kinder to the door lock ...... :-)






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