Frozen Locks?
 

I feel very stupid for asking this....

First winter with my 95 T100. Door and fuel door locks freeze up even when it's not that cold (29.8F right now) I pretreated every cylinder on this thing with lock-ease graphited lock fluid months ago, as I have with all my vehicles for years, never had a problem with my soobies or my 86 pickup.

I did replace the door handle(not lock) with an ebay replacement after I snapped it last summer. The previous owner lived in the mountains and I doubt he locked it much. I don't always lock my truck but I'd like to be able to... I can unfreeze it in a matter of seconds with a butane torch but I generally don't carry one in my pocket.

Thankfully, the ignition is still smooth no matter how cold. Is this a T100 thing? Anyone have a similar problem and found something that works better than lock fluid?

try graphite that's not liquid but the dry stuff. and are u sure its freezing up and not just getting stuck due to rust or oxide build up? Ive seen this on regular door locks to house and mail boxes.

if its freezing every time that means theres moisture in there thats not getting out. get that lock heated up and maybe try to get a kleenex in there with a toothpick, or go at it with a hair dryer or something.

Something like this?: <google search>
I'm assuming it's freezing because it works great after I heat it a little and seems to only do it when its snowing and below 34F.

Guess I'll be taking the panel off again soon.

Really?

I don't feel too good about sticking tissues in keyholes. I got a few more things to try and if they don't work I'll take it apart, clean, or replace the cylinders.

BTW, I'm about 5 minutes north of Burlington, that's a cherry looking xcab you got.

to get moister out u can spray wd-40 in the lock first and then couple days later put that stuff in there. the item u looked up.

That is a horrible idea.

Try spraying some wd40 or white lithium grease in the lock. If not. Keep a torch handy to heat the key when it sticks.

I just had both mine stick for the first time ever on my taco.... I'm a medic so I have syringes and just squirt about 5-10cc of rubbing alcohol into the lock mechanism, not only did it work great but now my lock is S M O O O O O T H!! may only work short term though.... that was also non-power lock but tried it in the runner (pwr locks) and still fine.

give it a whirl...

Solution!
 

I've used straight methanol to unfreeze em in the past but they would just freeze up the next night.

Dupont Teflon Snow and Ice Repellant. It's basically a silicone and Teflon spray. I had special ordered a box of the stuff from ACE to spray over my frame undercoating in the fall. I sprayed it in last night, it is smooooth this morning. If it freezes up again I'll update this thread but its looking good!

yeah all these ideas sound a hellva lot better than kleenex. kev, you from winooski?

the hardware store here sells graphite dry lube (aeresol type in a spray can, not the powder) Jig-a-loo brand, it's only about $3-4 for a small can and should work awesome too.

I was worried about the alcohol being a short term fix too, worked good on my driver door for whatever reason, probably just cleaned it. I used choke/carb cleaner once and that actually worked great both short term and long term...

we should find someone on here from Alaska, they would know for sure... been there a few times this year and even in march, the HIGH temp was 18 degrees one day.... (fairbanks)

Flash, nah, I'm from Colchester, on Malletts Bay.

Yeah, I've always used the graphite spray, just wouldn't cut it on the T100. I've used carb/brake cleaner on friends cars just to get em open.

It's already been below zero a few times this season. Thinking it's a combination of not being used and age. Then again my 86 was a farm truck, was never locked, and never had a problem with just the graphite...

I love the Teflon stuff though. Used it on the frame, wheels, tools, snowblower, ect. I actually brought it to work today and used it on the line tools for maple sugaring. Didn't get stuck to my gloves once and moves a lot smoother.

(Highjack) What would one use to prevent the door from freezing shut? I had this happen a couple of weeks ago. I had to beat on the door around the edges to break it loose and I was afraid I might tear the rubber seals but I got lucky.

Ha ha I've battled with this for years. I just sprayed mine with the Teflon ice and snow repellant, but I'm guessing regular silicone spray would do the job.

Edit: I've broken a few handles and bent some weather stripping beating doors open.

I was trying to get the gas cap unlocked in front of a store, when an old guy told the trick to it , he said all I had to do was whiz on it. For some reason this idea didn't appeal to me, but if you get desperate there's the answer.:hillbill:

very crafty

When in doubt, pee on it.

This happened to me as well! It sucked bad since i was already late for work both my driver and passenger door locks were frozen, reason being my co-worker washed my truck for me since i did his oil change for him lol. Luckily my tailgate lock wasnt frozen so i had to ninja my way over the rear seats, reach over and unlock my door than slide back out. Than i sped (well as fast as my 3.0L could go anyways) all the way to work. I was still late btw lol

hahaha, pee will work! some of us have to stand closer then others though.... didn't they do that in 'saving private ryan'? the machine guns were frozen so they all stood up and pissed on 'em to thaw them out. just remember it's better to be pissed off then pissed on...

my seals freeze all the time, it's the moisture on them. take a clean/dry rag to 'em once your rig has cooled down, the warmth of running it can cause condensation which will in turn freeze... I think some graphite or similar rubbed into the rubber should work, Im going to try it on mine, they just froze again last night...

during the few weeks it was freezing around here my locks were getting frozen pretty bad. i would just push the little metal cover in a tad with the key and breath into it a few times.

As for keeping it unfrozen i put some lock lubricant in it and never had problems with it freezing after that.

Anybody think that the unmixed antifreeze would damage the seals around the door? seems like that might be a good idea