Cold weather tips for locks and doors

[Denveroo@aol.com]

I've had two problems with locks and doors repeatedly during the winter
months.  They are:

1)  Can't turn the door lock with the key.  Particularly irritating if you
don't want to break off the key in the lock!

2)  Even if the door will unlock, something seems to keep it "glued shut" and
I fear I'm going to break off the handle pulling on it!

The underlying reason for both problems is the same:  Water (from
condensation, rain or snowmelt) gets into something and freezes.

The solution to number one I found many years ago.  Periodically during the
warmer months, I would moisten my key with a lock lubricant before opening
the car.  I made sure to do this with both front doors and the ignition key.
 Periodically in this case means about twice during the summer.  The
lubricant I use is actually an electrical contact lubricant, which is
silicone based, but I suspect that lock graphite suspended in a solution
would work just as well.

The solution to number two I only recently disovered.  It turns out that the
part that was getting "glued" by freezing water was where the rubber weather
strip contacted painted metal in the door frame.  I slopped on a VERY thick
coat of carnauba wax on all four door frames and the problem has not
recurred.  When I waxed my car before, I would clean those areas for
appearance's sake, but didn't consider waxing them since they don't get
exposed to the harsh elements.  Another lesson learned.

Dave
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'87 4KCSQ dog 110k mi
'81 RX-7 rust & rattletrap 150k mi