Frozen Locks

[electricshoe Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close electricshoe]

Hi

New to the forum, and a newish landcruiser owner too (last car was a defender). Trouble is, here in northern scotland temperatures have been pretty low of late. When it has been around -10 i've found the rear doors do not unlock with the remote, and now its slightly colder neither do the front ones. I'm concerned that perhaps one day I won't get in at all!

Anyone have any remedies to prevent this?

Thanks

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Frozen Locks

Move to Australia 8)

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Frozen Locks

Might be worth popping an email off to Arctictrucks or some of the Norway members to see if they have any tips.

[bevwone Member Find all posts View Profile Close bevwone]

Re: Frozen Locks

Occassionaly when I lived in Canberra my wifes car would not open in the morning by remote as they were frozen. We had to use the key to unlock them and you could hear the crunch of the ice when you twisted the key. The actual door handle used to be similar - frozen on the inside and would crunch as you lifted the handle.

Couldn't use the hose to wet the locks because the water in the hose was frozen shut.

I was never unable to get in though. It would get to about -9c on occassion.

That is Australia.

Bevan

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Frozen Locks

Occassionaly when I lived in Canberra my wifes car would not open in the morning by remote as they were frozen. We had to use the key to unlock them and you could hear the crunch of the ice when you twisted the key. The actual door handle used to be similar - frozen on the inside and would crunch as you lifted the handle.

Couldn't use the hose to wet the locks because the water in the hose was frozen shut.

I was never unable to get in though. It would get to about -9c on occassion.

That is Australia.

Bevan

I stand corrected ops: move to Sunny Queensland then 8) 8) 8)

[halojump Member Find all posts View Profile Close halojump]

Re: Frozen Locks

Ah did some time up North (Scotland that is) in the mid nineties...the Volvo I had was always icing up.

I used some spray de-icer that works a treat, you can also get fancy electronic ones. Don't put hot water on it as it'll freeze again once you get moving.

If it's an emergency, you can always pee on the locks....this works quite well...if you don't have to touch the door handle yourself that is :-)

[OldGreyGuy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyGuy]

Re: Frozen Locks

I stand corrected ops: move to Sunny Queensland then 8) 8) 8)

We originally came from Queensland, but we were living in Canberra for a few years and had a few of those -9 mornings. We moved back to Queensland via London, San Francisco and Singapore 8)

[electricshoe Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close electricshoe]

Re: Frozen Locks

Thanks for the advice - I'll get my passport renewed!

[Hawk Thor Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hawk Thor]

Re: Frozen Locks

I always spray some lockcylinder oil in the cylinders before winter. Itīs also a good time to apply some silicone rubber conditioner to the door seals as well to keep your doors from freezing shut. I also put some spray grease on the door- and hood hinges and door- and hood latches.

I was having problems with my cargo door not opening in low temps (-10°C and lower). I removed the doorpanel and cleaned all the rods, locking mechanism and latch in the door and then sprayed it all with spray grease while turning the lock and unlocking and locking with the remote. It now works flawlessly and worked fine in the recent -20°C weather.

Itīs all a question of regular maintenance.