Car Door Won't Unlock with Key in Cold. How to Get into the Car?

Unlocking car doors became the task of electronics long ago. For years we haven't seen people trying to open their vehicles with keys. Modern cars even don't have easily accessible keyholes in their doors - to get to them, you will need to take some plastic covers off. But still, if you have an emergency such as a low battery in your key fob or some problems with the vehicle, you will need to open the door with your key.

Today, we'll tell you what to do if the car door won't unlock in cold temperatures and why this happens. We'll also show you some tricks on how to deal with the problem. This is not going to take a lot of time and effort from you but knowing this is essential for any driver. We know there are young drivers who haven't used metal keys ever but understanding this can save you loads of time and money.

Here's what we will be talking about today:

• Why exactly the car door lock freezes if there is no water in it?
• Some precautions you should know before approaching the car door with your key in winter.
• How can you open your door in cold with the key without damaging it?
• What to do if nothing works and the door is still closed?

Let's get started!

Why is my car door lock constantly frozen?

We tend to think that the car door lock is located in a very safe place. It shouldn't be affected by water. But some moisture still gets to the inside part of the door through the wet glass and also through the keyhole. Although it may be covered by some plastic elements, the ice can get there and then melt when the vehicle is warm. After that, the melting water can easily get right onto the lock and then it will freeze every night.

When you are using your key fob and opening your vehicle remotely, this won't disturb you much because you basically don't touch the keyhole.

But the problems may come in such situations:

• Your vehicle has a dead 12V battery and the remote opening doesn't work. You need to get into your car to open the hood and charge or change the battery.
• Your key fob is dead because of the low battery. Sometimes, you just don't have any other way but to get into the car and call someone for help, for example.
• Your security system in the car is glitching and the vehicle stays closed even though you are pressing that open button on your fob.
• Your vehicle is pretty old and it doesn't have the remote key fob, you have to open the doors with the key every time you are going to use the car.
• You forgot the key fob in the car and somehow the security system closed the car. You have the second key but it's just the metal key, no buttons on it.

Now you know that there are lots of situations that may make you find that metal key and try to get into your vehicle without using the key fob. Well, you should also check now how you can access the keyhole in your vehicle because sometimes it can be not as straightforward as you think.

Also, in many vehicles with the push start button, you will be surprised to learn that the metal key is hidden inside the fob. Just research this question online on forums and be prepared for any situation. You may need this once during your life. But you will obviously remember our advice when you need it in the middle of nowhere.

Be careful! You can easily break that lock

Frozen car door locks are easy to break. You should never apply too much power because two of the worst scenarios are going to happen. First of all, you can break the key and block yourself out of the car. Also, you can break the car door lock which will require expensive repair in the future.

When you understand that the car door lock is frozen, you should calm down and remember that breaking it is much easier than you think. You should apply some power but do it very carefully. If the lock doesn't move at all, just go to the next parts of our article and understand how you can solve the problem.

But if it moves a little, you can apply limited power and move it on different sides. Most likely, the lock will open after a minute or two of this manipulation. But if it's not working, then you should also read the other parts of the article and understand what exactly you should do.

How can you save your lock and open your car if the door lock is frozen?

We know a lot of methods to get into your vehicle if the lock is frozen and doesn't move at all. Some of them will be easy, some are tricky. But we'll try to cover all safe and good methods to help you avoid problems.

Here they are:

1. Try opening other doors

In your vehicle, only one door may have a keyhole. But a lot of cars have keyholes in several doors. The most likely option is the front passenger door. Try looking for a keyhole there and find out if that keyhole is also frozen. Very often, the keyhole may be frozen heavily on one side of the car while the other side will be easily open.

2. Try opening the trunk

If you can't open any of the doors, you may try opening the trunk and getting into the car through it. Well, make sure your car has access to the interior through the trunk - most sedans will still make it tricky to get there. But if this is your only chance, it should be easier than other options. So, if you manage to open the trunk with the key, you can save a lot of time and effort.

3. Use a lighter to warm up the key

Your metal key may be warmed up to then melt the ice in the lock. For this, use a cigarette lighter and warm up the key. Then insert the key into the hole and move it from side to side. After 10-15 seconds repeat this again. Your key will melt the ice and the door lock will be opened in a minute or two. You will obviously need to warm it up several times.

4. Try opening the hood

In many classic Ford cars, for example, the hood could be opened with a key. This made it possible to get under the hood without opening your doors. Then, you may change or charge the 12V battery and use your key fob to open all the car locks remotely.

5. Use something with spirit on your key

For example, you can use hand sanitizer or some strong alcohol. Apply it on your key in a limited amount and insert the key into the hole. Move it in both directions slowly, then wait for half a minute and try opening the door lock again. This may also require several attempts. Spirit will melt the ice and allow you to get into the vehicle eventually.

6. Call the locksmith

Probably, the best option is to call a locksmith if you can't get into the vehicle. First of all, these guys know how to open your car without damaging the lock. Secondly, the problem may be not in the frozen lock but in some failed parts. A locksmith will help you get into the vehicle without any problems and will obviously help you save time. But not money.

If you are going to call a locksmith, read reviews online quickly and only call a guy that has a good reputation. Otherwise, you may pay a lot and still have some problems.

How to prevent your door locks in the car from freezing?

As always, the best way to avoid problems with frozen locks is to prevent them from freezing. You should think about it every single winter. Once you see that the weather is going to freeze everything a bit, you should address the issue immediately.

There are several possible ways to keep your door locks from freezing:

• special chemical products that you can buy in car part stores - we don't recommend them because they are expensive and not magical at all;
• WD-40 - you can use this all-purpose lubricant to protect your car locks from freezing, just lubricate the keyhole once every two weeks;
• keep your vehicle in the warm garage - this is a great option but it won't save you if you leave the car near your office for the whole day;
• use a car cover - this is a great way to keep your vehicle away from ice, snow, or rain, so the locks will always remain dry.

We also recommend finding a phone number of a good locksmith who can help you in case there is a problem with the lock. Also, make sure your 12V battery and key fob battery are OK - check them before cold times come.