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Frozen car lock: How to open it without damaging

During the winter, you might find yourself in an inconvenient situation with a frozen car lock. However, there's no need to panic; there's a method to open the door without causing any damage.

Frozen car lock: How to open it without damaging / Photo: Erik Mclean / pexels.com
Photo: Erik Mclean / pexels.com

If the car lock is frozen, it is important to remain calm. Obviously, having a garage for your car is a real blessing for the owner. It eliminates the annoying and time-consuming task of cleaning windows. In addition, you may encounter an even worse situation.

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Sometimes it's impossible to reach an ice scraper or a broom because the doors are frozen. In such a situation, drivers should not rush. Forcibly opening the door carries the risk of damaging the rubber seals, and replacing them can potentially be expensive.

Frozen car lock: a way to open it quickly and without unpleasant consequences

If the driver's door is frozen, it's worth checking other doors. It's quite possible that they can be opened to access the interior, for example, through the passenger door. Then, you can try to gently open the driver's door from the inside.

ADAC, the automobile club, notes that the driver's door should be able to open even before the start of the trip. This will help avoid unpleasant consequences if there is an accident on the road and it becomes necessary to quickly exit the car.

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Публикация от ADAC e.V. (@adac)

The automobile club experts also advise against forcefully pulling on the frozen door from the outside. It's better not to pull but, on the contrary, press it. This may help loosen the ice that has formed on the seals. Sometimes gently tapping around the perimeter of the door can also be helpful.

If all else fails, ADAC recommends heating water to approximately 50 degrees and carefully pouring it onto the door frame. Under no circumstances should the water boil—pouring excessively hot liquid onto the windows can cause them to crack. The paint may also be damaged by water that is too hot.

Every driver who wants to avoid a situation where the car door freezes should take certain precautions. It's essential to care for the rubber seals using appropriate products purchased from specialized stores.

For this purpose, consider special anti-icing compounds usually sold in the form of a spray. However, it's not advisable to store it in the car. It's recommended to always have such a product on hand.

In some situations, you might find it challenging to access an ice scraper or a broom due to frozen doors. To avoid damaging the rubber seals, it's important not to forcefully pull on the frozen door from the outside. Instead, the experts at ADAC suggest pressing the door and gently tapping around its perimeter for potential loosening.

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