reeing A Frozen Lock:
A frozen door or trunk lock can be freed in a number of ways. If the ice is thick, try first to chip away as much as you can.
Heat:
If the ice isn't thick, dousing the lock with hot water may help, but the water may freeze over the ice. An alternative is to heat the car key by holding it over a flame and then insert it into the lock. Wear a work glove to protect your hand.
Chemical De-icers:
Auto supply stores sell car lock de-icers for squirting into the frozen lock. If you buy a bottle, don't store it in the car, or you won't be able to get to it when the locks freeze.*
Prevention:
To prevent frozen locks, buy liquid graphite, which prevents water from freezing. Treat locks throughout the winter.
p. 91 (* If you store this guide in your car, memorize "Freeing a Frozen Lock.")
I was given "Do It!" last winter, in the midst of some hellish car times. It didn't prevent my truck from breaking down with alarming frequency, but I did sometimes know the reason why. And when I didn't, I'd use the book to translate the local mechanic's diagnosis. The handiest tip I took from the book is to crank up your heating when your engine overheats (which mine seems to do within 5 miles of any large city). And believe it or not, "Do It!" also functions as the Williamstown equivalent of a cocktail conversation guide. No one round here really gives a shit about the hippest joint in town (we've been to both) but tell a guy how to dig his truck out of three feet of snow -- now that's conversation.
You can order "Do It!" from amazon.com. The "Do It!" series includes books on bike repairs, home repairs, gardening, and plumbing.
