did break something in my lock?

[BerniniCaCO3]

`It's been pretty warm, but we finally got snow yesterday-- luckily I was off of work anyhow.
Today I went to drive to work, and my key couldn't unlock my driver door. Must've been frozen; key would not turn either way even after I broke through the layer of ice and got it into the lock. So I scooted in the passenger side, and when I arrived at work, I opened the driver door from inside. Seemed OK. Crunchy sound as the ice broke free.

Now, I can't lock it. Power lock won't lock it. Key won't turn it: clockwise locks the door, and no matter how I work the key around (never had problems before), it won't budge in the clockwise direction now.. I *think* I hear the actuator working. It's stuck unlocked, now that I've opened it from the inside.

Did I brake a linkage somewhere?
Or is the latch still iced up, and it might work later when it's had a chance to thaw out?

[miamibob]

Could be a bad lock actuator....

[johnunit]

you've got ice in the works somewhere. you forced it unlocked with the extreme leverage of the inner door handle. it then re-froze unlocked.

[Ryan12689]

Try spraying WD-40, Lock De-Icer, and some PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench in to the key hole. Then get some marine grease in there.

[Mainemantom]

In an emergency get a lighter and heat up the key. +1 on WD40 and use it around the door seal. When the door itself is frozen shut I use the Prestone windshield deicer.

[gadget73]

its the lock actuator. Heating the key won't un-jam it. Pull the door panel and unhook the rod to the actuator and see if that doesn't fix it. The dew wipes get bad and let more water than normal dump onto the actuator, which probably has a rubber boot that looks more like a worn out sock than a watertight seal. The water lays in there and freezes when it gets cold.

[johnunit]

its the lock actuator. Heating the key won't un-jam it. Pull the door panel and unhook the rod to the actuator and see if that doesn't fix it. The dew wipes get bad and let more water than normal dump onto the actuator, which probably has a rubber boot that looks more like a worn out sock than a watertight seal. The water lays in there and freezes when it gets cold.

What he said.

The stuff Tom and Ryan said are valid with a general "my locks are frozen" situation, but what you're describing indicates the actuator specifically. Stuff applied into the key hole is unlikely to get to it.

[miamibob]

+1 as I said......

[marquisman]

Along with the actuator, you might have bent a rod or two. The door pannel has to come off regardless. I ditched the front door power lock actuators in my wagon, for this reason.

[86VickyLX]

Like Gadget said it's the actuator. I've had multiple times in cold weather where the key wouldn't turn with the actuators attached. Hell sometimes if it was cold enough it wouldn't even unlock electronically. Had to park it in a warm garage or leave it sit out in the sun all day before it would free up. My solution was getting door lock actuators that still had the rubber condom on them to keep the moisture out. And even now they turn freely by the key.

[miamibob]

There is a seller, on EBAY, from Deerfield Florida selling them for approx $50 - FORD OEM! Look it up and let us know.

[GM_Guy]

If you have illuminated entry, make yourself some door lock covers for the winter. Keeps water from pooling on the bezel and seeping in through the key hole, and down into the mechanism. Works for me, havn't had a frozen lock since doing this.

Alex.

[miamibob]

VERY cool idea!

[Mainemantom]

I like the lock cover idea. great for my TC that sits outside waiting to be used if the Subaru breaks.

[turbo2256b]

If its just the key lock have had excellents results filling a zip lock bag with hot water and holding it against the lock. Thats if your near a hot water sourse.