Anyone got a decent hot key?

lordrobs · 12 Dec 2008 at 19:28

The lock on Janes polo froze solid making her 30 minutes late for work today. Whilst I found this quite amusing she was less impressed

Does any one here have one of those hot keys that they could recommend? The only one I've seen recently was in poundland and lets just say it didn't look the best quality...

Just something compact(ish) that does the job is all thats required.

Thanks.

ShakenNstirred · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:05

well its only £1 so isnt it worth trying

lordrobs · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:09

ShakenNstirred said:
well its only £1 so isnt it worth trying

You have a point... unless it sets light to the inside of her handbag or falls apart in the lock

Begbie · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:13

Is it bad to heat up the key with a lighter?

Mr Jack · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:15

Warm water should do the trick.

lordrobs · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:29

Begbie said:
Is it bad to heat up the key with a lighter?

No idea, its got an imobiliser though so I assume there is some cip or something inside. Knowing her she'd melt it though

Edit- Another thought that just popped in my head- if I shove some wd40 in there would that dispel any moisture for a week or so stopping ice from forming in the first place?

Cr0fty · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:30

Can someone please explain what this thread is about?

Hot...key? 0.o

Fr0dders · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:37

Cr0fty said:
Can someone please explain what this thread is about?

Hot...key? 0.o

defrosting frozen car locks.

merlin · 12 Dec 2008 at 20:53

Vaseline.

ShakenNstirred · 12 Dec 2008 at 21:02

Mr Jack said:
Warm water should do the trick.

lmao

Dreadi · 12 Dec 2008 at 21:27

Same thing happen to my girlfriends golf, one occasion we couldn't get into it and another we couldn't lock it, tis very annoying

Lopéz · 12 Dec 2008 at 21:52

ShakenNstirred said:
lmao

I think he meant splash some hot water over the lock to defrost it in seconds rather than use hot water to warm up the key....

howthe · 12 Dec 2008 at 22:45

Get some sandwich bags, then when the lock freezes half fill with hot water and hold the bag against the lock. This will thaw it out and not introduce more water into the lock.

Once thawed, squirt a load of WD40 into it to help.

Don't suffer with frozen locks due to central locking, however our golf is a PITA when it comes to the doors freezing shut! It actually took me 10 minutes to get into the car the other morning purely because they were all frozen shut!

EvilDreams · 12 Dec 2008 at 23:11

You can get "lock de-icer" which is like a mini-can of normal de-icer with a needle-like attachment on the spray bit so you can apply it into the lock. Worked fine for me on my old car which didn't have remote locks.

lordrobs · 12 Dec 2008 at 23:57

EvilDreams said:
You can get "lock de-icer" which is like a mini-can of normal de-icer with a needle-like attachment on the spray bit so you can apply it into the lock. Worked fine for me on my old car which didn't have remote locks.

This sounds perfect! Reminds me of that King of the Hill episode where Hank pulls out a mini can of WD40 to loosen the lid of his full sized one

Will have a look in Halfords to see if I can find one

ShakenNstirred · 13 Dec 2008 at 00:33

Lopéz said:
I think he meant splash some hot water over the lock to defrost it in seconds rather than use hot water to warm up the key....

getting water near the lock isnt really a good idea as that the reason its froze in the first place

heating the key is a better idea

Solari · 13 Dec 2008 at 12:29

Stick the key in the microwave for 2 mins before heading out.

Don't do this...

rG-tom · 13 Dec 2008 at 13:27

curveball here but what about a cheap remote central locking kit?

howthe · 13 Dec 2008 at 14:04

seriously, a sandwich bag, a plastic bag, a hot water bottle, anything like that. Fill with hot water and hold against lock. 30 seconds later and its thawed out. then just fill with WD40.

Dave M · 13 Dec 2008 at 14:11

rG-tom said:
curveball here but what about a cheap remote central locking kit?

Umm, the mechanism freezes, so a remote locking unit is just as susceptable (if not more - the motors rarely have as much force as you can exert).

Although remote locking does give you one advantage - you can spray wd40 in and tape over the keyhole with duct tape, do it every weekend and you should be fine.

My more mechanically apt friends take the lock apart and grease it properly which apparently lasts all winter.