Winter Sucks

[chitownvic]

Uhhhhhh.....The crown Vics door locks have been acting up now that it has been -3 with the wind chill. The problem is that I am unable to unlock the door with the key. the key won't move to the left (unlock position). I can move it to the lock positon (right) no problem. It seems to me that its not the tumbler but the acuator thats sticking ? And yes I have tried Lock-ease and all that bull shit but it doesent help when its this cold. Does anyone have any ideas on wht I can do....Thanks

[marquisman]

i had this prob before. can you get the door open? you have to get lube to the door latch its self witch usally means removal of the door panel but sometimes you can soak it threw where the latch hooks on to the door striker. if you cant get the door open by key, from the inside you can carefuly put some force on the manual lock tabe on the inside towards the un-lock position and pull on the door lock lever and you just might pop the door open but, long story short is that the door latch mechinism get moisture or gets some water in it and freezes.

[chitownvic]

I can get the door open but only from the inside and the latch inside will sometimes stick and I will have to push the door open.

[fordktpjoe]

What marquisman said. Just don't do what I did. Same thing happened to me last winter, except in my stupidity, I yanked the outer door handle so hard I bent the actuator rod inside the door so that it came out of the door handle, and left me with a door handle that did absolutely nothing.

Got me some silicone spray, sprayed the weatherstripping down, and when I removed the door panel to fix the bent rod, I used lithium grease to coat every moving part on the latch and lock mechanism.

No problems since.

[turbo2256b]

sometimes i have filled a ziplock bag with hot water and held it against the door were the lock is ... usually works.. Needs lubed as previously mentioned.

[chitownvic]

I don't have a problem with the door handels its the locks. the key goes in fine but it won't turn to the left so I can unlock it, it only turns to the right. so then I have to open the passenger door, lean over and open the door and then the handle inside has not been wanting to open the door i have to pull real hard and sometimes push on the door and then it opens. Thanks guys!

[crown vic muscle]

i had the same problem, what worked for me was spraying a liqufied graphite in there and it was fine!

[marquisman]

graphite in a spray can is good stuff

[turbo2256b]

Funny thing I think I remember reading in the Ford manual not to use graphite in the locks.

[marquisman]

ya, and on the 88-91 boxes they put sealer around all the door seals and would eventualy rust real bad behind it lol

[chitownvic]

Thank guys.... but yes I have used the graphite spray and it was working fine ntil Friday... but i think im going to put a propane heater on the door. Worked before on my GMarq....I hope using the graphite didnt fuck anything up