HELP: Door key lock jams when it gets cold

[dorin]

The driver's side door key lock becomes impossible to turn whenever the temperature drops below freezing. It always got stiff in the winter but now it's becoming impossible to open the car when it's cold.<P>I tried sparying in WD-40, graphite lock lubricant, teflon Liquid Wrench, etc... None of these really helped. Any ideas anyone, I'm getting tired of having to go in through the passenger's side.

[tk1138]

Check out the Technical Service Bulletins, there's one on this problem. Alternately you could get a keyless entry system, I plan on doing this to my car for the same reason.<P>tk1138

[93mxrgs]

ummm or u could just not use ur air circulate, and always bring in fresh cabin air, cause there moisture that u put into the air from ur breath messes with it, mine were doin the same thing but when i stopped using the circulate, i have had NO problems, and we;ve had sum subzero days

[dorin]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 93mxrgs:<BR><STRONG>ummm or u could just not use ur air circulate, and always bring in fresh cabin air, cause there moisture that u put into the air from ur breath messes with it, mine were doin the same thing but when i stopped using the circulate, i have had NO problems, and we;ve had sum subzero days</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I never use my re-circulate setting so it's always fresh air in the car. Good idea though, re-circulatiing the cabin air does indeed make things a little to moist for my liking, so fresh air is better!

[justin h]

My lock does the same, and it has bent my key because of it. I got the power locks to fix this problem, but I still need to use WD-40 and graphite. The lock will pop open when I unarm my alarm, but it will not completely lock back when I start my car or arm my alarm. I bet its a defect with the lock. My mx-3 is a 92, and I do not see much cold weather where I live.

[Savvy]

I have the same problem on mine. I use the remote to unlock the door and its like the lock doesn't catch properly cos it doesn't unlock, however the locks go out. It always works when using the key but I also get the problem when I lock the doors on the inside of the car, when I go to unlock the door, unless you do it really hard it wont unlock.<BR>I found that really slamming the lock back makes it work again, then open the door and with the door open lock the door, shut it and it should work again, for a while anyway.<BR>It started with me when it got cold too, now it doesn't really get cold, no way below freezing anyway. I'll get it checked at the next service I think.