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Cuthbert

Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Up North
Posts: 1535

Frozen Locks

Bit chilly this morning! The Defender's drivers door lock was frozen solid - couldn't even get the key in, never mind turn it. Went round to the passenger door - same problem.

Went to the rear door - no problem opening it but then had to climb through into the driver's seat wearing my best business attire.

Tried opening the driver's door from the inside - frozen solid.

Then the fun began - tried to get the Adrenalin pedal lock off, seated in the driver's seat with the door still locked shut and not a lot of wiggle room.

Meanwhile the deadline for arriving at a business meeting is looming. Eventually I drive off with front doors still frozen and locked shut - hope I don't need to make a quick exit in the event of an accident.

After driving 15 miles down the road, heater full on - the doors are still frozen shut. A few miles later, I arrive at the business address and make my exit via the passenger door - that lock has now unfrozen from the inside. Business colleagues think this is a great advert for Land Rover quality and reliability.

Try to secure vehicle from the outside but the locks are so frozen they won't turn.

By now business colleagues are laughing at this 1 year old, over-priced museum piece and reminding me that the spirit of British Leyland lives on.

Any tips for keeping those 'value-engineered' locks operational in cold weather - apart from dousing in that nasty fluid known as WD40?

19th Jan 2015 11:27pm

SS90

Member Since: 16 Nov 2013
Location: Uk
Posts: 372

Would Glycerine be any good?

19th Jan 2015 11:38pm

sweepc

Member Since: 19 Jun 2011
Location: uk
Posts: 568

2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

How about acf50 or a graphite lock lubricant?

19th Jan 2015 11:57pm

OldhamLandy

Member Since: 17 Oct 2013
Location: somewhere
Posts: 164

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

Silicone spray works for me - suffered on a few occasions previously with the early morning acrobatics due to frozen locks thus tried the silicone spray applied to the locking mechanism and door rubbers and voila, door locks work perfectly even in a harsh frost

2016 Defender 90xs SW - Santorini Black with Silver Pack
2014 Defender 90xs SW - Corris Grey with Santorini Black Roof

20th Jan 2015 12:05am

landroverdiver

Member Since: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Renfrewshire
Posts: 193

I had a similar experience 4-weeks ago when I was home (now back in the tropics mid thirties and 100% humidity, it doesnt seem possible!).

I had the door cards off last summer and lubricated the mechanisms with white lithium grease. From what I gleaned after my episode, this solidifies as you get down to freezing temperatures and the central locking solenoid does not have the required power to overcome the extra resistance, so it simply never unlocks the door.

I believe it is the drivers door solenoid which is the master, so this is the main problem.

When I am next home, at the summer, I intend to open everything back up again, clean everything off, and spray with ACF50

20th Jan 2015 5:22am

driver9

Member Since: 15 Oct 2012
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 111

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

sweepc wrote:
How about acf50 or a graphite lock lubricant?

Did mine as above last year. Worked then and still okay.

20th Jan 2015 6:57am

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

Push the blade of your key into a tube of silicon grease and then into the lock and turn a few times... No more problems. Do the same with the fuel tank cap key/lock.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

20th Jan 2015 7:04am

Brewstop

Member Since: 28 Oct 2012
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 315

2002 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Zambezi Silver

SS90 wrote:
Would Glycerine be any good?

Nitro Glycerine? Sandy

20th Jan 2015 7:05am

munch90

Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

think that's what my van door just needed , some Nitro Glycerine to get it open

20th Jan 2015 7:12am

Brewstop

Member Since: 28 Oct 2012
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 315

Sandy

20th Jan 2015 7:23am

Higgers

Member Since: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 668

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red

Silicone spray for seals and ACF50 for the locks

21st Jan 2015 8:52pm

VeeTee

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1512

The Hi-Tech solution: Heated Door Locks...
(Website in dutch - try Google Translate) Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold)
1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold)
1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold)
1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold)
2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold)
2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold)

MySite

21st Jan 2015 9:29pm

zone30

Member Since: 07 Sep 2012
Location: Gent
Posts: 669

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 X-Tech LE Nara Bronze

Had to open the car several times this morning, it kept closing itself back a few times. Then suddenly it worked.
Probably something that was frozen stuck (push button maybe) making the system think it needed to close up again.

22nd Jan 2015 7:49am

Kent_keith

Member Since: 01 Jun 2014
Location: Kent
Posts: 388

? Just poor warm water over the windscreen untill all the ice has gone, I do this to frozen door rubbers too, I've done it to all my cars over 30 years and never cracked a screen?

Disclaimer don't copy ME .

2005 TD5 90 CSW XS

22nd Jan 2015 6:20pm

Cuthbert

Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Up North
Posts: 1535

Interesting mix of solutions offered - thanks.

Having previously 'puffed' dry graphite powder into the locks - I'm not too keen on using AC50 as well (after all it's a bit like WD40 - not really recommended for locks).

Ericvv's suggestion of silicon grease appeals on the grounds that it is already used in some applications of locks.

However that would suit the inner part of the barrel - it's the outer length of the barrel that appears to freeze, plus the mechanism - so I may end up removing the door card and investigating the innards for lubrication and anti-moisture treatment.

22nd Jan 2015 8:27pm

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