Are your car door locks sticky? Unfortunately, many car owners ignore their sticky car door locks until the damage is already done. Neglecting sticky car door locks can result in broken locks or keys. If any of your locks are sticky, we urge you to take care of them as soon as possible. Dirt, rust, ice, and wear and tear can cause your car locks to become sticky. Fortunately, there are several solutions ranging from cleaning your locks to calling a 24-hour car locksmith Campbell for help.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for a Sticky Door Lock?
While there are numerous ways that car door locks can become stuck, we’re going to focus on the most common causes. Reading through these explanations will help you understand why your car door lock is sticking; nevertheless, if you are reading this article for educational purposes, you never know when this information will come in handy!
Dirt
Parking or even driving through dusty areas (particularly off-roading) can produce a gradual build-up of dirt and debris, clogging the internals of your car doors and resulting in sticky car door locks. Cleaning or using a lubricant will usually do the trick. However, in more severe cases, your lock can become rusty or break, necessitating more drastic measures.
Rust
Uncoated metal in a car such as a car door lock assembly or lock cylinder can rust when exposed to moisture. Depending on the situation, you may be able to clean or lubricate the rusted metal. However, it is vital to address the issue as soon as possible since rust can weaken the metal and cause it to break more easily.
Ice
Fortunately, ice is only an issue in certain regions, and even if it is, most car owners store their vehicles in garages where ice won’t form in or around the car door. If ice forms in or around your car doors, you’ll have two problems: you won’t be able to open the doors, and melting ice can lead to rust. So, after you get the doors open and remove the ice, use a towel to wipe up the remaining water to prevent your car doors from rusting.
Wear and Tear
Another common cause for sticky door locks is wear and tear, which can cause parts to move inadequately. This occurs when locks shave off small bits of material over time, which leads parts to become misshapen to the point of malfunctioning. If your car locks are sticking due to wear and tear, it’s likely that you will need to partially or fully replace certain parts. Reach out to a 24-hour car locksmith Campbell for a partial or full replacement. While wear and tear is inevitable, you can slow down the process by not locking and unlocking your car too frequently.
4 Ways to Fix Sticky Car Door Locks
Now that you’re aware of a few of the most common reasons for sticky car door locks, let’s take a look at several solutions. However, if you’ve examined your car doors and still can’t figure out what’s causing the issue, you may want to call a 24-hour car locksmith Campbell for assistance.
Cleaning and Lubricating
Before lubricating your locks, you should clean them. But, you must first figure out which part of the car lock needs to be cleaned. If your car door is stuck, you will need to figure out how to open it. You can either try to manipulate the lock using your car key or key fob or you can contact an automotive locksmith near you.
If your car key is sticking in the lock, you will need to clean the cylinder. To do this, wrap a dry cloth around the tip of a screwdriver then insert it into the door lock and rotate it. Do you need to tug at your door several times to open it? If this is the case, you’ll need to clean the door latch. If your car door won’t open from the inside or outside, you should clean the car door lock assembly.
After cleaning your lock, you can lubricate the area with a silicone spray lubricant. If your lock is frozen, use a lubricant that lowers the freezing point of the surface, to avoid repeated freezing. Rusty parts should be treated with a rust-removing solvent and polished to prevent further rusting. After applying lubricant, make sure to wipe down the car door lock to ensure that it doesn’t trap any dust or dirt, which can lead to more issues. If cleaning and lubricating do not resolve the problem, you may need to repair or replace the faulty component.
Repair
To repair your sticky car door lock, you’ll need to remove the car door panel and try locking and unlocking your car door. Notice how the door lock assembly is moving. This should help you figure out what is causing the trouble and determine if you need to lubricate, reconnect, or weld. But don’t worry if you can’t find out what’s causing the problem! Simply contact a 24-hour car locksmith Campbell.
Replacement
While you may have the option of partial replacement depending on what parts you need, if those parts are not available, you may have to settle for a full replacement. When the condition of a car door lock worsens, full replacement may be necessary. If you plan on buying parts from an online retailer, keep in mind that getting the proper replacement parts may be difficult if the components are not supplied by a professional.
Call an Automotive Locksmith
Reaching out to a 24-hour car locksmith Campbell is strongly recommended if your car door locks are sticky. Not only will an automotive locksmith be able to provide you with the necessary parts, but they will be able to properly diagnose the issue and come up with an appropriate solution to your particular situation. While you are welcome to diagnose and address the issue by yourself, sometimes DIY methods can make matters worse. Save yourself money and time by hiring an automotive locksmith in Campbell. Real Time Locksmith is only a phone call away!
