In this blog entry, the professional Chicagoland emergency automotive locksmith service here at Chicago Locksmith will detail some useful tips for temporarily fixing a jammed car door lock so that you can easily access your vehicle if you need to before receiving professional locksmith assistance.
What are the common reasons for jammed car locks?
- Dust, dirt, and debris building up in lock cylinders
- Corrosion and rust due to moisture, humidity, and road salt
- Frozen car locks
- Misaligned lock mechanisms
- Worn out lock mechanisms
- Broken keys stuck inside of your locks
- Door handles or door latches failing
What are some easy temporary fixes for fixing a jammed car lock?
- Lubricate your car lock with graphite powder, silicone-based spray, or WD-40. Insert the lubricant nozzle in the keyhole, spray a small amount of it in it while slowly inserting and removing the key. Then wiggle the key gently to effectively distribute the lubricant in the lock, and do this multiple times if necessary until the key turns slowly. We recommend avoiding oil based lubricants if you can.
- Jiggle the key while applying gentle pressure, up and down. Don’t force the key – if it still meets resistance, try another method.
- Use a thin plastic strip cut from a plastic bottle to slide between the latch and door frame and wiggle it to try to disengage the latch.
- Lightly tap the lock cylinder with a small light hammer or screwdriver handle. Tap the lock lightly while attempting to turn the key.
- Remove broken pieces of a key from the lock with needle nose pliers or tweezers if a part of the key is sticking out. If it isn’t, contact a professional broken key extraction team like us here at Chicago Locksmith for professional assistance.
What should I never do with a jammed car lock?
- Don’t force the key to turn
- Avoid using objects like bobby pins or paperclips in the lock
- Don’t use excessive heat like the flame from a lighter
- Avoid oil based lubricants that can attract dirt buildup over time
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