marcs1337

so this morning, i couldnt get my door to open on my 94 del sol...the temperature dropped really low last night and i hadnt driven my car since friday...

i hear this is a pretty common problem in the winter for older civics...

anyone have any tips to getting the lock to turn after it is frozen?

97civicdx

Try the other door.
Get lock de icer

marcs1337

i plan on picking up some lock de icer, but the situation i was in this morning there was none available...

i even tried heating my key with a lighter and it didnt work

KingKhong

poor hot water from the sink onto the keyhole. I too have a 94 del sol and it did that last winter. hasn't happened yet this winter.

Mr.Chow

crawl in through the trunk...oh wait ****...

KingKhong

you gotta remember to shut the trunk while you're in it, or it will not work.

bullitz400

heat gun

VTECcivicDOWORK

take a lighter and put your key in the flame for 30 seconds or a minute. the key will kinda turn black but it whipes right off. once the key is really hot stick it in the lock and unlock the door. i read about it online and it worked for me.

marcs1337

i hear the lighter trick works quite well...i tried it but my flame kept going out, it was windy

honda.lioness

I would not pour hot water on the lock, because this will just add more water that can freeze lock parts. Try a hair dryer/heat gun, like the other person said. Then buy some "Lock-Ease" (a well-known graphite solution) and follow the directions on its lable. At some point consider removing the lock cylinder and cleaning all the muck out of it, then lubing it with spray-on silicone lubricant. The lock should work like new. Here are two good descriptions of disassembly:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/diy-fixing-doorlocks-open-any-key-2237857/
http://www.zeebuck.com/bimmers/tech/...doorlocks.html