What a morning

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:33 pm

Knew it was cold last night, but didn't anticipate my locks being frozen this morning.
However, after much key-turning back and forth I eventually got the door open, started the engine, and grabbed my bottle of de-icer. After clearing the ice from the windows, I couldn't get back into the car - door's jammed solid, surely not cold enough to have frozen over, I think.

Then realise, aw sh*t: before removing the key from the door I had turned it back to the locked position. So I was stuck out on the street, with the car happily idling away, and they keys (incl house keys) locked inside.

Phonecall to the wife who's on the train to work, to tell her to get the first train straight back, and let me into the house so I could get the spare key.

Anyway, half an hour later I'm in the car, and happily on my way. About a mile down the road I start hearing a repetitive noise. Get out and check, and lo and behold, there's a fat fcuk screw in my rear tyre.
It's sticking out half an inch, so figure I better remove it otherwise the tyre will rip. I can already hear the air escaping, so know it's only gonna get worse when I get it out. Hsssssssss......

Used tyre-weld for the first time - only about half the can was transferred; what a load of sh*t. Reinflated the tyre (thankfully carry a 12v inflator) and hoped for the best.
Got to work, and it still seems to be inflated, so will hopefully hold until I get a replacement.

mattg · Post by **mattg** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:56 pm

nae luck son

good luck for the rest of the week

Now that its proper baltic, i carry one of those wee flame thrower lighters. Can be very handy for heating a key to unfreeze a lock.

Post by **Shug** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:08 pm

Lucky

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:15 pm

Oh dear...

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:19 pm

I knew I should have bought those clothes-pegs off the old woman who came to the door last night.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:28 pm

sounds like Satan has indeed yacked in your kettle

steve_weegie · Post by **steve_weegie** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:31 pm

Hmm.... she wasnt doing deals on strange little dolls with a free pack of pins was she?

Nae luck matey... My drivers lock was frozen today so i went round to the pax seat to try that door. It opened no problem,as i'd forgot to lock it

StiflerMR2 · Post by **StiflerMR2** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:05 pm

missus wasn't too happy yesterday morning when i failed to give her a lift into work as i couldnt get into the car

I didnt even try this morning, walked straight past the car onto the bus

Think i'll need to skoosh some WD40 in there for next time

Corranga · Post by **Corranga** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:29 pm

Not so good on the tyre, and i'm sorry to say i laughed a lot when you locked yourself out...

Having had a Mini as my daily driver for 5 years, i'm used to locks freezing pretty much every day, and once you get the lock opened, realising that the door has frozen into the frame.

I've also had the door lock mechanism freeze open whilst scraping the car so the door would bounce rather than close! That car made me late for work on more than a few winter occassions!

Skyenet · Post by **Skyenet** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:34 pm

StiflerMR2 wrote: Think i'll need to skoosh some WD40 in there for next time

works on locks and door frames

My bike got a liberal spraying of WD40 after its run yesterday.

We used to use it years ago to clean the salt water off helicopters when they landed on aircraft carriers. Went through gallons and gallons of the stuff.

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:25 pm

I've not had any problems with locks freezing up (I'm one of the woofters with remote central locking

) but the drivers door catch siezes up on cold mornings. Did this when I first got it, so MMC replaced it. It's doing it again now

I get the door open, but when I pull it closed it just bounces off the doorpin again. Slamming it doesn't work. You have to pull it closed as far as possible then just slam for the last inch or so. It's going in later this week, so they'll hopefully fix it this time.

I have to admit I also laughed at the locking yourself out the car bit Scott . . . sorry

I'd go with Matt's advice . . . I've always known the lighter heating up the key trick to work

bobnitro · Post by **bobnitro** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:14 pm

Hi Scott,

I have my last set of tyres in the garage as a back up incase of such an emergency. The backs are near the limit but give me a shout if you need one to get you by.

Cheers

Bob

cla5h · Post by **cla5h** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:28 am

Thanks for the offer Bob, but I'm getting a new one put on today.

The tyreweld seems to have held, even though the can nowhere near emptied itself.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:40 am

Lighter on the key also helps I've found in the past. unlucky on the tyre front

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:20 pm

GregR wrote:Lighter on the key also helps I've found in the past. unlucky on the tyre front

Doesn't stop you locking your keys in the car though...