What to do if the car door is jammed?

There are many different reasons why you might find that the lock on your car door is stuck. There may be dirt or ice inside the castle; maybe it's broken or just needs to be loosened up a bit. This will inevitably happen at a time when you do not have free time, and this can be very frustrating. The good news is that you don't have to call an emergency locksmith or mechanic to come and help you, you can actually fix the problem yourself.

stuck in the cold

If it is very cold outside, then the most likely cause of the lock jamming is ice. Use a hair dryer or a cup of hot water to warm up the lock and then try again. If that doesn't work, there's likely something more serious with the lock and you'll have to try alternative methods. First you should try to lubricate the lock itself. Sometimes individual tumblers in a lock can get stuck against each other and they just need some lube to help them slide past each other. Aerosol lube is the easiest to use as you can spray it right through the keyhole. If that doesn't work the first time, try moving the key in the lock to see if that helps move the tumblers. Repeat the process if necessary.

Remove the door panel

If none of these methods work, then it's time to take more drastic measures. You will need to remove the door panel itself to get a good view of the car's internal door mechanism. Remove any hidden screws and clips and remove all parts that hold the panel to the door. Then use a flashlight to inspect the lock cylinder to make sure all the tumblers are properly aligned. If you have power locks, you should also check engine to make sure it's working properly, as it might be electrical fault. You can determine if the problem is electronic by disconnecting the motor from the lock and trying to turn the key in the lock. If it works, you will know that the key and lock are fine, but the motor needs to be replaced.

call a friend

If none of these methods shed light on the problem, it's time to call a locksmith. They will have the expertise needed to diagnose and fix the problem in the shortest possible time.