OT -- car door locks need lubrication

[Stormin Mormon]

With the family pattern established, I'd also be cautious.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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[TimR]

Graphite is electrically conductive.

House locks don't care, at least at my house there's no wiring.

Automotive locks are a different story. There are lots of connections in both door and ignition locks. I'm wary of introducing another failure mode.

[Stormin Mormon]

there's no wiring.

are lots of connections in both door and ignition locks. I'm wary of introducing another failure mode.

I've heard that for some vehicle ignition locks.

Not sure if door locks are a concern.

[clare]

The switch is not the lock. Your ignition switch is often a good foot from the cyl. In the car door all of the switches are generally quite a distance from the cyl. I've NEVER seen an ignition switch or doorlock switch fail from any lubricant put into the cyl and doubt you ever will either.

[Stormin Mormon]

The vehicle ignitions I've serviced, the cylinder and switch often butt up against each other.

Some new GM, there is the resistor pellet in the key, and that can be affected by conductive graphite.

Older cars, with the key in the dash, often the cylinder and the switch were part of the same unit.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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[Stormin Mormon]

Which make and models are like this? I've not seen this kind of car.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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[clare]

And many just have a rod from the cyl down to the ignition switch lower down on the steering column. Even the ones directly coupled to the cyl are physically separated - the cyl is in a casting with the switch screwed or clipped onto the outer side of the casting.

[clare]

Almost all Chrysler products from '70 to '90, Lots of Cadilacs and Oldsmobiles in the sixties as well as many '86-98 GM vehicles, and a lot of Fords from '70 to '98, Just about any vehicle using a Saginaw manufactured tilt column used them. This includes a lot of AMC, International Harvestor and Jeep vehicles as well as GM.

Integrated ignition switches all but dissapeared except for some of the Japanese manufacturers up untill the mid-late '90s., and other than dash mounted ignition switches virtually NO north american vehicle used direct operated switch (on the end of the cyl) except for vehicles like the Mystique that were actually european vehicles built in North America - and north american build Japanese brands.

This may have changed in recent years., but I know my 2002 Taurus is remote mounted, actuated by a rack and pinion. The 95 Mistique had the switch about 6 inches from the cyl, but mounted co-axially - in such a way it would be almost impossible for any lubricant introduced into the cyl to get into the switch...

[John G]

You only need to LUBICATE the cylinder, not FLOOD the cabin with graphite :-? NEVER put oil or WD 40 in the cylinder. :-Z

And what a dumb thread by pedantics arguing about things they only have fleeting knowledge of. :-Z

[Stormin Mormon]

What is one such vehicle with the rod from the cyl to the switch?

[Stormin Mormon]

ago, when I had a Chevette. I some how remember the ign cylinder had a gear

on it, and that gear went to a od tha worked the lock which was a couple inches

away. Right, some of the saginaw columns. There was a problem with crooks who

would smash the cheap metal to get at the lock.

virtually NO north american

[clare]

Virtually every one I referenced. Anything with a saginaw tilt column, which means virtually every midline or better GM, many fords and many Mopars.And AMC

Also some Ford and Mopar without Saginaw tilt column

That's just for starters.

[Stormin Mormon]

And, idiotic spelling flames, ending a sentence a preposition with!

Still, I'd avoid graphite in cylinders which use electrical contacts, as graphite can be conductive to trouble in those.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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[TimR]

Hey, I didn't know that about the rod and gear. Thanks.

[Jeff Wisnia]

Uh, isn't that 62 degrees below freezing?

Who is the moron now?

Jeff

[Stormin Mormon]

I may print that one out. Much too good.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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[Jeff Wisnia]

Ditto...

I don't have problems with our car door locks freezing, but one of cars (a 2004 Lincoln LS) has an annoying problem a couple of times each winter. If it's been above freezing and raining and then the temperature drops quite a bit the front passenger door latch won't do its thing and keep the door closed. Obviously something is freezing up inside the door.

I only notice this happening if a passenger gets in and the sound of the door closing and latching isn't isn't normal. If I let the engine warm up and turn the heater on full blast in about 5 minutes whatever is frozen melts and the door latching returns to normal and stays that way for a long time until the next "rain and freeze" situation.

Yeah, I know, I should pull the inside panel off that door and see what I could lube up, maybe I'll get to it this year.....

Jeff

[Stormin Mormon]

The quick and dirty way:

After dark, go out with the car keys, Mini Mag flash light, and WD-40 with the LRT.

Roll the window down. Lean over, look in with the mini mag. At the door edge, you should see mechanism. Use the LRT to hose down the latch mechanism.

Pull the door lock and opening handle (while watching from above into the door) to see what moves. Hose it down again with WD.

Remit $47.50 for internet consultation.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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[Jeff Wisnia]

Is the "LRT" similar to the "Smart Straw" shown here?

I'm assuming that's what you were telling me to use to get the spray to emerge lower than the top edge of the window slot.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Stormin Mormon]

LRT are what we used in the days before smart straws were invented.

Same general concept. Much less convenient.

- . Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus

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