It’s really not my week is it?

[erastes]

Went to the shop, and my car key got stuck in the car door. Simply will NOT come out. Sword in the Stone job.  Thank God I live in Norfolk and not somewhere where the car will be gone in the morning. Have to leave the car open, obviously. If they want to steal a tatty blanket, some air freshener and four bags of wine bottles, then they are welcome to them.

Will try some WD40 on it tomorrow. GRRR.

Comments

Of Locks, keys and mechanics

[johnrw.livejournal.com]

First, leaving it is probably for the best, continuing to wrestle with it will only raise blood pressure and possibly bend the key.

Next strategies to retrieve key: As it's possible that the lock barrel isn't properly aligned within the lock the little pins in the lock won't release the key. Assuming that the key is fully home in the lock twist the lock to both lock the door and unlock it again and return it to the mid/rest/neutral position. Hopefully the pins should now all be lined up and allow the key to slide out.

If the key isn't properly seated within the lock try pushing it IN and jiggle it a bit as you do

How far are you from the sea? WD40 may be great at unseizing rusted bolts, but seems to attract corrosion in salty environments so use another oil to lubricate the lock after retrieving key. it may be better to use a light machine/sewing machine oil or one containing graphite

Re: Of Locks, keys and mechanics

[erastes.livejournal.com]

the key won't move. not one millimeter, it turned about quarter of a way around and ground to a halt - so won't move, won't jiggle! i'll try some oil and then take it to the garage. OH JOY.

Thanks though, hun!

[ammonite7.livejournal.com]

Hugs and kisses - we love you even if your car does not. Persnickety thing.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

:)

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

Very hot water shrinks metal...but I have a bad head and cannot think practically how to apply this information to your predicament : )

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I thought metal expanded when hot!?

[johnrw.livejournal.com]

It does, I suspect kittymay has mixed up thawing frozen locks in winter!

Sometimes using a a freezing spray will cause the lock barrel to contract slightly giving you a tiny degree of freedom to move it. Alternatively heat the entire door lock area and apply cold water to lock barrel to achieve a similar effect.

However both of those have side effects namely if water has got into the lock a freeze spray will add ice to your woes and in the second you're going to encourage corrosion/ frozen locks in future.

One trick which often works on older Ford locks is to put half a tennis ball over the lock and smack it sharply, The pulse of high pressure air can pop stuck lock barrel pins

Given that you said the lock was quarter turned before seizing it could be that the connection between the lock barrel and the actual bolt mechanism is disrupted in some way, in which casebetter let a mechanic look at it - so long as you can open the door it shouldn't take long to discover whether that is the problem

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have checked now and it is that way round. I am over 30 so I get mixed, you know : )

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should boil the car?

[joannesopercook.livejournal.com]

What the hell is going on today??? Everybody I know has had an utter shit of a day, or at least some serious weirdness going on...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

*grumbles* Cant even blame Mercury.

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

i leave you alone for 4 days... :P

exploding dishwashers? keys? :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

not dishwasher - dont own one. washer-dryer

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

300miles of driving. brain gone.

Going to read new Terry Pratchett now, so not all bad.

xxx