Cars suffer in winter. Owners should keep this in mind and take preventive steps to avoid having to deal with a dead battery or other frost-related problems in the morning, for example. Otherwise, you may not drive to work in the morning. But the worst case scenario is that you don’t even get to your car. And since car locks tend to freeze in cold weather, this is also a very likely possibility. Unless you know a simple trick with duct tape.

The cold can damage your car significantly. And we don’t just mean winter accidents, which often happen because of ice, but also the frost itself, which takes its toll on the vehicle. That’s why it’s very important to take care of your car. Ideally before any complications arise. Of course, repairs are also an option, but isn’t it better to prevent problems?

A car is easily damaged in winter

Snow, ice and road salt are the enemy of every car. They take their toll on seals, paintwork, windows and tyres. And of course, there’s a high percentage of accidents. Between 2007 and 2016, approximately 21% of them were related to ice or heavy snowfall , according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, winter weather is of course a factor not only in America but also on the European continent.

But in addition to being careful on the roads, there are other issues to deal with during the cold months. Drivers often do not even start their cars in the morning, and some even have trouble getting into them. A frozen door lock is a common problem that can be solved, for example, by using special defrosting fluids. But if you don’t have them at home, you’ll probably face a delayed journey to work on public transport. Or take the advice in the following paragraph.

If the car lock freezes, you can use special defrosting fluids. But it's not strictly necessary if you know the magic tape trick. ━━ If the car lock freezes, you can use special defrosting fluids. But it's not strictly necessary if you know the magic tape trick. ( Source: Ground Picture /  Unsplash+ )

The duct tape trick

In winter, water gets into the door lock and then freezes in it. This means that we have trouble getting the keys into the hole, and even if we do, there’s a risk of them breaking in the lock. And such repairs cost a lot of money. Removing a broken key can cost up to 4,500 crowns, depending on the type of damage to the lock, of course.

If you want to avoid such a problem, simply seal the lock with adhesive tape when you expect heavy frosts overnight. This way, no water will get into the door and you can just peel off the tape the next day and unlock the door in peace.

While most cars nowadays use remote controls and so we don’t physically put the keys directly into the lock, if it is frozen, the mechanism that unlocks the door can still be locked. In addition, the keys can become damaged and then you can’t get into the car without the key itself. So it’s better not to underestimate the tape trick and protect the car with it as a precaution.