• The idea of a frozen car lock is hard to imagine for people who live in warmer climates, but it's a common problem in colder regions. Water gets into the lock, often from the key itself. The ice freezes, preventing the lock mechanism from moving. In severe cases, the ice can keep you from putting key in the lock. But there are ways to work through this problem.
  
  

Gadgets

• You can buy specially made devices built to insert in a frozen lock and warm it by electrical induction. They are available at most auto-parts stores in colder climates and often can be bought at a discount in early spring, when shops put winter gear on clearance sales.
  
  

Keyless Entry

• A lock mechanism that works with a key often is independent of the parts that actually lock the door. A keyless-entry system can bypass the keyed lock and open the door, even with the lock frozen.
  
  

Warm Water

• A low-tech solution is to pour warm water into the key latch, delivered with an eye-dropper, a turkey baster or a similar device. You also can pour warm water around the key latch to warm the lock. If you try this method, try the key early and often. If you wait too long under freezing conditions, this water will freeze as well, making the situation worse.
  
  

Improvised Methods

• Most homes contain devices that create heat that aren't designed specifically for unfreezing door latches. Some examples include space heaters, hair dryers and electric blankets. Any of these can be pressed into service in a pinch, warming the door lock and unfreezing the mechanism.
  
  

An Ounce of Prevention

• With a little planning you can take steps to prevent your lock from freezing. Parking indoors, near a windbreak or even under a carport can shelter your car from the cold and the wind. Another trick is to use an eye-dropper to pour antifreeze into the car lock.