What to Do When the Car Door Won't Open After Being Parked for a Long Time?
2 Answers
The central locking system of the car door is in the activated state. When the car door won't open, you can first use the car key to unlock it, then lock it again, repeating this process twice. When this issue occurs, the door cannot be opened from the inside either, because the linkage mechanism fails, directly affecting the lock mechanism and preventing it from opening. After the car door is subjected to a certain amount of external force, it may cause deformation of the door hinges and lock posts, which is also one of the reasons why the car door won't open.
I'm an experienced driver with decades behind the wheel, and I've encountered many situations where car doors won't open after prolonged parking. The most common issues are doors freezing shut in winter (when weatherstripping sticks to the body) or rusty door lock mechanisms jamming. The solutions are straightforward: First gently pull the door handle without excessive force to avoid paint scratches. For frozen doors, use de-icer spray or pour warm water along the door seams. For rusted mechanisms, apply lubricants like WD-40. Prevention is equally important: Park in dry garages when possible, avoid extended outdoor parking, start the car periodically to exercise the locks, and perform monthly inspections with silicone grease lubrication. These simple measures prevent major headaches, especially for older vehicles.
