My power locks seem to be extremely sluggish when cold. The first thought would be battery voltage but this is not the issue. Even at 15 volts the power locks are "sticky." They work just fine on a warm day. I can feel the stiffness if I try to manually actuate the lock as well.

This leads me to believe that whatever lubrication may exist in the lock mechanism is simply increasing in viscosity in the cold leading to the problems. I would be happy to clean everything and use a lubricant that is much more stable at temperature extremes. My question is, where to start?

Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

I have noticed this, too... but I suspect it's also a bit of age.

I would remove the servo, clean it up and hit it with a light lithium white grease... and also lube up the hinge points and make sure there isn't any binding. I know I have some binding in mine right now.

My 92's the same, it's on my "when I get around to it" list.

You can double check the lock cylinder by unlocking with your key, then turn the key the same way again, it should be very easy the second time.

GM used white grease for everything, it gets hard over time.

You have no choice but to pull the door panel and try to clean the latch/lock mechanism up.

I'm going to just shoot mine with brake clean until it frees up.

You can get the white grease in spray form. But, I plan to use PB Graphite even though it's very messy.

And that's provided you can fit the can inside the door, I haven't been in there lately but I think it's possible.

Just one more thing for the "when I get around to it" list. My F-150 is in a dozen pieces in my garage right now, it may need to take priority, although nothing is getting done now, when the weather cooperates I don't have time to do it!

BTW, the servo and hinge points - yea they should be cleaned up and lubed but, that's not where the problem is.

Quote:

what happened to the F-150?

Exhaust leak that required exploratory surgery to find. Found it but didn't have $$ to fix it. I have the parts now but it's been too cold. Also going back to school for a second degree so my time is limited.

what is degree #2? Good luck with it!!!

Sucks about the truck. Things will warm up, tho... soon enough.

Computer Science.

I can always drive my F-100, but being a long bed, it's not so great in the super tight parking spaces on campus. Vette gets better mileage too, so I try to drive it on nice days.

Good luck with the degree! CS is basicalyl what I do, but I have an old school degree in good old fashioned "data processing." I think MIS is the modern version.

The only thing, I have learned my way to a BS in CS, at least, if not an MS!! I should take this to one of those schools that gives life credit... take one look at my current app and they would croak.

I'm more qualified, due to experience, than most people who graduate with a CS degree, but nobody who looks at my resume reads beyond "Interdisciplinary Studies" degree.

I really don't expect any major challenges. At least by already having the BS in IS, I don't have to take all the gen ed garbage. The only "non CS" class I have to take is ENG 307, technical writing. English classes are always a pain in the ass, but not exactly anything that's gonna be hard.

yea... my AA is like 25 years old... so for me, it's all about experience.

Tech writing... what a crock.

Yeah tell me about it. I don't have any experience explaining very technical things in plain English.........