Winter doesn't just make a car lockout more uncomfortable; it changes why lockouts happen and what you need to watch out for while you wait. In an Ottawa winter, the usual causes are a car left running to warm up that locks itself, a key fob battery that gives out in the cold, and door locks or seals that are frozen solid. Here is how to tell which problem you have, what you can safely try yourself and how to stay warm and safe until you're back inside. For general lockout steps in any season, see what to do during a car lockout.

Stuck in the cold right now? Call (613) 707-4884.

Your Safety Comes Before the Car

  • Child or pet inside? Call 911 immediately. The Government of Ontario lists an animal left unattended in a hot or cold vehicle as a 911 emergency, and Transport Canada advises calling 911 for any child left alone in a vehicle.
  • Get out of the cold. If the fix isn't quick, wait in a nearby building, store or a friend's car rather than standing beside your vehicle. Keep your phone warm in an inside pocket; cold drains phone batteries faster too.
  • Car locked and running inside a garage? Open the garage's outside door, leave the garage and do not wait inside it. Health Canada warns never to idle a vehicle in a garage, even with the door open, because of carbon monoxide.

Locked Out With the Engine Running

This is the classic winter lockout. Many drivers start the car to warm up, step out to brush off snow and close the door, and some vehicles then lock automatically or the lock button gets bumped. On push-button cars the engine will usually keep running even after the fob is outside, so the car looks fine but you can't get in.

If this happens, don't break a window to reach the key. Call for help and keep an eye on the vehicle. A running car with the doors locked is reasonably secure, but it does use fuel, so mention it when you call so the job can be prioritized properly. If it's parked in a snowbank, keep the area around the tailpipe clear from the outside, since a blocked exhaust can push fumes back toward the car.

Fob Batteries and the Cold

Small coin-cell batteries lose capacity in very cold weather, so a fob that was already weak may stop working on the first frigid morning. Before assuming you're locked out:

  1. Warm the fob in your hand or pocket for a few minutes and try again, holding it close to the door handle.
  2. Look for the hidden mechanical key. Most smart keys and many remote fobs contain a removable metal blade that opens the driver's door; the release is usually a small button or slide on the fob. On many cars the keyhole sits behind a small cap on the handle.
  3. Check your owner's manual for the backup start procedure for a dead fob, which often involves holding the fob against the start button or a marked spot on the steering column.

If the fob still won't respond after warming up, replace the battery or have the fob checked. Our guide to a key fob that isn't working covers the other common causes.

Frozen Locks and Frozen Doors

Not every winter "lockout" is really a lockout. Sometimes the car is unlocked but the door won't open because of ice:

  • Frozen door seal: The weatherstripping is stuck to the frame. Push firmly into the door to crack the ice, then pull. Try the other doors or the hatch, since one may not be frozen.
  • Frozen lock cylinder: The key won't go in or won't turn. Use a commercial lock de-icer, or warm the metal blade of the key (not the plastic head, which may contain a chip) and insert it gently. Never force the key; a key snapped in a frozen lock turns a simple problem into a broken key extraction.
  • Frozen handle or latch: If the handle moves but nothing releases, ice may be inside the latch. Forcing it can break the handle or linkage.

Avoid pouring hot water on the door or glass. It can refreeze in the lock and seals, and a sudden temperature change can crack cold glass. After a car wash or freezing rain, drying the seals and leaving the car somewhere sheltered helps prevent the problem.

Once You're Back In: Warm Up Safely

After a long wait you'll want to sit in the car with the heat on. Before you do, make sure the tailpipe isn't blocked by snow. Transport Canada's winter driving guidance explains that a clear tailpipe keeps carbon monoxide from getting into your vehicle, and Public Safety Canada's winter storm guidance gives the same advice for anyone trapped in a vehicle. If you're stranded, Transport Canada also recommends running the motor as little as possible and keeping a window open slightly, on the side away from the wind, for fresh air.

Simple Winter Prevention

  • Replace your fob battery in the fall, before the first deep freeze.
  • Use remote start, if your car has it, instead of leaving the key in an unlocked running car.
  • Keep lock de-icer in your coat or home, not in the glovebox where you can't reach it.
  • Keep a spare key with someone you trust; see why a spare key matters.
  • Carry a winter emergency kit with a blanket, flashlight and phone charger.

Getting Back In

If warming the fob, using the hidden key or thawing the lock doesn't work, a professional can open the car without damaging frozen seals or door wiring. See how our car lockout service works, or call (613) 707-4884 and let us know if the engine is running.

Sources: Transport Canada, Planning your trip; Public Safety Canada, Winter storms; Health Canada, Carbon monoxide: Preventing exposure; Government of Ontario, Animal welfare; Transport Canada, Dangers of hot vehicles and children.