Argh. Someone help the arctic F-Body boy.

[Big Bad James]

Alright. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is currently minus-f**king-fifty-two degrees CELSIUS outside right now.

My car won't start for the following reasons: I didn't plug it in.

The reason I didn't plug it in is this: My hood latch is frozen shut. I cannot get the hood to pop up.

And I can't get the car somewhere nice and warm to thaw out so I can get the cord out because: It won't start and I'm afraid I may have to replace the battery because of the fact my battery blanket isn't plugged in either and is probably frozen as a result.

Now my question: How the hell can I de-thaw the hood-latch? My dad suggested I crawl underneath my car with a hairdryer, stick my hand in front of the radiator, and point the hairdryer at the front of the hood.

I'm willing to try it, even at -52*C.
Any other suggestions, or is contorting myself underneath my car my only hope?

[ellik]

the hairdryer deal IS probably your best bet.

[John D.]

Take your fist and bang on the hood right over the latch. Maybe that will loosen up any ice that has gotten in there and allow the hood open.

[hockeyman]

I would try the hairdryer method. If you bang your fist on the hood, you may just break something at those temps. Or, you can go to you local autoparts store and buy one of those jet-looking heaters that plugs into a propane tank, and aim it up under the car towards the latch. That'll loosen that latch up!

-Marc

[andrew.brandon]

Why do you want to go somewhere in your car with it that cold. I would just stay home.

[mjparme]

Block warmers and battery blankets, damn I thought it was cold in Omaha...

I had a car that the doors always froze shut on it. I would pour hot water down where the latch was. That worked like a charm.

So maybe pour hot water where the hood latch is?

[MississippiMaro]

Alcohol works better...

just make sure to wipe it off the paint quickly.

if you can't get it after that,

lace up the skates, grab your stick and go play some shinny on the pond and call it a day . :D

[Ian]

I was thinkin hairdryer too.

oh, and as for hockey......ahem......hockey at -52C? thats hardcore

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MississippiMaro:
lace up the skates, grab your stick and go play some shinny on the pond and call it a day . :D <hr></blockquote>

now you're thinking like me ;) ;) :D [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

-Marc

[MustangEater8251]

Maybe have someone pop the hood, and jiggle t a little grabbing the area where the headlights are...

but dang... that is a bit cold...

[MustangEater8251]

IF I were you I woudl pee off the top of the roof of my house and see if it freezes before it hit the bottom. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Camaro_SLP]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MustangEater8251:
IF I were you I woudl pee off the top of the roof of my house and see if it freezes before it hit the bottom. [img]smile.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

I don't think it would be smart to expose his dick in those brutal temperatures.

[Die Ford V8]

way to get the camaro out in the extremes. I had chains in portland with 8 inches plus an inch of freezing rain. the bottom of my car was spotless after bottoming out with momentum. its a chevy though.

Do a fire dance around your car. that should do it some good

[img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img] FIRE [img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img] FIRE [img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img]

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

ehhh.. i would not do the hair dryer thing.. cause you run the risk of having water drip into the dryer.. and well.. shock the hell out of yourself..

i would go with the hot water between the crack method.. seems safest

[youngcamarokid]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by mjparme:
I had a car that the doors always froze shut on it. I would pour hot water down where the latch was. That worked like a charm.

So maybe pour hot water where the hood latch is?<hr></blockquote>

I would be quite affraid of cracking metal.

Extremely cold + instantly hot = BAD.