Key won't fit in door lock [2004 XLT]

[Burnout]

Hey everyone,

Been a while since I posted here but I still read the forums a lot. Getting a full time job has made me realize I have less time to focus on anything "fun" when it comes to the Explorer. I come to you with an issue that may not be extremely serious, but definitely has put a stall on anything I want to do.

My battery died a few days ago, but since I don't use it too much as I take public transportation to work I decided to fix it when I had the time. I locked up manually, locked my driver's door with the key which worked fine, and left it. Tonight I tried to get a jump from a friend, and when I went to unlock the door manually... it wouldn't fit!

Not like the key wouldn't turn as if the tumbler was rusted shut, but it felt like I was pushing the key against a brick wall. Like it wasn't made for the hole, even though I just used it the other day. I assume most vehicles, especially those from 2004, don't have some weird mechanical lockout when the battery dies.

Anyway I used a paperclip to push aside the metal flap and take a look inside, but everything looks right. The hole doesn't appear to be off center or partially turned, and I don't see any "gunk" blocking up the pathway. Nothing that would cause this, at least.

The key goes in maybe a quarter of the way, then just stops. Like I mentioned, it's like I'm pressing against a brick wall. I didn't hit it with a hammer or anything for fear of damaging the key or hole, but I put a decent amount of force behind it and it just wouldn't move any further.

Any idea what might be causing this?

 

[D Hook]

Probably don't want to hit it with a hammer.

Might use a lighter and heat up the key 'till it's pretty hot. Insert it and see if maybe there's some ice that formed in there somehow. If there is the hot key should melt any ice and let the key go all the way in.

To my knowledge, there's no electrical device in there that would block the key from being inserted intentionally, like you spoke about.

 

[Burnout]

I'll try that. Ice is a definite possibility and probably the most likely suspect. We haven't had much wet weather, but it has been cold and humid and I live near water.

The hammer will stay in the toolbox.

 

[Burnout]

That ended up being it. It's been a while since I've actually even thought about locks freezing, and all the times in the past have prevented them from turning but I hadn't even considered that since the key wasn't going in. It's a pretty simple concept now that you brought it up.

That's why I always go to this forum first. So many smart people.