After one of her car doors froze shut last week, Kelly Higgins said she never realized how much she relied on her car. Higgins was just one of the SIUC students who experienced car trouble because of the recent cold weather.

Higgins, a senior in physiology from Belleville, said she had to rush her friend with a broken ankle to the hospital after he slipped on the ice, but never imagined her locks would freeze when she needed her car the most.

Higgins said the screaming of pain and suffering prompted her to tug and kick the door, causing the handle to break off.

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Higgins said frustration settled in as she listened to her friend yell louder, and after trying to open every door, one finally gave in.

Frozen locks, broken door handles and cracked windshields were some of the common problems people experienced last week during the freezing weather that swept through most of the Midwest.

Now that some students were haunted by the sudden temperature drop, winterizing their cars has become a top priority.

Sgt. Nelson Ferry, director of crime prevention for the SIUC Police, said people should never allow their gas tank to fall below a quarter tank because they have a greater chance to become stranded. He said a vehicle should contain warm clothing, a blanket and food that is high in calories and will not spoil.

Ferry said that tires should be checked because cold weather has a tendency to decrease their pressure. He said water displacement solvent should be used for the windshield instead of water because water tends to freeze on the windshield when it is cold out.

Finally, Ferry said people should make sure the vehicle is in good condition, and people should not travel a long distance if their car has not been serviced.

Theresa Mills, office supervisor for the SIUC Police, said that on an average January day, SIUC police opened eight cars as a result of winter-related car trouble. However, when the temperature dropped 52-degrees in 14 hours Thursday, SIUC Police opened 18.

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Mills said that SIUC Police has already opened more cars this month than they did a year ago.

Last year in January, we opened 51 cars because of the cold weather, Mills said. So far, we have opened 59 cars this month.

SIUC police are not the only organization that has helped people free their cars from the chilling temperature.

Eric Crismon, owner of Glen’s Towing in Carbondale, said he had to drive an elderly couple to their home in Zeigler from the Carbondale Clinic because their locks froze.

I tried opening their car for 45 minutes by heating their key, but the locks just wouldn’t open, Crismon said. I drove them home because I didn’t want to leave them stranded in the cold.

Crismon said Glen’s Towing towed at least 40 vehicles last week due to the freezing weather.

Dave Alexander, owner of Dave’s Auto Repairs and Sales, 300 N. Illinois Ave., said that a de-icer should be used when the locks freeze. He said to stick the nozzle, which is attached to the spray can, into the lock and spray, and it should thaw the mechanism.

He said Dave’s Auto does not rely on a de-icer.

We’re afraid it might break down the paint job, Alexander said. So we clean the lock mechanism on the door by using a break cleaner which comes in a spray can, and then we put on penetrating oil that’s for a sticky door or latch.

Everette Freeman, owner of Southern Illinois Lock and Key, Wildwood Trailer Court, said that an alternative to using a de-icer is to heat the key with a cigarette lighter or a match.

Freeman said people should know how to unlock a frozen door because it might save them money.

We do the same procedure as anyone else, but we charge $30 for a normal service call, Freeman said. If it’s late at night, it costs more.

Ferry said people should not only winterize their car, but they should plan ahead when the temperature is about to drop.

People need to pay attention to the forecast and weather conditions before they start their day, Ferry said. It could be deadly if not followed correctly.