I hate locking wheel nuts

[JumboBeef]

The garage has just called.........doing a simple wheel bearing change on the Volvo C70.........cannot get the locking wheel nut off: some muppet has knackered the locking key and (looks like) used air tools to do the nut up.



I'm guessing all the other wheels will be the same. I had the same issue years back on a Saab 9000: then the garage did get the nuts off but had to damage the wheels to do so.

What is the point of locking nuts? If some crim wants your wheels and you have locks on them, they know the key will be in the car so you get a smashed window as well as nicked wheels.

Agggggggggrhhhhhhhhhh!

[sherman]

Heres an idea dont leave the key in the car unless you are going to the garage.

[mike325112]

Did they knacker the wheel nut? If they did - I'd be expecting a new set and undamaged wheels...

[TJD2003]

sherman said:

Heres an idea dont leave the key in the car unless you are going to the garage.

And what if you have a a puncture then hey sherlock ?

[shovelheadrob]

mike325112 said:

Did they knacker the wheel nut? If they did - I'd be expecting a new set and undamaged wheels...

OK so you take your car to the garage with nuts damaged by someone else/another garage, they advise you of the situation which might involve causing damage to remove. You then expect them to pay for it FFS! They are a garage not a charity.

[GB123]

You could keep the key with your car keys on a keyring?

[TJD2003]

shovelheadrob said:

OK so you take your car to the garage with nuts damaged by someone else/another garage, they advise you of the situation which might involve causing damage to remove. You then expect them to pay for it FFS! They are a garage not a charity.

Did you just miss this bit "Did they knacker the wheel nut? If they did" it was only a a short sentence but you seem to have ignored half of it.

[JumboBeef]

Damage was done by garage unknown. The garage today are only reporting what they have found.

[JumboBeef]

GB123 said:

You could keep the key with your car keys on a keyring?

So crims still smash your window to look for the key that 99.9% of people either keep in the centre cubby box/glovebox/boot.

[Guffy]

GB123 said:

You could keep the key with your car keys on a keyring?

Lol, are you serious???

When my car went for repair last month, i made sure the locking nuts were backed off, as they can be easily damaged if you go charging in like an ape.

[JonnyFive]

GB123 said:

You could keep the key with your car keys on a keyring?

What? Keep a locking wheel nut on your keyring? Imagine how big/heavy your set of keys would be then!

OP, we get this often.. "So and so garage have damaged my locking wheel nut key." Most of the time they're happy for us to remove them with our master set and stick some standard nuts on for a tenner.

[Guffy]

JumboBeef said:

So crims still smash your window to look for the key that 99.9% of people either keep in the centre cubby box/glovebox/boot.

What about having a set a keys with a HUGE nut-key hanging off the ring

[sherman]

TJD2003 said:

sherman said:

Heres an idea dont leave the key in the car unless you are going to the garage.

And what if you have a a puncture then hey sherlock ?

You phone the RAC/AA to take your car to the local garage on a flat bed lorry as you dont have a spare wheel in the car and nip home to get the locking wheel nut and get the tyre fixed.

[TJD2003]

sherman said:

You phone the RAC/AA to take your car to the local garage on a flat bed lorry as you dont have a spare wheel in the car and nip home to get the locking wheel nut and get the tyre fixed.

Think of the money saved on that window the thief didnt bust as he some how knew that you were smart enough to leave your locking wheel nut at home.

[GB123]

JumboBeef said:

So crims still smash your window to look for the key that 99.9% of people either keep in the centre cubby box/glovebox/boot.

There is no way of stopping somebody breaking your window if they want to, but at least they still wouldn't get your wheels.

[C8PPO]

mike325112 said:

Did they knacker the wheel nut? If they did - I'd be expecting a new set and undamaged wheels...

Pansy. I'd demand a brand new car. Once a week. For life.

(Delivered to my internet keyboard, obviously)

[sherman]

TJD2003 said:

sherman said:

You phone the RAC/AA to take your car to the local garage on a flat bed lorry as you dont have a spare wheel in the car and nip home to get the locking wheel nut and get the tyre fixed.

Think of the money saved on that window the thief didnt bust as he some how knew that you were smart enough to leave your locking wheel nut at home.

I live in a safe area where wheels are not stolen in general. Also car insurance these days has windscreen repair on it if it did happen.

[EDLT]

Guffy said:

What about having a set a keys with a HUGE nut-key hanging off the ring

A customer used to do this, the key was kept in a metal case attached to his keyring. It must have looked like he was walking around with a prosthetic testicle in his pocket.

[humpbackmaniac]

OR, rummage in your old tool box for an old 17mm socket and hammer the sod on to the locking wheel nut, use a big hammer and say good bye to the socket but if you use enough brute force and ignorance you can get sufficent bite to get the nut undone.
Only for use in emergencies you understand.
Had the same problem on mine and have a didgy friend who was a "lad" back in the 80's

[Snowboy]

I've had a few cars with locking wheel nuts.
The key is kept in a discrete place in the car.

I've had the tyres changed probably 10 times by the like of ATS, Kwick Fit, Event Tyre and so forth and they have always been able to use the key, take the nuts off safely, do the tyres, then put the locking nuts back on without any damage whatsoever.

I'd guess you were just unlucky with regards to someone knackering yours.