Warranty ? (locking wheel bolt issue)

[marshalla]

Mrs. M. bought an 11 plate 159 JTDM back at the beginning of September. The warranty and breakdown cover were transferred over and extended to a full year.

Yesterday, I was swapping the wheels over from the 17" alloys & summer tyres (which need replaced anyway) to 16" steels and winter tyres for her when I hit a problem. With 3 wheels done (the rears clearly not having been off for some time judging by the effort required to break the corrosion bond twixt wheels and hubs), I got to the front nearside. All the bolts have been over-tightened and required a lot more force than the others on the car to get them to move at all. It's been done to such an extent that the locking wheel nut key disintegrated while trying to get that one loose.

This morning the Alfa breakdown service (=AA) came out to have a go with their tools and that failed twice.

Does anyone know if we can get the wheel removed and a replacement key or set of wheel bolts under warranty ? What are the chances of getting a wheel refurb. as well if there has been damage caused by tools slipping off the over-tight bolt(s) ?

[Butter Face]

I doubt any warranty will cover it.

You may get something done by the dealer as goodwill if they are the only people who have had the wheels off and on? If not then if imagine you're on your own.

[rijmij99]

Something very similar happened recently to someone on the 164 section of AO

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-164-and-166/50...

They suggest some magic tool that gets the bolts out.

HTH

[marshalla]

rijmij99 said:

Something very similar happened recently to someone on the 164 section of AO

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-164-and-166/50...

They suggest some magic tool that gets the bolts out.

HTH

It seems to happen a lot, but the AA chap said he's been dealing with these sorts of problems with his kit for 13 years now - and this is only the second time his kit hasn't worked. Rather than risk me causing damage to the boss's car, I reckon it'll be into the dealership ASAP.

At least I can swap the other 3 wheels back to the summer set and hope she doesn't get a puncture on the one that's stuck.

[Alfahorn]

It sounds like the bolts are going to have to be drilled out. A new set of bolts are not too expensive, it may cost more to have the wheel refurbed than the price of the bolts.

[marshalla]

As predicted, warranty claim rejected on the grounds that someone must have overtorqued the stuck bolt - but the local main dealer managed to get the stuck bolt out with a master key and an airgun. Total cost to us £11.34 + £30 if we want a new set of locking bolts...

Nothing to complain about.