Problem with locking wheel bolt

[Garett]

Hello people, I'm after some advice on the locking wheel bolt on my Volvo S60.

I was cleaning my car in this lovely weather we've been having and I decided it'd be a good idea to take the wheels off and give the wheels and arches a proper clean. When I tried to take off the front OS wheel they were done up fking tight, far far too tight. When it came to getting the locker off, the key slipped so I thought I'd take it to my tyre man who has a wheel gun, he might have more success. Not to be, he had similarly bad luck and now the key is buggered.

What are my options? I spoke to the garage across the road from the tyre place who said they had the same problem on another Volvo a couple of months ago and he had to weld a nut onto the bolt to get it off. This would be at least an hours labour, maybe 2.

Would Volvo have a master key?

This is the actual wheel bolt, there is no room between the outside of the bolt and the wheel to get a socket in.

[thinfourth2]

Weld on a nut is the only way i can see to get it off

Then take the other 3 off and throw them in the bin useless bloody things

[NiceCupOfTea]

It's a McGard one.

I had exactly the same thing a few months back (idiot tyre fitter + air gun = chewed key).

I emailed them a photo of the key and a scan of my V5 and they sent me a couple of keys back from Germany. Cost a few quid but worth it.

I now don't use locking wheel nuts for my winters but I think I will go back to them for the summers as the wheels are more nickable.

I think it's true though that locking wheel nuts present no problems foe any thieves, only owners

[vladcjelli]

Seem to think they can "code" a new key from your ownership documents. At least it looks like the same system I had on my Focus a few years ago, and if my rapidly deteriorating memory serves, that was how they got me a new one when my second hand car had no key.

I might have made this up, as in almost every respect the Ford dealer was unhelpful and obstructive, but they sorted my wheel nuts out.

[maniac0796]

Weld a wheel bolt to it. Hours labour my ass, 10 minutes to do all 4 wheels. Just gotta wait for them to cool.

[XG332]

First off. 2 hours labour to weld a bolt to it.
If it were me I would ask a friend to weld one on. Remove all of them. And get a decent set.

[Garett]

Well I won't be replacing them with locking wheel bolts, it seems pointless on a 10 y.o Volvo with 16" wheels, hardly desirable are they!

I think my first point of call will be Volvo tomorrow see if they can help me, and to order 4 standard wheel bolts!

Bloody annoying though I only bought the car 2 months ago and I can't even get the friggin wheels off.

[mat13]

I wouldnt order wheel nuts from a dealer, they will want stupid money, either find someone on ebay breaking one or got down to your local scrappy, a couple of quid for all four at the most.

[rallycross]

We usually hammer a similar sized socket over it and then remove, it ruins the socket but the cost is low v's mucking about with other methods.

not sure if there is room on your car between the locking nut and the wheel for a socket to squeeze in - usually there is just enough

[skinley]

Don't do this.

http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2684546

[Jimmyarm]

You can normally get them off with a chisel

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=punch+a...fficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=4864480645620523997&sa=X&ei=cqqLTcS7OpGwhQfw5aHFDg&ved=0CCcQ8wIwAQ#

Beat one into it straight on at the top edge then gradually beat it towards the left and it should start coming undone. There is a 'knack' to it

[.:ian:.]

The socket doesnt look too bad, get a replacement key from mcgard, it used to be free if you send the fecked one back, then take it to a tyre place to remove with a rattle gun. Dont try to use a tyre iron.

https://www.wheellockkeys.com/volvo/en/index_en.ht...

[Jem0911]

MrsJem lost the key to the nuts on the Mondeo.
£40 removed nuts changed two tyres and replaced with normal nuts.
Bargin.

[john_p]

I took off a McGuard like that using a one-size-smaller socket, just hammered it on. It probably helped that it was a Ching Chong socket set so they were pretty crappy!

[Spudler]

john_p said:

I took off a McGuard like that using a one-size-smaller socket, just hammered it on.

Yep, me to, works a treat.

[Garett]

.:ian:. said:

The socket doesnt look too bad, get a replacement key from mcgard, it used to be free if you send the fecked one back, then take it to a tyre place to remove with a rattle gun. Dont try to use a tyre iron.

https://www.wheellockkeys.com/volvo/en/index_en.ht...

For some reason there are 3 different keys with the car so I'm not sure if theres been trouble before and 1 or 2 have been replaced. The link asks for "8 digit key code (to be found on your registration card)" which I don't have/ can't find, theres no number or even writing on the key either.

[Garett]

john_p said:

I took off a McGuard like that using a one-size-smaller socket, just hammered it on. It probably helped that it was a Ching Chong socket set so they were pretty crappy!

I don't think there is enough room to get a socket in there unfortunately, I'll ask a professionals opinion tomorrow though!

[TVR1]

Garett said:

For some reason there are 3 different keys with the car so I'm not sure if theres been trouble before and 1 or 2 have been replaced. The link asks for "8 digit key code (to be found on your registration card)" which I don't have/ can't find, theres no number or even writing on the key either.

Here is your solution OP. Screwfix is also good for Screwunfixing. Basically a big tap and dye set.....

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Access...

or, I understand these are designed to remove rounded nuts (similar to what you end up with lock nut heads....

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96028/Van-Car-Access...

Edited by TVR1 on Thursday 24th March 22:34

[Garett]

TVR1 said:

Here is your solution OP. Screwfix is also good for Screwunfixing. Basically a big tap and dye set.....

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Access...

Interesting, one of the reviews mentions success with a McGuard type like mine too.

[7ommy]

Might be worth trying the RAC or AA man if you see one, I had a similar problem and they carried a single use tool which when hit with a hammer deformed to the correct pattern to allow removal.

edit - like these http://www.lockingwheelnutremover.co.uk/product-ra...

not cheap but http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Franklin-Locking-Wheel-Nut-R...

Edited by 7ommy on Friday 25th March 07:26

Edited by 7ommy on Friday 25th March 07:29