locking wheel nuts - advice

jase_2-2

Hi all

hope I can get some advice.. my car got broken into on friday (Vauxhall Meriva, 55 plate) and one of the items stolen was the key for the locking wheel nuts.

I went to a few garages over the weekend, most said to go back to the dealer - one garage tried to chisel the nuts off but couldn't do it.

I spoke with the dealer who said that if they have a key then would be about £30 (which is fine) - but if they haven't will have to weld the nuts off which will be £230.

Can anyone give me any advice????

- Any suggestions on how to get the nuts off without welding?
- If I have to pay the £230 can I claim this through insurance? - I was going to claim for items stolen from my house insurance so I don't loose my no claims on car so I guess if I had to claim then I would only be able to do this through the car insurance.
- I keep being told that the nuts are coded and so only one key works with each set of nuts - but not sure if this is true?

thanks for the advice (god help me if I get a flat tire!!!!)

cheers

J.


Also - just came across a site - http://www.lockingwheelnutremover.co.uk/ does anyone know whether this is genuine or not, or works?

lllnorrislll

the site said as used by the aa, have tried calling them??
I imagine as its a brand new car you may have got some free break cover??

geo555

I was just reading about this company (Dynomec Ltd) a trade magazine. It had won "Best Product 2004" by Motor Mechanic Magazine. It is a genuine product. It works by forming a soft tool blank that deforms to the shape of the lock nut, whilst protecting the wheel with a sleeve.
They are said to of sold this product to breakdow services, police, accident repair specialist and tyre companys.
Contact them to see if they can tell you if there is anyone in your area who has one. You could also mention that there feature was in a magazine called "Machinery Market"

Good luck

the_chauffer

i'd phone the aa and ask them if they do actually approve this company, if they do then they are legit and use them. Were the locking nuts on the car as standard or did you buy new alloys? try going to vauxhall themselves and seeking advice, £230 seems alot to weld them off.

jase_2-2

I am going to try this company and see first how much these things are as I presume it is going to be expensive...

I have tried the breakdown cover I have with the car - no help

Also tried the vauxhall dealer - they're the ones who quoted me £230

jobbingmusician

Have you tried the Vauxhall owners' forum/site? (assuming there is one)

I own a Smart car, and every so often people appeal for help with locking nuts. Other forum members usually help out - Smart owners are sad enough that they meet up occasionally, and when people are at a meet they would be likely to be kind enough to try their key on another visiting car (especially if you can prove it's yours)

Wig

This is just a guess, but if it were me Id investigate the possiblity of drilling them off. I don't know what yours look like, but it's worth a look at.

So your first port of call should be the dealer to see if they have a key, for 30 quid.

As to welding them off, I imagine they mean one of two things...either they will attack the rear of the studs from behind the wheel,,,assuming they have access to that part of the stud - Highly unlikely IMHO or they will spark erode the actual locking nut. which is similer to drilling it off. And if they mean spark erosion you may find it available cheaper if you go to an local engineers workshop and ask if they can spark erode it.

As I understand it these thing spin around, so you will need to have a tool which will allow you to clamp onto it and hold it still while you drill it, using TC drill bits.

bbruce

Most locking bolt tools come with a code number to order a replacement if you lose it.
I hear those universal tools work well except for very recessed bolts. Tea leaves swear by them!
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=109639 is just over a tenner. Apparently you also need an impact driver or air wrench.
I hear they ususally damage the lock nut but a new set is only £30 in Halfords.

shelly

jase wrote:

Hi all

hope I can get some advice.. my car got broken into on friday (Vauxhall Meriva, 55 plate) and one of the items stolen was the key for the locking wheel nuts.

I went to a few garages over the weekend, most said to go back to the dealer - one garage tried to chisel the nuts off but couldn't do it.

I spoke with the dealer who said that if they have a key then would be about £30 (which is fine) - but if they haven't will have to weld the nuts off which will be £230.

Can anyone give me any advice????

- Any suggestions on how to get the nuts off without welding?
- If I have to pay the £230 can I claim this through insurance? - I was going to claim for items stolen from my house insurance so I don't loose my no claims on car so I guess if I had to claim then I would only be able to do this through the car insurance.
- I keep being told that the nuts are coded and so only one key works with each set of nuts - but not sure if this is true?

thanks for the advice (god help me if I get a flat tire!!!!)

cheers

J.


Also - just came across a site - http://www.lockingwheelnutremover.co.uk/ does anyone know whether this is genuine or not, or works?

Personally I wouldn't even think about claiming for the stolen items on your house insurance as its fraud (but I'm sure you know that already )


About the locking wheel nut problem.....when we bought a car from a garage the locking wheel nut key was missing so they got us a whole new set of nuts and had some sort of tool that they hammered onto the old locking nut and it basically just split it and it fell off. Not very technical but it worked. If you want to know the garage's phone number pm me and I'll gladly pass it on to you. They might be too far from you to help in person but it might be worth a call to ask their advice.

HTH

gatra_2

Just ask yourself WHY DID THEY TAKE THE KEY?

Do they intend to return for your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave_G_5

Most decent tyre places should be able to remove them for you, though you will need to buy a new set of locking nuts. The device that most places use cuts a thread into the old nut as it unscrews. You can also but them in Halfords for about £10 if you fancy having a go yourself though I would have thought that if the car was supplied new with the locking nuts then the dealer should have the code to order a new key for them.