Kwik Fit - snapped locking nut key

interstellaflyer

Chopper_Read wrote: »

So why bother to start the job?

Exactly, why did the OP allow the fitter to start the job in the first place.

olias

Just had the same thing happen to my car by an (independant) mobile tyre fitter. He snapped the locking nut key. What I couldn't understand is that he had no tools available to deal with the situation - It must be a common occurrence (either not having a 'key', or snapping one while trying to undo), and there are loads of tools available to get round the problem - e.g. http://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-5-piece-bolt-grip-nut-remover-set/96028 They do bigger sizes for wheel nuts, but you get the idea)

He even said if he had a 25 or 26mm socket he could have got it off. Surely thats a standard tool for a tyre fitter to own?

Luckily there is a tyre fitters just down the road who kindly lent me the tool to get it off (a bit embarrassing seen as I hadn't used them for my tyres and had used the cheaper mobile fitter).

Olias

nickcc

ntb1 wrote: »

I have to say I've found the opposite twice Kwik fit have put wrong tyres on my car - the only two times I've used them. Found my local indies to be unbeatable on both service and price.

I certainly wasn't recommending Kwik fit, just the opposite in fact.

Robisere

withabix wrote: »

Have you never been to Liverpool??


Wheels get stolen:

For the wheels
For the tyres

To sell for drug money.

Why Liverpool? I am not a Scouser, but have stayed with friends there in the past (had a great time, very hospitable place.) It is no better and no worse than any other big City or town nowadays. My own birth place of Nottingham is worse than the 'pool now.

It is a fact that alloy wheels are worth money, especially as they usually have high-spec, high-cost tyres. Most junkies, however, no longer possess the strength to remove them.

3 weeks ago, I had 2 tyres replaced on my 2010 Motability Titanium Focus, with alloys. The mobile fitter arrived at my door and worked in the dark, using his own floodlamps. He was courteous, efficient and he used an air tool to remove the locking nuts, but a Torque breaker bar to replace them. Then he informed me that the rear nearside tyre would soon be ready for replacement. Today I phoned about the n/s tyre and booked another replacement. I gave the Call Centre rep my Reg. no. and she came back with all my address details, tyre size and asked about the last visit. I said that I was very happy with it.

I can only speak from my own experiences with KF - and those have been all good, since 1995. In fact they have, IMHO, improved over the years. And I am an ex-workshop foreman with many years in the trade, before injury and disability. I used to change tyres myself, amongst other tasks, and I know what it is like to be at both ends of the process.

EDIT: Every vehicle that has these locking wheel nuts, is issued with a special key-nut to unlock them. It comes new with the vehicle and is shown to the owner. There are several different ones according to make/model. If you have a second hand car with no locknut key, that is because the previous owner lost or retained it. Tell KF this before they come to you and they will bring one with them. The problem arises when they have to remove the nuts without the correct key.

EdGasket

Why Liverpool? I thought you could drive through red lights in Liverpool; reason being that if you stopped, you'd get your wheels nicked. It's famous for it! Which stone have you been living under?

photome

interstellaflyer wrote: »

A lot of talk about the snapped wheel nut key which may or may not have been down to bad luck, no-one seems bothered that the fitter turned up with the wrong tyres, ie not the tyres the OP ordered and payed for.

I asked the question of the OP about why he let the work commence in post 5, but as he hasnt been back, so what is there to discuss

mchale

EdGasket wrote: »

Why Liverpool? I thought you could drive through red lights in Liverpool; reason being that if you stopped, you'd get your wheels nicked. It's famous for it! Which stone have you been living under?[/QUOTE]


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/liverpool-one-of-the-safest-cities-to-live-1401463

http://www.crimerates.co.uk/compare/43/liverpool-merseyside-uk/391/birmingham-west_midlands-uk/

http://www.crimerates.co.uk/compare/43/liverpool-merseyside-uk/16/manchester-uk/

http://www.crimerates.co.uk/compare/17/leeds-west_yorkshire-uk/43/liverpool-merseyside-uk/

Which stone have you been living under??

Strider590

A good fitter will always loosen and tighten the locking nut by hand.

jojooneill

interstellaflyer wrote: »

A lot of talk about the snapped wheel nut key which may or may not have been down to bad luck, no-one seems bothered that the fitter turned up with the wrong tyres, ie not the tyres the OP ordered and payed for.

Thankyou for this and all replies. To reply to a previous post, the Kwik Fit fitter loosened two/three bolts then the key snapped on the next bolt. We couldn't tighten the bolts enough without a snapped key so didn't want to drive the car with loose bolts.

We have since been given the new tyres and have had to buy a new locking nut. The fitter left a piece of equipment behind and hasn't come back for it yet. Still no word from customer services as to their gesture of goodwill!

jojooneill

photome wrote: »

I asked the question of the OP about why he let the work commence in post 5, but as he hasnt been back, so what is there to discuss

Hi,

Thanks for this - it wasn't me supervising the work (I was at work). Firstly I believe the purchaser thought that if he asked for a product, and paid the price, that would be the product he received. He will check in future and stand over people as they do the job. Secondly, the label for the petrol rating etc was stuck on the bottom of one tyre. When the fitter came in to say he had broke the locking nut, it was only then the purchaser noted the ratings label on one tyre. Hope that clarifies!