I didn't notice that the RX-8 had standard wheel locks. The dealer never gave me anything. I did notice something in glove box about registering the key with Mazda, but should it have come with the car? Or do I need to send something to Mazda?

TIA,
Mike

 

Check the trunk where the jack is located. If it's not there, go back to the dealer. If they can't find your key, have them order you an entire set of nuts and key.

 

Did you look in the trunk (rearmost edge) under the narrow black plastic cover in the compartment for the jack? Or maybe in one of the other compartments in the car?

Hopefully, they just hid it well.

 

I didn't even know there was a jack!

I figured no spare, no point for a jack.

Thanks for your responses! I'll take a look around when I get a chance.

 

mine was attached to the lug wrench in the jack compartment.

 

Look at one of your wheels. Is there one keyed lugnut? If so, then you are looking for the lugnut key, check the glovebox and trunk. If not, go back to the dealer and ask them for it as they forgot to put the locks on during vehicle prep.

 

It was in the trunk by the jack!

Thanks!

 

Heh when I got my car I noticed the note in that packet that said it was attached to my wrench for my convienence. I went to look and was quite upset to realize it was not there...

Turns out it was left in glovebox and I didn't notice it Now to make sure I never lose the damn thing!

 

Now to send in the registration card so 2.35 years from now and you can't find the key...

They will have the record of what key you have!!

 

I didn't know that the car came with wheel locks standard. I thought that they were an option, and was wondering whether to buy them. Do ALL RX-8s come with wheel locks?

My '04 came from a dealership a couple of hundred miles away and didn't have a valet key (not that I'm likely to use it). When I get home I'll check to see if my car does have wheel locks, and if it comes with a key. Hope so.

 

Wheel locks were standard equipment on all 2004s in the US. Check your wheels! The only thing you may be missing is the key. If so, check the glove box or the around the jack.

 

Thanks, I'd never seen wheel locks listed as standard equipment. I must have missed it. I'll check when I get home tonight.

 

Yeah, the website "spec" list, sales brochure and even the window sticker doesn't list it. However, the MazdaUSA Web site has a specification PDF. Both the one I save from 2004 and the current 2005 one shows wheel locks as standard on all models from Sport AT to Shinka.

And besides, they are not just wheel locks. They are "Alloy Wheel Locks". :D

 

i just bought a 04, and it didn't come with the key. i checked every nook that i can find. its just not there. the sales guy that i bought it from wasn't there today, but i talked to parts and the guy there said i could bring it in, and they'd replace the locks with a new set for me.

now...guess i know what i'm doing saturday. through the week, the friggin' parts dept closes an hour before i get off work.

 

I checked my wheels. All the lugs look the same.

Looked for a key. No key. (But, if there's no locks, who needs a key? Right?)

Checked the owner's manual. (My car is an '04, but didn't have a manual. The dealer lent me an '05 manual till he can get an '04 manual for me.)

The manual has instructions for changing the tire, and separate instructions if you have the "optional wheel locks".

I tried the lug wrench and it fits all the lugs. Am I missing something?

Is there anybody (else) who doesn't have wheel locks?

 

The wheel locks are not put on at the factory but are installed as part of the dealer prep at the dealership, just like the driver side floor mat anchor. It sounds like they never did this for your car. Technically (if your bought the car as new) they owe you the wheel locks and you can go back and ask for them.

Mazda dropped it from the web site, but here is the 2004 Specifications PDF. Note under the "Wheels" section that the locks are standard on all models, just like in the 2005 Spec PDF on Mazda's web site.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ddhood...s/2004SPEC.pdf

 

Mine came with locks, but I got rid of 'em. They're just trouble waiting to happen... if somebody really wants our ugly 18" OEM's that bad, they'll just crack the locking lug off anyway.

 

Thanks, hope they'll do it.

Also, there are 2 things that the manual calls "tiedown eyelet" but doesn't say what they are. Any ideas? It must be someting obvious that I'm overlooking.

 

These are threaded eyelets to enable you to tie down the car. The eyelets are stored back with the jack. To tie down the car:

- get the eyelets from the jack area in the trunk
- open the little plastic doors in the front and rear bumper trim
- screw the eyelet in (one front one rear) until it is tight
- attach tiedowns to the protruding eyelets

I believe the owners manual has pictures of the process.

 

Uh-oh. Didn't think of that. Maybe I should leave well enough alone?

 

Well, I've seen tire shops tear up the locking lugs trying to use air-tools with the key, and I've known people to be stranded because they lost their key and couldn't put on a spare. I might keep them for expensive aftermarket wheels, but the risk didn't make sense for me while I have the OEM's.

 

There was no explanation in the changing tire section. I'll check the manual when I get home. But... under what circumstances would somebody want to tie down the car? OH---- just realized. If you're transporting it on a flatbed truck?

 

Yep, which is the preferred method for towing the '8.

 

Very nice idea about the tie down. Never occurred to me, and I have never seen these on another car. Very thoughtful. I wonder if other cars have them now.

Nevertheless, I hope that I never need to use them. Good to know that they're there in case of towing or tornados.

 

Miatas have them "permanently" installed inside the mouth (at least the 1st gen did)... they looked like a couple of black teeth. It wasn't easy to get them out, but many of us did for aesthetic reasons... for flatbedding the tow guys usually latch on to the front subframe anyway.