could someone help me out??? ive misplaced and lost the wheel key lock...not too happy about it anyway im pretty late on putting on the winter wheels and i need to change them asap. but without the key anymore, im gunna hafta go to the dealer and have them do it. i know they have the master key, but they said it may not fit my car. if thats the case, it will take longer to 'break them off' as the tech so frankly put it = more money outta my pocket.

so two questions...

1) is there anyway to break these things off myself while making sure not to damage my wheels??

2) do you think the dealer will just tell me that the master key didnt fit just so they keep it longer and so they make more money??

it already snowed lightly here yesterday, i need to figure this out asap. any help is appreciated! :o

 

your wheel lock came with a little bit of paper with instructions on mailing it in so that they would have a record of your exact wheel key in case you needed replacement. If you mailed that in, mazda should be able to send you a replacement.

 

yeah i know...unfortunately i bought this car used, its an '04. an older guy had it for a year and decided he wanted something bigger. he didnt return the wheel lock key/the number for the replacement/ the emergency tire changing kit/ or even the keyless entry key fob...all other things i have to take care of eventually. but right now these wheel locks are top priority because of the oncoming snow.

so back to the original 2 questions... :- /

 

bring it to the dealer, it will only take a second to see if their master key fits. If it doesn't, there isn't any reason for you to pay or to leave the car with them.

If it were easy for the key to be removed, the key wouldn't be useful as a wheel lock... so I don't expect it to be easy to remove.

 

I was about to recomend the same as well. If you can't wait to Mazda to sent a replacement one you can try one of these tools. The draw back is that you will ended up replacing your locks with new ones from Mazda or aftermarket ones.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952162000

 

i already made the appointment at the dealer. if their master key doesn't work, i still have to remove the locks somehow b/c ive gotta get those winters on.

they told me on the phone that if their key doesnt work, theyll be breaking them off themselves. if they can break them off, i dont see why i cant do the same for free myself. ill ask around town for those bolt removers, thanks for the link.

once i get past all this wheel lock business, im not sure whether i should invest in a new set of locks plus key, or just drop the locks for good to save money on buying a new set and stick with all regular lugs.

 

I'm not sure what type of lock nuts you guys have over there, splined or whatever, but the surefire method the tyrefitters use to remove locks without a key is to knock a slightly smaller socket onto them with a hammer. Once you've done this, it's a simple matter of fitting a ratchet or breaker bar onto the socket and removing the locknut.

If this method works to get your lock nuts off, don't purchase the same type of locknut again.....for obvious reasons .

Gomez.

 

I ran into the same problem on a vehicle that I bought used a few years ago. Any tire and wheel shop should have a lug nut ripper. It will destroy the lug but you will need to be replacing them anyway.

 

thanks for reminding me about asking around tire/wheel shops. my uncle runs a mobile station/garage and hes got a hold of some sockets and stuff for removing things like that. hes worried about doing damage to the wheel itself in the process though so im gunna be bringing it down saturday morning to have him take a look. then i'm gunna be calling mazda with him to handle some 'negotiations' haha.

 

No worries....If the guy is careful with the hammer, there'll be no dramas getting them off.

 

I e-mailed a close-up picture to the wheel lock manufacturer and they sent me a replacement key in 2 days, really helpful, cost-- $14.00. Call

McGard, Inc
1-800-444-5847
716-662-8980

 

thanks all for the info and suggestions. i got it settled this past weekend finally. after repeated talks with the dealership, they finally simply removed the wheel locks with their master key (which did fit) and put lugs in their place. i put the winter setup on, but without locks. but with the wheels i bought (17 in. ASA JS1's), the lugs are pretty much locked away by the lug nut cover which i also think looks extremely good! so yeah. its all settled. thanks again.