Wheel lock Troubles

[Bikeman315]

Take the car to a high end tire shop. They should have a kit with damn near every master key needed to remove wheel locks.

Although this recommendation would work why should OP pay to have it done?

He bought a car from a dealer and finds out the wheels cannot be removed. Who here just wouldn’t bring the car back to the dealer and let them deal with it?

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[Rapid Red]

Although this recommendation would work why should OP pay to have it done?

He bought a car from a dealer and finds out the wheels cannot be removed. Who here just wouldn’t bring the car back to the dealer and let them deal with it?

Totally agree ....................Might be a case made regarding safety complaint

Although this recommendation would work why should OP pay to have it done?

He bought a car from a dealer and finds out the wheels cannot be removed. Who here just wouldn’t bring the car back to the dealer and let them deal with it?

Totally agree..
Take the car in, tell them to rotate the tires with the oil change ...... balls in their court. They sold the car to you, rotate the tires?

 

[Cobra Jet]

For those that did not look at the images the OP posted, there’s no way any of the current online “tricks” will work on those lock nuts... there’s no room between the inside wheel lug wall and the edge of the lock nut. That’s the purpose of that type of design, it can’t be defeated by normal means.

It’s also too low into the lug socket to weld anything onto it to remove.


These 2 companies have the most advanced lug locks out there, but from their online designs, the OP’s lug lock does not appear to be similar, UNLESS it’s an older design.
https://advancedwheellocks.com/

http://rimlox.com/

OP can try contacting them with images, maybe they can offer some assistance.

 

[Genxer]

I've had Discount Tire break regular locking lugs off when our key came up missing. It wasn't on a Mustang but a Honda. They have some sort of tool for that.

 

[ORRadtech]

For those that did not look at the images the OP posted, there’s no way any of the current online “tricks” will work on those lock nuts... there’s no room between the inside wheel lug wall and the edge of the lock nut. That’s the purpose of that type of design, it can’t be defeated by normal means.

It’s also too low into the lug socket to weld anything onto it to remove.


These 2 companies have the most advanced lug locks out there, but from their online designs, the OP’s lug lock does not appear to be similar, UNLESS it’s an older design.
https://advancedwheellocks.com/

http://rimlox.com/

OP can try contacting them with images, maybe they can offer some assistance.

Intersting.
The Advanced locks are pretty ugly though.
And the Rimlox, damn, their warranty looks just about useless.
Must have a shop do the install
Must register within 24 hours of install
Must return 1 key and keep other sealed.
Must document where, when, why personal key used and promptly return to be resealed and be retorqued by shop
Lose key, lose warranty
Lend key, lose warranty
Car stolen, lose warranty
Wheels stolen from car while in a building, lose warranty
Zero mention of warranting damage to wheels/tires/car from attempted theft.

I think I'll stick to my Gorilla splined locks. Their hard enough to deter the casual thief, easy enough for a determined thief to get off without damaging the car and proof to my insurance company that I tried to protect them. And only $100 for 20 locks.

 

[Briebee72]

From the pictures those do look like rim locks that someone tried to remove and rounded off the edges. From what I understand those are about impossible to remove by a shop or anyone with out a key and even with a key those look pretty messed up and rounded off. I hate it for you but man good luck let us know what comes of this. It might be that the dealer was the one who screwed them up not knowing what they were as they dont look rusted, like the rounding off just happened recently. And thats why they wont help.

 

[cactus_kid]

My suggestion to take the car to a high end tire shop is because I wouldn't trust the car dealer. If in fact the lugs are munged up, a dealer sure as hell wouldn't be able to fix the issue. The op bought the vehicle used. The lug nuts were most likely already fubared. Sad to say, he's going to have to pay a specialist to extract them. Up to and including using an extractor on the wheel studs.

 

[Bikeman315]

My suggestion to take the car to a high end tire shop is because I wouldn't trust the car dealer. If in fact the lugs are munged up, a dealer sure as hell wouldn't be able to fix the issue. The op bought the vehicle used. The lug nuts were most likely already fubared. Sad to say, he's going to have to pay a specialist to extract them. Up to and including using an extractor on the wheel studs.

I totally agree that the dealer will never get them off but OP shouldn’t have to pay to have it done right. So find a shop that can remove them, get the cost and have the dealer agree, in advance, to pay it. It’s the least they can do.

 

[ORRadtech]

I totally agree that the dealer will never get them off but OP shouldn’t have to pay to have it done right. So find a shop that can remove them, get the cost and have the dealer agree, in advance, to pay it. It’s the least they can do.

I'd still take them to the dealer and complain. IMO the dealer would be far more likely to bring in a specialist, or send the car out, than they would be to pay a random bill because the buyer said so. Or agree to pay an unknown amount ahead of time.

At the very least the OP needs to talk to the dealer to find out what they will say.

 

[MikeHTally]

My Ram had wheel locks, the Speed 3 did, as well. Fortunately for me, we don't have need for that type of "security", so I removed the locks on the Speed.

I had some work done on the Ram and they kept the unlocking key. When tire rotation time came around, I had to hammer a socket over the locking lug to get it loose. No more wheel locks for me!

 

[Rapid Red]

I'd still take them to the dealer and complain. IMO the dealer would be far more likely to bring in a specialist, or send the car out, than they would be to pay a random bill because the buyer said so. Or agree to pay an unknown amount ahead of time.

At the very least the OP needs to talk to the dealer to find out what they will say.

Agree, that's like selling a car with 3 wheels, and telling a customer if he wants 4 use the spare ............. oh wait no spare.

At the very least a dealer should be selling a functioning car, meaning being able to remove the wheels.

Dealer is not auto trader, I thought ?

 

[ORRadtech]

I had to hammer a socket over the locking lug to get it loose. No more wheel locks for me!

Back when I owned boats I ran stainless props. The boat lived 60 miles away so I put prop locks on. After an incident where the key was 60 miles away I learned to order spare keys. For my gorilla wheel locks I have 1 key in the trunk with the jack, a back up in the glove box and a third one in the tool box socket drawer. Oh, and the information sticker to order keys is taped to the floor of the spare tire well.

 

[cactus_kid]

I'd still take them to the dealer and complain. IMO the dealer would be far more likely to bring in a specialist, or send the car out, than they would be to pay a random bill because the buyer said so. Or agree to pay an unknown amount ahead of time.

At the very least the OP needs to talk to the dealer to find out what they will say.

Depends on the dealer and, was the car "sold and shown as is!" If the op bought the car from a used car only dealer, he may very well be up the creek.

 

[Elp_jc]

I removed the stock wheel locks on my Bullitt when replacing the crappy lug nuts with black Gorillas, and didn't put wheel locks anymore (I'm selling them locally). They're not really a deterrent anymore, so much more likely to cause the owner trouble, especially in high torque applications, where they either fail immediately, or over time, since they're inherently weaker. And if you torque them to a lower number, that's not good either. They provide a false sense of security IMO, but to each his own, of course .

 

[AceS550]

I agree, wheel locks mostly cause problems for vehicle owners. On my 17 GT, 2 of the dealer installed wheel locks sheared off leaving behind pieces that could not be turned by extraction tools. I ended up having to drill out the wheel studs and replace them. It was extremely frustrating and time consuming.

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