I have a flat tyre and cannot remove it because the alloy has a lock on
it but I do not have a key (I do not recall receiving one when I bought
the car).

I have enquired with the AA and they said they could try and fix it
roadside. I am not a member so they will charge me £105 to join.

What are the chances that the AA will have a key that can fit the car
at the roadside so I don't have to pay to have it taken somewhere to
done?

I also checked with the Renault garage and they said they had no record
of what key I need so I cannot order another one.

Thanks.

a while ago my key broke so i couldn't get the wheel off which i needed
to change, as it was a halfords locking wheel nut set i took the car to
halfords to get the locking nut off, which they did.. using an air
chisel!

so i guess it's possible they can remove it

Apparently on date 19 May 2005 02:46:23 -0700, "b8pu" <b8pu (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> said:

Pretty good if they are expecting to do this.

plug of plasticine into the hole and take that to a place selling the keys.
They're crude devices, something will match well enough. Or you can take a
metal plug and grind it into the correct shape with a hex head for the
wheelbrace on the back.

Other solutions include cutting the stud off and putting another one on once
you get the wheel off. Personally, I would just use plasticine and get the key
needed.

Check you haven't got the key in the spare wheel well or glovebox or similar.

On Thu, 19 May 2005 09:46:23 GMT and in uk.rec.cars.misc, b8pu wrote....

By you saying it's a Renault i am guessing it is possibly the same
locking wheel nuts i had. 4 small pins on the key/adapter which lock into
the nut.

My key was knackered, the pins had twisted and they wouldn't unlock the
nuts. Only found out when i took it for new tyres. The guy told me he
could get it off but would only do it if i wouldn't put the lockers back
on. He said Renault locking wheel nuts are one of the worst he's come
across.

Anyway, he got a long socket and hammered it on, took him a while, and
eventually when he got it on solid enough he got a T-bar onto it and got
it off that way. Wheel nut was knackered but it wasn't going back on
anyway.

He said if unless i was going to put expensive alloys on then not to
bother with locking wheel nuts, no-one would nick standard alloys.

--
sme

James Bond would be proud of you.
They are generally disc locks. Cylinder with a number of brass discs inside
with shaped holes to allow the key through. If it's the right key it passes
through the discs to allow spring loaded plungers to rise and fall in the
correct order to create a clear path for the cylinder to turn.
Pushing a chunk of plasticine inside would clog it up-with no means of
retrieving it.
The usual way is to use a cold chisel and lump hammer to destroy the
cylinder. Stilson wrench or socket hammered on to remove the wheel bolt.
DaveK.

Thanks all for your replies.

I have now joined the AA (though had to pay an extra £50 in addition
to £40 basic charge!). They will be coming out tonight to try and do
it. Hopefully they will be able to get it off. If so, I will ask him if
he can also remove the other three as I don't want to go through this
again!

"davek" <davek (AT) brentmere53 (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> wrote

I've never seen any wheel locking nuts like this. Has anyone else? Most are
just a standard wheel nut with a 'pattern' dug out of the top. The outside
of the nut is round and hardened to make it harder to knock a socket over it
(if your determined enough you can do it though). The socket has the
pattern raised up inside it, this then fits into the grooves on the nut and
allows it to be turned.
Has anyone ever had any with springs inside them?

Apparently on date Thu, 19 May 2005 15:53:26 GMT, "Ray Bentos"
<sp014g6464 (AT) blueyonder (DOT) co.uk> said:

No, but that's not to say there aren't any. The ones I've seen have been shaped
top nuts. If it has fancy laser beam detectors and things, I daresay the
plasticine solution isn't ideal

Quick and easy if you're nicking the wheels, this one, but you stand a chance
of damaging the stud. Not that a new stud is particularly expensive, mind.

Just to update you... The AA man was able to remove the wheel lock on
the flat tyre thank goodness! Got the spare tyre on just now so will
need to get that changed soon.

He basicaly hammered away at it with sharp objects until it broke and
he pulled it off with pliers. Didn't take too long though he said they
were very strong locks compared to what he'd seen before.

My brother watched the guy doing it so he is going to attempt to remove
the other three wheel locks too and I will buy a new set (and hold on
to the keys tightly!).

Thanks again.

PS. I have been looking on eBay and found 'Wolfrace' locking wheel nuts
for under £10 including p&p. Are these satisfactory? My alloys were only
factory fitted and I doubt they would appeal too much to thieves (touch
wood) so I don't want to spend too muchmore on the locks.