WHEEL NUT KEY - FIAT 500

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
Can anyone advise on this, or as anyone had a similar experience?

My friend bought a new Fiat 500 from Arnold Clark in stafford 2 years ago. She now has a flat tyre and they have told her she needs the wheel nut key so that they can remove the wheel and replace the tyre. She has never seen the key but they insist it should be in the glove compartment or with the spare wheel. When she collected the car, the salesman did not mention a key and, if he had, she would have made sure it was left in the glove compartment because she is very careful about such things and very organised. She cannot find it and Arnold Clark have told her that the key is specific to her car, just like a house key, and that it will cost her £75 to replace it. I have advised her to take it up with them again, and she says she will but I just wondered if anyone has any knowledge/experience of such a thing. I have looked on the internet and it would appear that you can get a replacement for £29.99, which is better, but still very annoying if you were never given the key in the first place.
 

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
Most tyre companies will be able to remove the locking nuts. Platts (Fiat) might have a set of tools to do the job (some dealers do, some don't).
The locking "key" (it's more like a socket with a hexagonal nut on 1 end) may be in a bag in the driver pack with the service book, manual etc. Some vehicles have them in a plastic box about 4 inches square by about an inch deep. It could be tucked away anywhere in the nooks & crannies of the interior/boot although a Fiat 500 won't have many places to hide it. You'd think that Arnold Clark would have looked around the car for it ( but, hey, this is Arnold Clark we're talking about). Has she had the car serviced in the 2 years, you'd think the wheels may have been removed at least at a full service. The "key" is specific to the nut on the car although there's usually "only" about 100 combinations. To get a replacement you'd need to know the code number of the "key", it isn't usually marked on the nuts or the key but there's usually some sort of identifier in the pack with the nuts etc.
P.s. If & when she does get it removed it could be worth replacing the locking nuts wit standard wheel bolt/nuts. They're only there to prevent theft of the wheels. When was the last time anyone heard of wheels being nicked?
 
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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It will look something like this.

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It could be secreted amongst whatever tools you get these days. Possibly in a bag with the spare wheel?

@AA Silencers will get it off without the key.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
Holder under the passenger seat.
If you should need to buy one take a photograph of the wheelnut and take it to Platts. There are only about a dozen different ones and once identified they will be able to order one. Roughly £15.00.
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Have a feeling that Halfords were selling a tool that would remove any wheelnut. The fuss that arose might have dissuaded them from selling it.
 

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
Have a feeling that Halfords were selling a tool that would remove any wheelnut. The fuss that arose might have dissuaded them from selling it.
I brought one from Halfords a couple of months ago , so should still have them.
They don't work on ALL locking nuts though.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Do be aware that a lot of the after-market locking wheel nut remover tools are just that - they're not really suitable for putting the 'security' nut back on.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
Holder under the passenger seat

For clarification, the seat squab is hinged at the front, you need to get your fingers between the squab and the backrest and pull it up. There's also a handy little cubby hole where small valuables can be stowed out of sight.
 

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
My friend remembered that her daughter had had an accident in the car just after she had bought it. The insurance had a garage in stoke to fix it. One of the wheels had to be changed so they must have found the key or removed the nuts in some other way. She rang the insurance to find out the name of the garage and the insurance rang them. They said they had put it back! Amazing how they could remember a job from two years ago! Anyway she's ordered one from a chap on eBay who can work out the code from a photo of something on the wheel. So she should have it by Friday. What a pain! Thanks for all your help!
 
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