Faulty Wheel Lock/Key?

[justin]

So here\'s how I spent my Saturday night:

I was driving down Danforth Ave... All of a sudden, the car starts to steer to the left... I pull over, get out.. look at my tire, and it\'s completely flat.

So I empty the trunk, get all the stuff out and take off 4 of the bolts. I get a bad feeling about the security key, so I put everything back in the trunk and call oradside to have them come out and get the security key off the wheel, as I am not comfortable doing it myself.

The CAA guy (CAA Guy #1) comes out, very nice guy, and inflates the tire. Within 30 seconds, the air in the tire is gone, so he gets his air gun out, and tries to take it off using the key. No joy, as the wheel lock is now stripped to the point that removal is impossible. He calls CAA Guy #2, who comes out and tows the car to Gyro Mazda.

So here are my questions to Jeff/Joe/anyone else:

1. Is is possible that the wheel lock/key is faulty? I think yes, but fo course I\'m biased because of my involvement in this situation.

2. To Jeff: Does the Tire Protection plan I purchased cover this sort of this if the tire is damaged, and needs to be repaired or replaced? And what if the rim is damaged as well? I didn\'t see/feel any damage when I pulled over and did a quick inspection, but I just want to make sure that I\'m in the clear and don\'t have to shell out any money if the Warranty/Tire Protection will cover this sort of thing.

Looking forward to your response.

[Chuckie]

I think the tire protection protects everything to do with the tires and rims
If it\'s broke, they will fix it. If they can\'t fix it, they will replace it. (up to something liek 3.5k? I think)

I was told by Jeff that this protection plan also applies to aftermarket rims.

[justin]

Originally posted by Chuckie


I think the tire protection protects everything to do with the tires and rims
If it\'s broke, they will fix it. If they can\'t fix it, they will replace it. (up to something liek 3.5k? I think)

I was told by Jeff that this protection plan also applies to aftermarket rims.

Thanks Chuckie. I\'m going to take a look at the documents and see what they say.

Jeff can you confirm this for me?

[FLIPDADY]

Originally posted by justin

The CAA guy (CAA Guy #1) comes out, very nice guy, and inflates the tire. Within 30 seconds, the air in the tire is gone, so he gets his air gun out, and tries to take it off using the key. No joy, as the wheel lock is now stripped to the point that removal is impossible. He calls CAA Guy #2, who comes out and tows the car to Gyro Mazda.


Okay justin here\'s why the key stripped. The CAA guy must be really dumb b/c he should know better than to use an air gun to remove a wheel lock nut. Every vehicle manufacturer has told their techs specifically not to use an impact gun to remove/replace wheel lock nuts. The main reason beiing it will either strip the nut or break it.

As for the tire protection give Jeff a call on Tuesday regarding the coverage details.

I should give you my cell# in case something like this happens again.

[justin]

Originally posted by FLIPSPEED

Okay justin here\'s why the key stripped. The CAA guy must be really dumb b/c he should know better than to use an air gun to remove a wheel lock nut. Every vehicle manufacturer has told their techs specifically not to use an impact gun to remove/replace wheel lock nuts. The main reason beiing it will either strip the nut or break it.

Something else I just remembered to add...

After CAA Guy #1 left, I got a call from the dispatcher, and advised her that the driver stripped the security wheel lock (and the key). I got a call back from the driver about 5 minutes later and he said the air gun he has isn\'t strong enough to strip bolts, which, obviously, is hard for me to believe at this point. He goes on to say that the only reason I called roadside is because I stripped the bolt and wanted to blame it on someone else, like him for instance.

At this point, I\'m completely soaked, my shoes, socks, feet and jeans are wet, and I\'m starting to lose my cool. However, being the stalwart of.... erm... calmness, I say that he is wrong, and that I called roadside because I wasn\'t comfortable taking the wheel lock off. The conversation ends with me stating that either the gun is either too strong, or there is a defect in the wheel lock or the key (which is impossible, because it came off no problem when I installed the CAI).


Originally posted by FLIPSPEED

As for the tire protection give Jeff a call on Tuesday regarding the coverage details.

I will give Jeff a call on Tuesday and see what he says about all of this.


Originally posted by FLIPSPEED

I should give you my cell# in case something like this happens again.

I was actually trying to see if anyone had your number cause I wanted to give you a call to let you know what\'s going on. PM me your cell when you have a moment, and I\'ll add it in to my phone.

[Skarbro]

Anyone that uses an air tool on a wheel lock is an idiot. Wheel locks are weak by design and strip easily. I use an electric impact wrench when removing my lugs. I never use it on the wheel locks though.

[justin]

One thing is for sure. I\'m going to take all the locking wheel nuts OFF my car and replace them with either a better set, or just remove them all together and replace then with regular lug nuts.

[Broli]

why didn\'t u just take of the wheel lock one by hand with the key?


the locks are kinda crappy, i busted one my hand force once,

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Originally posted by justin



Originally posted by FLIPSPEED

As for the tire protection give Jeff a call on Tuesday regarding the coverage details.

I will give Jeff a call on Tuesday and see what he says about all of this.



Justins getting a brand new tire for free....

Told you that it was a great product!

[justin]

Originally posted by TheBiz



Originally posted by justin



Originally posted by FLIPSPEED

As for the tire protection give Jeff a call on Tuesday regarding the coverage details.

I will give Jeff a call on Tuesday and see what he says about all of this.



Justins getting a brand new tire for free....

Told you that it was a great product!

Boy I\'m glad as hell I bought it.

<shameless plug coming up />

If anyone is going to be purchasing a new 3 (or any Mazda for that matter) get the Tire Protection from Jeff. I paid $200 for the plan, and I\'m getting a $350+ tire for free.

[majic]

Originally posted by justin

If anyone is going to be purchasing a new 3 (or any Mazda for that matter) get the Tire Protection from Jeff. I paid $200 for the plan, and I\'m getting a $350+ tire for free.

just b/c MSRP is $350/tire it doesn\'t mean that you have to pay that much.. 1 more tire and you\'ll break even :D

either way it looks like a good option.. ;)

[Chuckie]

haha yes.. go bend a rim :p

[iconicrocket]

Strange, the guy that changed my winters to regular tires used an air gun. And it didn\'t strip the key as I re-tighten the nuts afterward without a problem.

[Skarbro]

The locking nut shouldn\'t strip if it is torqued correctly. However, many shops don\'t torque wheels correctly - they just crank them on with air guns to save time, leaving them torqued way to tight. A good technician will tighten them with a hand wrench and torque them with a torque wrench.

[Skarbro]

Originally posted by justin



Originally posted by TheBiz



Originally posted by justin



Originally posted by FLIPSPEED

As for the tire protection give Jeff a call on Tuesday regarding the coverage details.

I will give Jeff a call on Tuesday and see what he says about all of this.



Justins getting a brand new tire for free....

Told you that it was a great product!

Boy I\'m glad as hell I bought it.

<shameless plug coming up />

If anyone is going to be purchasing a new 3 (or any Mazda for that matter) get the Tire Protection from Jeff. I paid $200 for the plan, and I\'m getting a $350+ tire for free.
I don\'t really believe in it. Most flat tires are repairable. It\'s only usually if the sidewall is punctured that you can\'t repair it. The chances of puncturing the sidewall is really really small.

[bluntman]

Originally posted by Skarbro

I don\'t really believe in it. Most flat tires are repairable. It\'s only usually if the sidewall is punctured that you can\'t repair it. The chances of puncturing the sidewall is really really small.

Unfortunately that\'s the kind of puncture I had on Saturday on the way to Chicago. Luckily I was able to pull into a rest area where I was able to install the spare. I didn\'t want to drive around a strange city looking for a replacement Yokohama ES100 tire so I stopped by a Firestone (the major retailers don\'t stock 17\" or 50 series tires) dealer and bought a Protenza something or other. It got the job done but the tire looks completely different from the other three eventhough it\'s the same size (205/50r17).

[Broli]

Originally posted by Skarbro
I don\'t really believe in it. Most flat tires are repairable. It\'s only usually if the sidewall is punctured that you can\'t repair it. The chances of puncturing the sidewall is really really small.

i puntured a side wall
on my winter tire last winter



what does this wheel and tire protection include

i didn\'t get it
cause i had plans to get aftermarket rims

[Chuckie]

Originally posted by Chuckie


I think the tire protection protects everything to do with the tires and rims
If it\'s broke, they will fix it. If they can\'t fix it, they will replace it. (up to something liek 3.5k? I think)

I was told by Jeff that this protection plan also applies to aftermarket rims.

read.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Originally posted by Chuckie



Originally posted by Chuckie


I think the tire protection protects everything to do with the tires and rims
If it\'s broke, they will fix it. If they can\'t fix it, they will replace it. (up to something liek 3.5k? I think)

I was told by Jeff that this protection plan also applies to aftermarket rims.

read.

Actually it covers up to $5000.

And covers winter tires as well.

[Broli]

Originally posted by Chuckie



Originally posted by Chuckie


I think the tire protection protects everything to do with the tires and rims
If it\'s broke, they will fix it. If they can\'t fix it, they will replace it. (up to something liek 3.5k? I think)

I was told by Jeff that this protection plan also applies to aftermarket rims.

read.


lol

didn\'t read that

the guy who sold me my car said it wouldn\'t

farker!

[majic]

Originally posted by Broli

didn\'t read that

the guy who sold me my car said it wouldn\'t


broli.. jump out the window.. you won\'t break your neck.. trust me

[iconicrocket]

Originally posted by majic



Originally posted by Broli

didn\'t read that

the guy who sold me my car said it wouldn\'t


broli.. jump out the window.. you won\'t break your neck.. trust me

cruel.... but fair.

[Broli]

well he had no reason to lie
he was probably just dumb!

cause he might have gotten more money out of me (i still wouldn\'t have bought it)
i guess warranty money goes to mazda
but he would get money for the work when/if it need to be done

whatever,
keep it on topic this is about justins broken wheel lock and tire


now . . .

carry on