Wheel Nut Key - dealer didn't supply with new car

[brad]

In theory they should have taken the wheels off but if you have an open wheel style & it's the first service then they'd probably just have a peek through the spokes. You could use this as leverege though.

Unfortunately you are in the classic he said / she said position where you can't win (IMO). Probably best you take up the lock nut thing with VW Customer Service and let them arbitrate a reasonable outcome.

I still can't work out why the mech can't get the locknuts off with a big screwdriver - it's not hard.

[chimpangie]

In theory they should have taken the wheels off but if you have an open wheel style & it's the first service then they'd probably just have a peek through the spokes. You could use this as leverege though.

Unfortunately you are in the classic he said / she said position where you can't win (IMO). Probably best you take up the lock nut thing with VW Customer Service and let them arbitrate a reasonable outcome.

I still can't work out why the mech can't get the locknuts off with a big screwdriver - it's not hard.

Thanks Brad. I've just got off the phone with VW Customer Service who are being very helpful.

It is correct that a new key cannot be ordered for me now, I will need a new lock nut set. However, Northstar are not within their rights to charge me an exorbitant amount for labour because they don't have the right tools. They are looking into it further and will get back to me.

[Umai Naa!!]

That's odd, because I've bought the keys before, albeit with a new lock bolt.

The kicker is, without the key, they're impossible to get off on Golf 6 due to the design. There's nothing to bash something into or onto to circumvent the key method.

[brad]

It is correct that a new key cannot be ordered for me now, I will need a new lock nut set. However, Northstar are not within their rights to charge me an exorbitant amount for labour because they don't have the right tools. They are looking into it further and will get back to me.

I agree. They sound like they are trying to profiteer somewhat.

That's odd, because I've bought the keys before, albeit with a new lock bolt.

The kicker is, without the key, they're impossible to get off on Golf 6 due to the design. There's nothing to bash something into or onto to circumvent the key method.

What do the G6 ones look like?
I have the Skoda ones (which Peter Warren appear to sell for $72.50 for 4bolts & the key)


and the Audi ones


So you either buy 1bolt + 1 key or 4 bolts+ 1key - yes?

[Umai Naa!!]

Golf 6 ones are more like the Audi ones.

Yeah full set will be completely different to what's on the car, which doesn't necessarily solve the issue of being able to remove the ones that are already fitted. If you can match one up from the kit to what's on the car, you order it as key + bolt.

FWIW, we/I always use the key in the customer's car. 1) you know it fits, and 2) it's more efficient than rummaging through the tool cabinets looking for that one in 50 lock nut keys. And if the customer's one is missing, you can quote up and inform them of it, rather than let them make the discovery on the side of the freeway in the middle of the night.

[chimpangie]

UPDATE:

The car is now back in my possession (thankfully) and I did not have to pay a cent to Northstar. Turns out they are being quite deceitful and VW Customer Service are none too impressed. Firstly, they are required to "have all the necessary tools to service a customer's car" onsite, so they are out of line already by not having the full set of keys but worse, they are certainly not allowed to charge a customer for labour due to them not having the required tools. Massive FAIL there.

That's not all. VW Customer Service also confirmed what Moss Vale told me, that in order to properly check the brakes at the 15,000 km service, you need to remove the wheels. When I queried this with Northstar, as they did my 15k service, they stated they didn't need to remove the wheels to do it, but stopped short of confirming whether they did take them off or not. So, they either DIDN'T take them off, in which case they didn't service the car properly, or the DID take them off, most likely using MY key as Umai Naa suggests is relatively common, and then lost it. Either way, another massive FAIL there.

Suffice to say they have lost my business, and I probably would have happily paid them hundreds of dollars a year to service that for the life of the car. I'm sure there are other places who can provide much better service.

Thanks again everyone for your input, without it, I would be hundreds of dollars out of pocket due to an unscrupulous dealer.

[Umai Naa!!]

I would suggest that the techinician who serviced your car, may still have the lock nut key, and is wondering who it belongs to.

The downfall in using the customer's lock nut key, is forgetting to put it back

[Guest001]

I would suggest that the techinician who serviced your car, may still have the lock nut key, and is wondering who it belongs to.

The downfall in using the customer's lock nut key, is forgetting to put it back

Yeah probably the brother of the guy who serviced my Cruiser in Melbourne and seeing a new Air filter in the cabin chucked it in when the one in it was early new. When I picked it up I asked where the filter was and why did they change it. The service manager said will be in the skip.

I told him to go and bring either the mechanic who did the job or the filter that would be under his bench back with him.

He sheepishly returned with the hardly used filter in the box the new one was in. .

Don't trust anyone. Ask Northstar who did the service and drag him out. The mechanics number is on the invoice and would be on the dash of the car when you go to pick it up.
In fairness he may have forgotten but may have thought he needed it more than you

[polski_ogurek]

My sister had a similar issue (lock nut key missing, stranded on side of road), but her polo had under 15,000 on it, dealership that she bought the car from said she had to buy a new one.

Contacted VWA and after some discussion and complaining about being stranded because of their failure to supply the nut etc, they organised for a VW tech from the nearest centre to come out and replace her wheel for her (even though she just wanted the lock key), and she told him to leave the key, he ended up leaving it as in his words, he "didn't want to leave her stranded next time" too bad it was too late the first time.

And yes, she can change a wheel (put half the blokes around the place to shame).

[Golf Loon]

In this position, go somewhere that has the full set of keys. Get them to take out the 4 locking wheel nuts and then put in 4 standard bolts. When the plastic caps are on, no one could tell that there is no locknut and you wont have any dramas ever again.

I dont see anyone stealing standard vw wheels. maybe if they were full sick 20s to fit a commodore!

[chimpangie]

In this position, go somewhere that has the full set of keys. Get them to take out the 4 locking wheel nuts and then put in 4 standard bolts. When the plastic caps are on, no one could tell that there is no locknut and you wont have any dramas ever again.

I dont see anyone stealing standard vw wheels. maybe if they were full sick 20s to fit a commodore!

Sound advice, I completely agree!

[ian]

You can buy them on Ebay from the USA as long as you know how many splines are in your wheel nuts.

quirkparts | eBay




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Lost your lug nut security key? Wanna know how to remove it? Pick one up at your dealer for $20 or less.

Two types of grooves available in the lugs. Star grooves and Square grooves.

Use the part number listed and add the code to the end of it.

Star Groove

8D0 601 139F

Code Grooves
000 10
001 11
002 13
003 14
004 15
005 16
006 17
007 19
008 20
009 21

Square Groove
8D0 601 139E

Code Groove
051 6
052 7
053 8
054 9
055 10
056 11
057 12
058 13
059 14
060 15
061 16
062 17