Hi,

so I bought a car a couple weeks ago and had it Serviced. The guy told me to get a new wheel nut lock key from Ford as mine was worn out. 
 

I drove to a Ford garage and they said they can’t re order a key as I didn’t have a code for that specific key. They tried opening it with their master set of keys which didn’t work as apparently the nuts themselves are slightly out of shape from the age or something.

They suggested finding a welding garage to weld them off rather than chiselling them as it would gauge / chip the alloys.

any recommendations if I should get them welded off or chiselled? 

i have a 2011 titanium fiesta

 

thanks 🙂 

 

 

Use a socket that's slightly too small and hammer it onto the nut, you should be able to loosen it off that way. You could go to a tyre fitter and see if they can get them off for you.

Yes the Ford keys are made of butter - I had a similar issue as someone had used an airgun on one of the wheels for the previous owner.

Ring round your nearest tyrefitters. One of them will have a set of soft brass? universal keys that they can hammer on - the brass takes enough of the shape of the key into the locking nut, and they can get enough purchase to get the nut off.

Then either buy a decent set of locking wheelnuts (McGuard?) or just don't bother.

Does anyone steal alloys these days?

The cost was small.

Well you have a couple of options. First buy a new locking key, you don't need the code there are many places that will supply you a new locking key from a photo:

https://www.fordlockingwheelnuts.co.uk/

and if that fails try these from Screwfix:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-bolt-nut-remover-set-6-pcs/6083D?tc=TA3&ds_kid=92700055262507123&ds_rl=1244066&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OiPBhCOARIsAI0y71BEdVC4HUyIJKxgay6aFoF8lgX9TMpzhz7xz8eNVQR-rIuHonJuTxEaAqdbEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

7 minutes ago, unofix said:

Well you have a couple of options. First buy a new locking key, you don't need the code there are many places that will supply you a new locking key from a photo:

https://www.fordlockingwheelnuts.co.uk/

and if that fails try these from Screwfix:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-bolt-nut-remover-set-6-pcs/6083D?tc=TA3&ds_kid=92700055262507123&ds_rl=1244066&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OiPBhCOARIsAI0y71BEdVC4HUyIJKxgay6aFoF8lgX9TMpzhz7xz8eNVQR-rIuHonJuTxEaAqdbEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I came back here to share the exact same link to Screwfix lol 

But the locking wheelnuts have a rotating collar - have either of you actually used the method above successfully?

Wouldn't any alloy thieves just do the same, if it worked?

You can't smash a socket over them, they have a spinning collar for this exact reason.

I've air chised a few off in my time. It's a bit of skill to do it without hitting the alloy, but I prefer it to welding a nut as you're not risking heat damage.

You can also dremel off that spinning collar and use the 12-point socket method.

Tbh just take it to your local indie and they'll get them off however their preferred method is. 

When you do get them off, just fit regular wheel nuts. Alloys aren't worth anything nowadays, the tyres are probably worth more. It's far easier for thieves to steal the whole car than just the wheels.

Thanks for the tips. Yeah I just want the best option with the least amount of damage to the alloys. 🙂

14 minutes ago, Steven1212 said:

just want the best option with the least amount of damage to the alloys

then I would try a new locking key first

@unofix

ford said that it’s not the key but the nuts that are out of shape. So I don’t think a new key will work. Also I can’t get a  key as I don’t have the code to order / have one made. 

1 hour ago, unofix said:

First buy a new locking key, you don't need the code there are many places that will supply you a new locking key from a photo:

https://www.fordlockingwheelnuts.co.uk/

 

2 hours ago, orangecurry said:

But the locking wheelnuts have a rotating collar - have either of you actually used the method above successfully?

Wouldn't any alloy thieves just do the same, if it worked?

Apologies OP. 

@orangecurry you are quite right, the rotating collar is a PITA. You need to use a dremmel to remove the collar first, which is easier (for me) to do than weld another nut on it. I have a welder but never used it for anything other than messing with it when the boys came round for a beer 🍻 lol. 

Disclaimer, I have not done this myself but have seen a couple of people do it on a other forum.

8 hours ago, unofix said:

First buy a new locking key, you don't need the code there are many places that will supply you a new locking key from a photo:

https://www.fordlockingwheelnuts.co.uk/

45 quid for something that may or may not work?

Again - have you used that company to provide a wheel key? It's no good chucking advice on the internet if you've not actually done it 😄

The quality of the Ford keys and nuts is very poor - the best solution, which happens to be cheapest, is to get rid.

I actually did this a few weeks ago - I watched as two tyre vice-presidents used their skills and experience - and they charged me 12 GBP, which I thought was a steal!

37 minutes ago, orangecurry said:

45 quid for something that may or may not work?

Again - have you used that company to provide a wheel key? It's no good chucking advice on the internet if you've not actually done it 😄

The quality of the Ford keys and nuts is very poor - the best solution, which happens to be cheapest, is to get rid.

I actually did this a few weeks ago - I watched as two tyre vice-presidents used their skills and experience - and they charged me 12 GBP, which I thought was a steal!

I can't speak for @unofix but I admin a Mk5 Mondeo group and this comes up all the time,there are a few people in the group who have used this tool. You seem intent on discrediting everyone else here so I'll keep my advice to myself if you grace us with your presence in future. 

Discredit everyone? - not really, but when both of you suggest the screwfix solution that cannot possibly work, I'll speak up to save the OP his money.

If unofix keeps saying 'get a new key', and the OP says he's been to Ford and they say it won't work, I'll speak up.

 

I grace everywhere with my presence - it's my gift to the world.

You're the superhero no one wanted or asked for, that's cute. 

As I said previously, the Screwfix solution will work if you dremmel the collar off first. 

Yes I have used the company before and bought a locking key. We had a fiesta with a badly damaged locking key that just slipped each time it was used. The new one worked on 3 of the 4 wheels without a problem.

With regards to the screwfix nut extractors, I used them to get the last nut off after failing to chisel it off. Of course by that time the rotating outer collar was jammed solid.

My opinions and advice are free, individuals can take it or leave it, my intentions are simply to offer help. Alas we can't all be as perfect and knowledgeable as orangecurry 

Most tyre places have a priced option to remove locking wheel nuts, just get them chopped off and buy a new set of locks.

I'd replace every single wheelnut, all 16 of them because if they are the chrome steel cap type they will expand and you'll not get them off so easily either.