Wheel Lock Issues (Beware)

[the gamper]

So I go to my Local Oil change shop to get my oil changed and tires rotated. Been going there for years, lots of oil changes and tire rotations.

I didnt see it happen, but my car was up on a hoist getting the tires rotated, it was taking a very long time, I go to see what is up and the wheel lock shattered when they tried to remove it with the key I supplied them. Half the wheel lock is stuck in the key and half on the stud, fused to the hub making it impossible to get the rim off.

The dealership said that it probably wont be covered under any type of warranty claim, even though the locks are a Mazda accessory. The service tech said that they probably used the pneumatic impact wrench (compressed air wrench) which is what caused it to shatter, thus the warranty would not cover. I was never aware of any such limitation.

As luck would have it, the guys at the oil change shop decided to take the matter into their own hands and used a chisel and hammer to try to and remove the remnants of the wheel lock still on the hub. Would have been nice if they asked me first. I am not sure of a better way to go about it, but this damaged my rim somewhat (no big loss) but more importantly damaged the threads on the stud.

Not sure on how this is going to play out, but I have never seen anyone use anything other than the impact wrench to loosen the wheel locks, never had any issues before. In fact the owners manual is silent on using an impact wrench vs. torque wrench.

So what do you think, should this should be a warranty repair? Or am I SOL? I have a feeling this is going to be one expensive tire rotation.

 

[subspeed6]

I would be raising hell to have the oil shop pay for the repairs.

It probably won't be covered under warranty but again the oil change place should pay for it.

 

[zoom^3]

The same thing happened to me while I had the car in at my dealership for oil change/tire rotation.

Luckily it wasn't as drastic a fragmentation as yours was, just broke the side of the lock, they were able to get the rest of it off so I just had them put a regular lugnut on

good luck

 

[Igve2shtz]

It was my understanding that everything listed on the new car sticker was covered under the "bumper to bumper" warranty. However, the fact that it wasnt a Mazda dealer doing the work kinda screws you.

 

[bobby0283]

I had a similar thing happen. I tightened the lock lugs by hand after rotating my tires at home. When I brought my car to have new tires mounted, they couldn't get the lock ones off with the impact wrench. They broke the key with the impact too. They decided, without asking me, to hammer a larger hex socket over the locks and then wrench them off, thereby ruining them. They wouldn't cover the locks, and Mazda wouldn't either.

 

[speed6_dude]

It was my understanding that everything listed on the new car sticker was covered under the "bumper to bumper" warranty. However, the fact that it wasnt a Mazda dealer doing the work kinda screws you.

I think this fact right here will be the only reason Mazda wont help you... I would really question the oil shop as to what happened and y they did not consult with you when there was a problem! Good luck!

 

[BOOSTR]

The shop that caused the damage is liable for the expense to repair it. Its not a warranty issue to cover stupidity. Beware impact wrenches and lug nuts. Do your self a favor and buy a floor jack and do the rotations yourself. Use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to spec.

 

[dmention7]

Had a similar issue happen with the GF's car. Brought it in for the first rotation at the same place we had purchased the tires (thus they were the last ones to have touched the lugnuts), and the lugs had been so overtorqued that they couldn't loosen two of them without damaging the studs. They informed us of the situation before causing any damage, and when I insisted that they were the only people to have touched the lug nuts, the manager was cool enough to offer to pay for the brake place down the street to replace any damaged studs.

Now, they didn't have to do that, but if they had gone ahead and damaged the studs on their own (which is pretty much what happened to you), I would have thrown a fit until they replaced them. Especially since they damaged the rim and stud with a hammer and chisel without even asking you first. If the wheel lock had simply shattered under normal use, it might be a stickier situation. But the fact that they resorted to destructive methods without your consent makes me think they should at least be responsible for repairing the stud and your wheel, if not the broken wheel lock as well.

Also, as a side note, if you do have a shop rotate your tires or anything like that, I'd always make sure to loosen the lugnuts when you get home, and then retorque them to the proper specs. That will take all of 5 minutes. Shops love to just blast away with the imact wrench and almost always overtorque the lug nuts, which can be damaging to the wheel and brake rotor, not to mention cause you the grief you just experienced.

 

[Igve2shtz]

Also, as a side note, if you do have a shop rotate your tires or anything like that, I'd always make sure to loosen the lugnuts when you get home, and then retorque them to the proper specs. That will take all of 5 minutes. Shops love to just blast away with the imact wrench and almost always overtorque the lug nuts, which can be damaging to the wheel and brake rotor, not to mention cause you the grief you just experienced.

Not to mention the headache of trying to change a flat tire on the side of the road. If they put it on with an Impact Wrench like a typical mechanic, there is no way you are getting them off with the crappy lug wrench they give you in the trunk. I suggest an 18inch breaker bar.

 

[bgibb68]

the shop has to fix it they did it.....i had a problem with my old car and an oil pan......and oh yes paid for it.....

 

[MR_X]

So I go to my Local Oil change shop to get my oil changed and tires rotated. Been going there for years, lots of oil changes and tire rotations.

I didnt see it happen, but my car was up on a hoist getting the tires rotated, it was taking a very long time, I go to see what is up and the wheel lock shattered when they tried to remove it with the key I supplied them. Half the wheel lock is stuck in the key and half on the stud, fused to the hub making it impossible to get the rim off.

The dealership said that it probably wont be covered under any type of warranty claim, even though the locks are a Mazda accessory. The service tech said that they probably used the pneumatic impact wrench (compressed air wrench) which is what caused it to shatter, thus the warranty would not cover. I was never aware of any such limitation.

As luck would have it, the guys at the oil change shop decided to take the matter into their own hands and used a chisel and hammer to try to and remove the remnants of the wheel lock still on the hub. Would have been nice if they asked me first. I am not sure of a better way to go about it, but this damaged my rim somewhat (no big loss) but more importantly damaged the threads on the stud.

Not sure on how this is going to play out, but I have never seen anyone use anything other than the impact wrench to loosen the wheel locks, never had any issues before. In fact the owners manual is silent on using an impact wrench vs. torque wrench.

So what do you think, should this should be a warranty repair? Or am I SOL? I have a feeling this is going to be one expensive tire rotation.

that right there is true. Wheel locks and keys are not meant to be use by the impact gun. Actually you should never use and impact gun unless it has torque settings. I always recommend using a torque wrench that. That way I know all lug nuts have equal amount of torque.

 

[superskaterxes]

you could get 7 sided lugs which are wheel locks in themselves and u should never have wheel lock key problems seeing as how its a whole nut and socket. and who carried a 7 sided socket anyway?

 

[dmention7]

I use a cheap impact wrench on my lug nuts. It gets them wrench-tight quickly, but I'd have to crank on them for several seconds with that thing to get past the proper torque. Then finish off with a torque wrench and go.

 

[the gamper]

Just an update. Mazda hooked me up. Replaced the stud, 4 standard nuts in place of the locks. Covered under warranty. Replaced both batteries in my smart keys, under warranty.

Had two other issues looked at while it was in. I was having some turbo surge issues. PCM reflash, runs like a champ now. Suspension noise, replaced cracked rubber mass damper (I think that is what it was called).

They really treated me great, great experience.