Hello all
I recently bought a 2002 93 convertible. The wheels [i think] are not originals. I thought i had a slow puncture so trotted off to kwik fit...they asked for the lockable wheel nut key but it couldn't be found. Last owner didn't even realise that there were keys as he hadn't had car for long.

saab dealer tell me they could drill the nuts [ooer missus] for up to £200, plus cost of new nuts, so i would appreciate any ideas...in the meantime i have an annoying slow puncture that i will just have to keep pumping up.

I think the key could be 'hidden' in the car somewhere, so if anyone has any thoughts about hiding places...

Any ideas welcome. I'm in newcastle, by the way

loving the car though, and have had a good response on this site so far, so it's good to be here

thanks
dave

I put mine with the wheel brace or tool kit.?

Normal places are:

Glove box
Centre arm reat
pushed into the plastic tool holder around the spare wheel.
Rolling around in the boot under the spare wheel.

But, have you check the handbook and documents? Often there is a paper slip in there with the key code on and you can order another key. Of course, this is a risk as the lock bolts and key may have been changed since the car was new.

thanks for replies. i will go out now and have another look...

there is a particular type of socket that your local smart indie should have. i has a let hand helical thread that slims down and all he does is hammer it onto the wheel nut. as it is hammered on it cuts into the nut, obviously destroying it in the process but they are no good it you dont have the key anyway, and because it is a left hand thread tightens as he undoes the nut.

then you go out and buy another set of locking wheel nuts and make sure you leave the key somewhere you remember where it is. chances are Kwik-Fit would have looked in the obvious places.

my brother in law usually charges about £15/wheel, its a lot cheaper than main dealer option.

Depends on the nut type, on some you can just find an imperial size socket that is just too small to fit over the nut. Hammer it on really tight and undoo the offending nut. My friendly tyre fitter says all types of locking nuts snap / fail / break except for Race-X brand. And he doesnt sell them, he sais he is just sick of broken locking nuts on customers cars.

Ive had a stuck Vauxhall locking nut and it took a bit of shifting. The imperial socket got it in the end. Snap on do a locking nut removal tool for about $50 have a search around ... http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?st...p;group_ID=1652

If you have a local wheel and tyre specialist local to you im sure they would do you a deal on removing the old ones if you purchase replacement locking wheel nuts from them.

Do not pay £200 to get them drilled. A local garage should do it for £30 or less and replace the nuts for that price.

I've just had mine removed and replaced at a local tyre fitters

I was charged £4.50 per wheel to remove the locking nuts the 'easy way' - involving hammering a smaller socket on I think
He said if this method failed then the 'hard way' is £10 per wheel to weld a nut to the locking one but couldn't guarantee no damage to the wheel

new set of locking nuts were £18

I'll be able to clean my calipers up now

Cool bug forsch. What year/colour? I have a 66 1300 Deluxe in Sea Blue.

If you have the foam type wheel instert around the spare wheel have a good look as the sometimes become embeded in that but pull the spare right out as they do have a habbit of dropping into the spare wheel well.

Hope you find it !!!!