RE: Torque wrench.

I keep a breaker bar with the correct socket on it to change tires. I also have a torque wrench in the car as well.

If I'm changing my tire (because its flat) I might as well make sure its torqued right too.

I've got this in both our cars.

Take care.

 

ACamper....Nice!!

 

Retired now, so I have AAA and sit back with a cold drink while they do it

 

Most dealers should have a full 'master key' set for wheel locks. I had the locking nuts taken off, pain in the ***. You may have to have a dealer or different tire dealer rotate the tires this time.

 

Sorry but that is incorrect
Loesing your lock is not a warranty service, and many dealerships will not use the means necessary to remove them nor do they keep all the possible locking master keys.

In fact, many dealerships will send you to a local tire and wheel or general service shop to have the wheel lock removed.

We get calls from a few local dealerships asking if we do the service and we decline because they are at times a PIA .

CAUTIONARY ADVISDE (also common sense)
Whenever the need to remove a wheel if it be by you or a shop doing a service it is your responsibility and common sense to make sure that you get in hand the wheel lock used to remove the wheel.

In our shop those are attached to the final work order that goes to the customer, and we personally hand it to them! And I make sure that as I am the main person that see the customers when I do this it is plain view of one of our camara's. LOL

 

Update on the locks. I got the locks off and replaced all my lug nuts with black ones. Just a little contrast and they really set the wheels off. The old nuts and locks went into a bag. A week after changing the nuts, I stopped by to price some tires. The manager noticed my car and he remembered me. After all this, he walked out with my lock tool. It was in a box with three others. A former tire and brake tech was bad about keeping the tools. I now have my lock tool with the nuts in storage. I like the black nuts better anyway.

 

I hope the manager gave you some decent pricing on the tires to make up for his hire of a negligent employee.

 

Huh!? Honestly he is lucky that the guy remembered him and returned his wheel lock key?
Very few shops teach or instruct what would be common sense to some of us to make sure the lock gets returned.

What I recommend is this inexpensive case to place the wheel lock in. Then when you do have to have a shop do a any service the requires the removal of your wheels you hand them the case with the wheel lock.
THEY WILL REMEBER to return your wheel lock back to you when the service is complete. Or because you physically handed them the case have them make a note on your service work order. Now you will likely never again have your key not returned to you. And it is easier not to get lost in your vehcle.

 

"Huh!? Honestly he is lucky that the guy remembered him and returned his wheel lock key?
Very few shops teach or instruct what would be common sense to some of us to make sure the lock gets returned."

I managed my customer service/technicians differently when in the computer field (among others).
If a customer brought in any additional "tool, equipment, device" when they dropped off a computer or peripheral device for service or repair that would get logged in (as you do in your shop).
When the customer picked up their "computer or peripheral device" they would get that "tool, equipment, device" back.
I did not keep employees who failed to follow instructions and or return all of a customers property.
It would be considered negligence at minimum and could be legally considered as theft.
What the item is or its cost is irrelevant, when it comes to keeping up the reputation of the service and the business.
Personally I would not be a customer or employee of any business who fails to teach common courtesy.
And yes I'm fully aware there are many other service managers/business owners who feel differently and I don't use them.

Hence my asking if the manager gave him a good price on tires...

 

Ya sorry but most service shops have tools everywhere and many the shop is not tidy and clean. Wheel locks often resemble the same tools that are in a mechanic tools box or the area they are working around. If you look at my picture unless you knew it was a wheel lock it looks like a average deep socket. So while shops systems of running vary having to forget a lock is not uncommon no matter how carful you are and sometimes it happens. I am a little more careful to cover all aspects of mistakes having been doing this for decades and yet in my striving for perfection my service people still make mistakes. I catch most of them.
Comparing them to other industry that are generally in a very clean and controlled working area is not the same thing.

I don't replace employee for being "HUMAN"! If that was the case, I would fire all of them because I hate going to the bathroom and seeing NOONE replaced the toilet paper which the supply is out in the shop and up in the storage area.