Community Chat

[Equuleus]

There were so many spelling errors in the explanation that maybe we all misunderstood.

[missy1]

I have never had a separate trunk key or a hubcap key.

[Allegheny]

I am curious also to know what year and make the car is.  I can vaguely remember when cars had a separate trunk key.   Wheel locks I am aware of, but not hubcap locks but I did google them and they do exist.

I too would have probably taken my car elsewhere also.  But would have told him I was doing so because I wanted someone more familiar with my vehicle to work on it.

[geezerette]

I definitely remember when cars had separate trunk and engine keys.  But it was many years ago.  My car is twenty years old and only has one key that both starts the engine and opens the trunk.

[dex]

I think young people have never experienced the older vehicles so that is probably why he didn’t know about the keys.Its good that you took the vehicle to a place you felt more confident with the service though. 

[BirkiLady]

Seems like the OP missed a great opportunity to educate the young man. I learned something from this thread today. Yes, I remember individual keys for the ignition and the trunk (a long time ago). Remember the days of hub caps (that was a longggg time ago), but have never heard of wheel locks or hub cap keys! Cannot imagine locking hub caps onto the rims? (To avoid theft?)  What do the wheel locks do? 

If that was at your normal mechanic, you should have taught the young man about your car. Chances are he's still learning his trade and your car was something he would have loved to get to know! Some of those older cars are much easier to work on (no electronics) and great because of their large size. They are a young man's dream machine!

[Carmie]

One of our cars has a separate key to start it and a different one to open doors.  It is this way because the ignition went bad and had to be replaced...a different key was issued.

One  time I was getting gas and a car salesman was right beside me.  He was driving a convertible sports car that belonged to his dealership and couldn't find the gas cap.  He walked around and around that car.  Finally, he found it...it was not in the usual,place on that model.  It was tucked in the fin on top of the back bumper instead of on the side of the car.

All cars are different.  I borrowed my sister car and drove 300 miles with the seats being heated in August. My buns were hot.  I could not find the heated seat button.  It was under my handbag on the middle console.  I must have turned it on when I set the bag down.

Just because someone doesn't know the unique features of the car does not mean they can't rebuild an engine or install breaks..which is a simple job.  It was the OP's job to inform the mechanic that the hubs locked and provide him with the key.  She had to know he had to remove the wheels to install the breaks.

[qbetzforreal]

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@BirkiLady wrote:

Seems like the OP missed a great opportunity to educate the young man. I learned something from this thread today. Yes, I remember individual keys for the ignition and the trunk (a long time ago). Remember the days of hub caps (that was a longggg time ago), but have never heard of wheel locks or hub cap keys! Cannot imagine locking hub caps onto the rims? (To avoid theft?)  What do the wheel locks do? 

If that was at your normal mechanic, you should have taught the young man about your car. Chances are he's still learning his trade and your car was something he would have loved to get to know! Some of those older cars are much easier to work on (no electronics) and great because of their large size. They are a young man's dream machine!

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Wheel locks prevent the theft of tires.  Wheel locks install in place of your car's lug nuts and can only be removed with a special key that comes with the set. Types of wheel locks vary, depending on the wheel style.

@BirkiLady

[chrystaltree]

That's why people take their cars to the dealership for things like that.

[bonnielu]

I service with my Toyota dealer and or I have a mom and pop kind of business that we have known for years and years.  When my car got out of warantee I go there and have had marvelous service.  Something to be said about rural living.  LOL