I\u2019ve got a leak on one of my car tyres. I know this. I just keep \npumping it up, about once a week does nicely. I\u2019ve had it looked at, the\n problem is the alloy wheel is horrendously damaged and it leaks air out\n at the rim. I haven\u2019t looked into solving this yet but apparently \nrepairs are possible. Recently I had to leave the car parked up for 2 \nweeks and when I returned the tyre was completely flat and I didn\u2019t have\n a pump!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
I was with a colleague who I had already offered a lift to, so it was\n slightly embarrassing that we appeared to be stuck. I sprung into \naction, grabbed the spare wheel and changing kit from the boot. It \ndidn\u2019t take that long to whack the spare on and as I was finishing up \nwith the wheel, my colleague helped by putting away all the tools. We \nwere on our way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days later I got around to re-inflating the original wheel and \nbegan the process of swapping it back, except the alloy wheel locking \nnut key was no-where to be seen! I searched every part of the car, every\n compartment, under seats, under carpets and nothing. I was now a bit \nstuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google reveals this is not an uncommon problem and that it may be \npossible to key a spare from the manufacturer, Audi. I looked through \nall the original car documentation to see what it said. It mentioned \nthat with the correct code a spare could indeed be ordered. Where is the\n code? That\u2019s right: stamped onto the key! So before I lose the key I am\n supposed to have read page 294 of the manual to know that I need to \nmake a note of the code in case I lose the key. Awesome\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plan B: I called my local Kwik-Fit who recommended I call Audi first.\n If I didn\u2019t get anywhere with Audi then Kwik-fit did offer a package \nfor \u00a3100 where they could remove all the security bolts and replace with\n aftermarket ones. I have already decided that security bolts are more \ntrouble that they are worth so asked about replacing with normal bolts. \nApparently it was a package for \u00a3100 and there was no budging on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I called Audi in Basingstoke and attempted to describe the problem. \nThe lady on the phone was completely bewildered by what I was asking \nfor, \u201cmaster key?\u201d she asked, while I was wondering if she even owned a \ncar. She eventually established what I wanted and said that parts would \nneed to help with that but they were all busy and could they call me \nback. Certainly, and I handed over my details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No calls returned that day, or the next and by the day after that I \ndecided they were beyond useless and called the Reading dealership \ninstead. They were a little more helpful and I had managed to get \nstraight through to parts. They said that as I didn\u2019t have the key code \nthey could remove the bolts with their master keys and then replace with\n normal bolts and new little plastic caps. It was going to cost \u00a326. \nWell, that\u2019s better than \u00a3100, but that was just the cost of the parts. I\n asked about the work and he wasn\u2019t sure about that so put me through to\n booking. I had to explain everything again of course. I decided that I \nalso needed an MOT so was booked in for the following Tuesday. There was\n still no clarification on the final cost but I was told I\u2019d get a call \nback. A day or so later I still hadn\u2019t heard anything so I wrote an \nemail explaining everything I needed: bolts off, spare wheel swapped, \nnew non-security bolts, MOT. Final cost please?\u2026 no response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I called again a day later and was passed through to booking. They \ndidn\u2019t have a final cost and I asked if they\u2019d seen my email. They \nhadn\u2019t received my email but said that it had to go through the front \ndesk first and assured me that it would make it\u2019s way over to them \neventually. I was not<\/em> assured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I waited until Monday and as I still hadn\u2019t had a call back or a \nresponse to my email I decided that Audi were in fact fairly useless. I \nwent to a local independent garage near my work over my lunch break and \nthey said that for\u00a349 they would remove the existing bolts and replace \nwith normal ones for \u00a31 each. Bargain! The method of removal was a \nlittle more destructive than a master key, they had to hammer a moldable\n bolt onto the security ones but it wouldn\u2019t damage the car. I left it \nwith them and drove it home with replacement bolts later that afternoon.\n I was finally free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m fairly disappointed with Audi, they make great cars and I know \nwhen you go for a service or MOT they are very professional and give \ngreat service. Unfortunately it seems that\u2019s all they can do right, if \nyou need anything a little more unusual they don\u2019t know how to cope and \nthe customer is left to run around picking up the pieces. I\u2019ve had \nprevious similar experiences with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the lessons learned: if you have security bolts make a note of any\n codes required to replace them, get a spare key in advance, think about\n replacing them with ordinary bolts. Finally: local independent garages \nare often the best option. They are small and nimble and have a much \ncloser relationship with their customers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve got a leak on one of my car tyres. I know this. I just keep pumping it up, about once a week does nicely. I\u2019ve had it looked at, the problem is the alloy wheel is horrendously damaged and it leaks air out at the rim. I haven\u2019t looked into solving this yet but … <\/p>\n