How can one little lug nut cause so many problems?
We didn't catch anything this weekend on our fishing trip. I got a few little bites, but nothing major. I'm not too upset over that. As they say, the worst day fishing is a lot better than any day at work (although in my case I actually love my job so its about even).
The weather was good, and I love being out in the woods, so I had a great time.
Until I tried to leave.
We got about 20 minutes away from the fishing camp when my on-board tire pressure indicator started flashing that my tire was low. Being on a really narrow highway, I didn't want to try and unload the Jeep and change the flat there, so we drove back to the camp so I could take care of it safely there.
We got back and checked the tire, and it had a big nail jammed in their and it was slowly leaking. So I unloaded our gear out of the back to get at the spare, and took it out and grabbed the jack and set it up, then I realized that something was missing.
The little lock-nut key (for the special anti-theft wheel nut pictured above) was missing.
In fact, the dealership never bothered to give it to me when I bought the Jeep a few weeks back.
Without this, you cannot remove the wheels.
So I called the 24 hour roadside assistance number to tell them my problem (I paid a nice hefty sum for extended warranty and emergency coverage). They regretted to inform me that the only place I could get a key for the wheel would be from a dealership (the closest one was in 100mile house an hour past where we were staying) and of course, being sunday, they were closed.
So we had to stay another night (and I sincerely apologize for all of those appointments I had to cancel) and wait until the dealership was open, and then have them shuttle a key out to me in the morning.
So in the morning I got up and called the roadside assistance number again, and they, yet again, regretted to inform me that they would have to send a tow truck from the nearest town, to pick up the Jeep, and haul it there to have the wheel key matched up. So I waited an hour for the tow truck, then rode another hour back to 100 mile with the driver making small talk about fishing and atv's, and hunting, and guns (gotta love the folks out in the cariboo - incredibly friendly, but I assumed from the box of shotgun shells nestled between the windshield and the dashboard that they are the type to shoot first and ask questions later).
When we arrived in 100 Mile (and thanks to Bridge Lake Towing - guns and all, the driver was really nice and interesting to talk to) the man behind the service desk at the Jeep dealership met me with a look of bewilderment that was quite concerning.
"Uh....we don't have any wheel lock keys..."
Apparently these are one-of-a-kind to ensure that nobody can go around steeling wheels off of cars. Problem is, you lose that key (or in my case NEVER GET ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE) you are hooped.
The mechanic was, however, able to chisel the nut off the Jeep, replace it with a regular lug nut, and repair the flat in about an hour and a half.
I said my goodbyes to the bewildered staff at the dealership, and started my hour drive back to Sheridan Lake, where I loaded up my gear once again, and then finally left for home.
Needless to say, although I love my new Jeep, I'm not to happy with the people who sold it to me. And the next thing I'm going to do, it get that key from my dealership and get rid of those stupid lock nuts.
Words of wisdom, if you have these special nuts on your car or truck, go check and make sure you have that key RIGHT NOW!
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