[Babs]

Bought a 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium in February and took it into the dealer for that 5000 mi maintenance, the man tells me he needs the wheel locks in order to remove the wheels to rotate the tires. Sorry, but I don't understand. Hope someone can help. When I bought the car I received 4 what appear to be lug nuts with the car. I kept them, are these the wheel locks? . I don't think I have wheel locks on the car. Anything someone can tell me would be helpful. Thanks

 

[lesz]

I suspect that what the maintenance guy said is that he needs "the wheel lock key". If you check your wheels, you will probably see that, on each wheel, one of the lug nuts is shaped differently. Those are "wheel locks". The 4 wheel lug nuts that you got separately are the regular lug nuts that were removed when the wheel lock nuts were put on the car. You should have also received a "key" that is needed to unlock those locking nuts. Check your glove box and the area where the spare is in the area under the floor in the cargo area of the vehicle. If you don't find the key, check with the dealer that you bought the vehicle from.

 

[RobertB]

My key socket was in a plastic bag next to jack.

 

[Babs]

I suspect that what the maintenance guy said is that he needs "the wheel lock key". If you check your wheels, you will probably see that, on each wheel, one of the lug nuts is shaped differently. Those are "wheel locks". The 4 wheel lug nuts that you got separately are the regular lug nuts that were removed when the wheel lock nuts were put on the car. You should have also received a "key" that is needed to unlock those locking nuts. Check your glove box and the area where the spare is in the area under the floor in the cargo area of the vehicle. If you don't find the key, check with the dealer that you bought the vehicle from.

 

[Babs]

Thanks will do that.

 

[Babs]

My key socket was in a plastic bag next to jack.

Thank you for you help, I will check

 

[Petzuk]

No need for your wheel lug nut key. All Toyota dealers have a master key that can loosen any locking lug nut.

 

[mikefocke]

But you need to locate that key socket in case you have a flat somewhere. Tire changing services can brake the lock to get the spare on but that isn't what you want.

And the dealer would have a set of unlock key sockets assuming that the locks were a set from Toyota. Dealers can do some strange things to increase profits.

Look in the glove compartment next to the manuals and in the side pockets and in the spare tire well. And that all failing, visit the selling dealer and be firm. They can order the special socket.

Since this is your first visit, check your tire pressures afterwards or get them to. Amazing how many cars get delivered with incorrect tire pressures.

 

[Toyfan2]

At my first service I handed the service writer my wheel lock key. He handed it back and said we have our own. If you are at a dealership that doesn't have their own master set I think that may say something about the dealer. If they do have a set of master keys it may say something about the man you were dealing with.

 

[lesz]

At my first service I handed the service writer my wheel lock key. He handed it back and said we have our own. If you are at a dealership that doesn't have their own master set I think that may say something about the dealer. If they do have a set of master keys it may say something about the man you were dealing with.

I've had the same experience at dealers and tire stores. If dealers and tire stores have master keys, it makes me wonder about how effective wheel locks are in preventing theft of the wheels. If dealers and tire stores have the master keys, I would think that many thieves also have them. And, even if they don't, if they really want to steal the wheels, it can't be that hard for them just to break off the lug.

 

[Toyfan2]

I've had the same experience at dealers and tire stores. If dealers and tire stores have master keys, it makes me wonder about how effective wheel locks are in preventing theft of the wheels. If dealers and tire stores have the master keys, I would think that many thieves also have them. And, even if they don't, if they really want to steal the wheels, it can't be that hard for them just to break off the lug.

The good news is nobody wants to steal your stock wheels. And you are right, if they do want to steal them, wheel locks won't stop the professional thief. Locks will slow down or make the punks look elsewhere. Half professionals will just take a little longer to steal.

 

[Jlhrstv]

Also please have the alignment checked also. Some new RAV4s are delivered out of alignment. The dealer should do it free on request. Even better many independent shops like Tires Plus will check it free.

After you check it, please post the report. I am collecting data on new RAV4 alignment issues after our tire failed.