Wheel nut key 308

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 12:09

Hello. Picked up a 308 GT line and forgot to check if it has a locking nut key. I cannot find one in the glovebox or in boot with spare wheel etc.

All I did find was something like a wrench and and a lot of small plastic nuts in the boot? Is this the thing that removes the wheels? Or do I need to go back to dealer to get the wheel nut key?

Gibbo2286 · Unread post by **Gibbo2286** » 13 Feb 2025, 12:14

The plastic nuts are just trim to tidy up the regular nuts, you still need a key to remove the lock nuts but you can get them removed at most good tyre workshops, throw them away and fit ordinary nuts instead, they're rarely needed nowadays.

Unread post by **PaulC5** » 13 Feb 2025, 12:44

The wrench is most likely 17mm AF to undo the bolts. You should also have a yellow plastic tool to pull the plastic covers off the bolt heads, a jack and a towing eye. These all fit into a plastic tray. The yellow tool costs very little from a dealer but as an example on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126873236078 ... 101224.m-1

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 13 Feb 2025, 13:01

The wheel bolts could be 19mm across the flats so make sure you get replacements the same to save having to carry two different size spanners.

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 14:21

PaulC5 wrote: 13 Feb 2025, 12:44 The wrench is most likely 17mm AF to undo the bolts. You should also have a yellow plastic tool to pull the plastic covers off the bolt heads, a jack and a towing eye. These all fit into a plastic tray. The yellow tool costs very little from a dealer but as an example on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126873236078 ... 101224.m-1

Seems I'm missing the locking wheel nut and the yellow plastic tool.

Is there anywhere where I could get a replacement locking wheel nut?

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 13 Feb 2025, 14:36

If the locking bolts are the original ones then I believe you can order a replacement from a Citroen dealer. I would imagine they'd need the same proof as when they order the codes for a car - the V15 document (showing your name) and proof of identity (passport, bills, driving licence, etc).

You may find that the cost is a good chunk of what it would cost to have them removed at a good tyre shop. You still have to buy standard bolts either way.

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 14:43

Paul-R wrote: 13 Feb 2025, 14:36 If the locking bolts are the original ones then I believe you can order a replacement from a Citroen dealer. I would imagine they'd need the same proof as when they order the codes for a car - the V15 document (showing your name) and proof of identity (passport, bills, driving licence, etc).

You may find that the cost is a good chunk of what it would cost to have them removed at a good tyre shop. You still have to buy standard bolts either way.

So best best is to take it to a tyre shop and have them removed and replaced with just standard bolts?

Unread post by **PaulC5** » 13 Feb 2025, 14:55

The keys have a number stamped on them which can be used to get another one the same from a dealer. I write down that number on the car handbook in case the key gets lost so possibly the previous owner might have noted it somewhere. Have you also looked in the car door pockets and under the front seats in case there is a storage tray there ? Makes you wonder if somebody has purposely lost the key out of spite and out of data protection the V5C no longer has previous owners names on them so you could ask them. If you bought from a dealer I would go back to them and get them to help/sort it out.

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 15:02

PaulC5 wrote: 13 Feb 2025, 14:55 The keys have a number stamped on them which can be used to get another one the same from a dealer. I write down that number on the car handbook in case the key gets lost so possibly the previous owner might have noted it somewhere. Have you also looked in the car door pockets and under the front seats in case there is a storage tray there ? Makes you wonder if somebody has purposely lost the key out of spite and out of data protection the V5C no longer has previous owners names on them so you could ask them. If you bought from a dealer I would go back to them and get them to help/sort it out.

Nothing in the handbook. Only thing I can find in the service records are these two barcodes?

Unread post by **RichardW** » 13 Feb 2025, 15:19

Citroen should be able to look up the original key number, but there is no guarantee that is what is fitted, nor that they are not chewed up to the point of not being able to remove them. As said the best solution is to get someone with the tools to remove them. The Cit ones are not that hard to remove.

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 15:25

RichardW wrote: 13 Feb 2025, 15:19 Citroen should be able to look up the original key number, but there is no guarantee that is what is fitted, nor that they are not chewed up to the point of not being able to remove them. As said the best solution is to get someone with the tools to remove them. The Cit ones are not that hard to remove.

Dealer just got back to me with this? Is this correct?

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 15:30

PaulC5 wrote: 13 Feb 2025, 14:55 The keys have a number stamped on them which can be used to get another one the same from a dealer. I write down that number on the car handbook in case the key gets lost so possibly the previous owner might have noted it somewhere. Have you also looked in the car door pockets and under the front seats in case there is a storage tray there ? Makes you wonder if somebody has purposely lost the key out of spite and out of data protection the V5C no longer has previous owners names on them so you could ask them. If you bought from a dealer I would go back to them and get them to help/sort it out.

Dealer just got back to me with this. Is this correct? I've attached pic of my 4 wheels.

The front passenger and rear driver seem to have one nut different to the rest though?

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 13 Feb 2025, 16:17

They're right. Those aren't locking wheel bolts so you don't need a special key. But I'm willing to bet that they aren't the proper PSA alloy wheel bolts with a tapered shoulder either. Take one of each type off and compare them side to side.

Henrique14 · Unread post by **Henrique14** » 13 Feb 2025, 16:22

Paul-R wrote: 13 Feb 2025, 16:17 They're right. Those aren't locking wheel bolts so you don't need a special key. But I'm willing to bet that they aren't the proper PSA alloy wheel bolts with a tapered shoulder either. Take one of each type off and compare them side to side.

Ok, so I don't need a special key which is great so I'm guessing when I come to servicing tyre changes etc I'm good.

Saying they aren't proper PSA bolts is that an issue or? Sorry I am not big on cars and spend most my time here trying to find car issues

Unread post by **PaulC5** » 13 Feb 2025, 18:00

There are 2 bolts with dimples in the end, there would have been originally 4 locking bolts so if any are not the correct ones it is going to be the ones with dimples in. They should have a large washer on them and from the photos they appear to have them. Looking at the bolts on our 2019 308 the bolts have dimples in them so without knowing the year of your car, you could have had bolts fitted after 2019 that are the latest spec. The wheels on our 308 are the same as in your photos. I suspect you do not have anything to worry about.

When you come to torque them up it should be around 100 Nm but it would be good if somebody could confirm this. I prefer to use 6 point sockets since they are less likely to round off the bolt heads.

If you go for tyres fitting mention you do not have locking wheel bolts, when I last took our 308 for new front tyres I swapped the locking bolts with normal ones so they could not damage the key/bolt and mentioned it when booking in. I later noticed the fitter had been looking in the boot for a key so the message was not passed on.

When removing locking bolts, this might be something to mention to insurers.

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Wheel nut key 308

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