Technical Replacing spare-wheel tools

[Col Max Pyatnitski]

Came out this morning to discover that driver side window on my Punto (1.2 8v '00, Mk2) had been smashed. Door lock buttons were still all down, and I thought at first it was pure vandalism (stereo was stolen years ago, and never replaced, and nothing of value in car, tyre pressure gauge was still in door pocket, jump leads still under passenger seat, etc.,).

Anyway, bit later on I went to boot to get carrier bags and saw they were all gone, then discovered they'd gone into the boot and taken the tools from the spare wheel (jack etc.,) but fortunately they didn't take the spare wheel itself.

So I've now got no tools in car to deal with a flat tyre. Anyone got any suggestions on how to go about replacing the tools? Can you buy a replacement kit that fits in the same way (where & how much €£?)? Would one be better buying a few pieces of kit separately? (if so what do I need to get?).

 

[a1ant]

Hi mate,

Sorry to hear that.

Your best bet is eBay or scrap yards. For example this one is going for £5 including the spare wheel and all the tools.

The tools that come in the kit aren't great, but they are sufficient for changing a wheel in an emergency. If you wanted to spend more money then you could get yourself better equivalent tools but the danger is that if they are left in the car, they may be stolen again.

Don't forget your towing eye would have also been in the tool kit which is also a fairly important item to have in the car, as well as the scissor jack and handle, double ended screwdriver and the plastic tool for removing the nuts on the rear light clusters.

Alan

 

[Col Max Pyatnitski]

a1ant
Thanks for the tip, didn't think of ebay/scrappie. I might try the scrapyard route. Never actually been to one (went to a couple of motorcycle workshops/breakers years ago looking for for an engine for a college project), so might be interesting.

If I wanted to put non-original tools in car, an appropriate socket and bar would cover the wheel on/off bit. What sort of jack would work? Bottle jack of some sort? End up having to find jacking points then...

 

[s and b]

if these tools have your fingerprints on them then it might be wise to report the theft in case they were stolen to remove someone elses wheels or jack window bars open and you could be blamed in years to come if the rozzers ever arrest you
i would expect to pay £10 tops in a breaker for full kit
have you done the window then as breakers usually take liberties on price with glass because they know its a distress purchase, i got charged £25 for a rear door window glass last year

 

[homeward]

Sorry to hear that.... :hug:

Easiest way is either a scrappy, or from eBay. I got the full set for about a tenner, plus postage, when I bought my Punto -- including the plastic wheel insert they sit in -- as half of the tools were missing.

If you need a list of what should be there, let me know; otherwise I think there's a picture and a list in the owner handbook.

 

[a1ant]

a1ant
Thanks for the tip, didn't think of ebay/scrappie. I might try the scrapyard route. Never actually been to one (went to a couple of motorcycle workshops/breakers years ago looking for for an engine for a college project), so might be interesting.

If I wanted to put non-original tools in car, an appropriate socket and bar would cover the wheel on/off bit. What sort of jack would work? Bottle jack of some sort? End up having to find jacking points then...

Hi mate,

A 19mm 1/2 drive socket
A 1/2 drive 14" breaker bar

Are what I would recommend for removing the wheel nuts.

With regards to a jack, I would avoid a bottle jack as they often require quite a bit of clearance which you might not have especially with a flat tyre on the front, plus as you say you won't be able to use it on the sill jacking points that you use for the oem jack.

A trolley jack would be best bet but these are a bit bulky and heavy to carry around in your boot all the time.

Best bet is another scissor jack like the oem one.

Alan

 

[s and b]

Hi mate,

A 19mm 1/2 drive socket
A 1/2 drive 14" breaker bar

Are what I would recommend for removing the wheel nuts.

With regards to a jack, I would avoid a bottle jack as they often require quite a bit of clearance which you might not have especially with a flat tyre on the front, plus as you say you won't be able to use it on the sill jacking points that you use for the oem jack.

A trolley jack would be best bet but these are a bit bulky and heavy to carry around in your boot all the time.

Best bet is another scissor jack like the oem one.

Alan

its changeover year to 17mm isnt it?
his car 2000

 

[a1ant]

its changeover year to 17mm isnt it?
his car 2000

Hi,

IIRC it was mid 2001 on. But good shout, best for the op to check anyway.

Alan

EDIT:

Officially for cars manufactured from 01 2001.



Op still best to check though.

Alan

 

[Col Max Pyatnitski]

Well, finally I ordered a set of tools from ebay (£15), and they came yesterday. The one tool that was left from the original set was the wheel-brace. The tool set I got has a smaller-size brace, which surprised me. However, at least the jack is in good nick, which was the key component I needed.

Also have the towing eye (which went with the original kit). Is there any variation in the thread on these (e.g. early to late mk2, mk2b, etc.,)? Haven't screwed it in yet, so don't want to mess up threads if it's possible for it to be different (the variation in wheel brace has made me cautious).

 

[a1ant]

Hi mate,

The kit you've got will have come from the later car with the 17mm wheel bolts where as yours has the original 19mm ones.

The tow hooks are the same throughout the range so should fit fine. You will struggle to cross thread/ damage the threads without a LOT of force on these, as they are designed to be able to tow the vehicle after all.

Glad you've got it sorted and hopefully no one Knicks it again!!

Alan

 

[Col Max Pyatnitski]

Cheers, thanks for the info/reassurance on the eye.
I'll test it and jack to be sure to be sure (i.e. that it's what it supposed to be) later today. (Seeing/Doing is believing... so as an aside: I was always impressed by story my mother told about her first car (a FIAT 850 as it happens). One of first things she did with car was park it up at home and practice changing the wheels on it so she knew she would be able to do it if she had a breakdown "in the wild").

 

[homeward]

The kit you've got will have come from the later car with the 17mm wheel bolts where as yours has the original 19mm ones.

And, of course, check that you have whatever size your locking wheel nuts/key are, if fitted -- as mine are a couple of mils bigger. (I carry a set of 17, 19, 21 and 23 mm sockets for my extendable wheel brace, just in case....)

 

[Brendan W]

Cheers, thanks for the info/reassurance on the eye.
I'll test it and jack to be sure to be sure (i.e. that it's what it supposed to be) later today. (Seeing/Doing is believing... so as an aside: I was always impressed by story my mother told about her first car (a FIAT 850 as it happens). One of first things she did with car was park it up at home and practice changing the wheels on it so she knew she would be able to do it if she had a breakdown "in the wild").

Smart lady. Old dog for the hard road as they say.
In fairness punctures were much more frequent back in the day but whatever about practicing using the jack, checking fasteners is still something everyone should do when they get a new to them car or have tyres replaced.
Now how many know how to open the bonnet............?

 

[Monkeh16]

Now how many know how to open the bonnet............?

You just take the car to Kwikfit and they open it for you. That way you don't have to learn anything or think for yourself!

 

[MikeSalt]

If you fancy a punt, I've got a toolkit for sale on the 'Bay at the moment. Starting bid 99p.

 

[Col Max Pyatnitski]

The tow hooks are the same throughout the range so should fit fine. You will struggle to cross thread/ damage the threads without a LOT of force on these, as they are designed to be able to tow the vehicle after all.

Glad you've got it sorted and hopefully no one Knicks it again!!

Just threaded the tow-hook this evening. Pretty sticky, but don't think I could have done any damage (as you say) given I used my bare hands. Think there was just paint/dirt/dust in the threads on the car. Front one particularly sticky.

Thanks again for the tip/advice. Likewise, I hope nobody steals it again. Glad that at least the first time they didn't steal the spare wheel. It's a bad situation though: I'd like to put a stereo back in the car (e.g. that mp3 job that Oldhammer linked to looks nice (and cheap)), but the last one got stolen, in the course of which they bent the door out. I don't want to "provoke" further vandalism, so 3 years later I've still got no sounds in the car.

 

[oldhammer]

Just threaded the tow-hook this evening. Pretty sticky, but don't think I could have done any damage (as you say) given I used my bare hands. Think there was just paint/dirt/dust in the threads on the car. Front one particularly sticky.

Thanks again for the tip/advice. Likewise, I hope nobody steals it again. Glad that at least the first time they didn't steal the spare wheel. It's a bad situation though: I'd like to put a stereo back in the car (e.g. that mp3 job that Oldhammer linked to looks nice (and cheap)), but the last one got stolen, in the course of which they bent the door out. I don't want to "provoke" further vandalism, so 3 years later I've still got no sounds in the car.

fit one of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Way-Car...cessories_Safety_Security&hash=item3f14b7313d

 

[Col Max Pyatnitski]

fit one of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Way-Car-Alarm-Protection-Security-System-Keyless-Entry-Siren-2-Remote-Control-/270930489661?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item3f14b7313d

Have you used one of those kits yourself?
I had thought of fitting keyless door unlocking, but then read into need to notify insurance and was put off. Maybe a combined alarm and unlocking kit would be better idea. I'd thought of this kit:
http://www.hawkcaralarm.com/CarAlarmsCentralLockEngineImmobiliserDualZoneUltrasonicSensor.aspx

(I'm still a bit unsure of the effectiveness of the alarm solution. Years back we had an old Mazda 121 in the family, with a rack-out stereo (whole unit, not just front); thieves seemed to assume you'd put it under the car-seat, so they'd break in to the car. The Mazda locks were made of cheese (not a hard cheese like Parmesan, more like Camembert), so they'd put a screwdriver in and wreck the lock, then open the door, at which point alarm would go off and they'd run away. Meanwhile we had to buy a new door lock and the door paint/metal got scuffed/damaged. Eventually we just left the doors unlocked and relied on the alarm and immobiliser to keep the car from getting stolen which worked OK until an eager young lady in the local constabularly noticed and told us we were encouraging crime into the area.)

Anyway, car should be through the NCT (MOT-alike) today lunchtime, so I'll be open to looking into a couple of small projects after that, before weather gets too bad.

 

[oldhammer]

Have you used one of those kits yourself?
I had thought of fitting keyless door unlocking, but then read into need to notify insurance and was put off. Maybe a combined alarm and unlocking kit would be better idea. I'd thought of this kit:
http://www.hawkcaralarm.com/CarAlarmsCentralLockEngineImmobiliserDualZoneUltrasonicSensor.aspx

(I'm still a bit unsure of the effectiveness of the alarm solution. Years back we had an old Mazda 121 in the family, with a rack-out stereo (whole unit, not just front); thieves seemed to assume you'd put it under the car-seat, so they'd break in to the car. The Mazda locks were made of cheese (not a hard cheese like Parmesan, more like Camembert), so they'd put a screwdriver in and wreck the lock, then open the door, at which point alarm would go off and they'd run away. Meanwhile we had to buy a new door lock and the door paint/metal got scuffed/damaged. Eventually we just left the doors unlocked and relied on the alarm and immobiliser to keep the car from getting stolen which worked OK until an eager young lady in the local constabularly noticed and told us we were encouraging crime into the area.)

Anyway, car should be through the NCT (MOT-alike) today lunchtime, so I'll be open to looking into a couple of small projects after that, before weather gets too bad.

....................
re alarm,
You dont have to wire in,the central locking side,
just wire it in so youve got a basic alarm,. flashing led etc,

insurers shouidnt mind a alarm being installed, best to ask tho,

 

[flisko]

....................
re alarm,
You dont have to wire in,the central locking side,
just wire it in so youve got a basic alarm,. flashing led etc,

insurers shouidnt mind a alarm being installed, best to ask tho,

someone crashes in your car............... BOOOOM all gets ****ed up, but you manage to survive without a single scratch, plot twist: your car had unprofessional alarm fitment which voids insurance paying for damages and you also need to pay for the other car aswell