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C5 Lug Nut Key

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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 05:09 PM
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Default C5 Lug Nut Key

Purchased an '04 Coupe used and have been unbable to find a lug nut key in the car. In "Secrets of the C5" section of the weight, measures, strengths, etc. sticky, it says to look under the carpet on the drivers side of the center storage compartment. It should be in an indentation under the carpet. Did not find it there or in the glove box or center console compartment. Also looked in the small left and right compartments under the rear hatch.

Qustion: Did all C5s come with a lug nut key (have polished thin spokes) and if they did where can I get a replacement that fits?

Will need tires in the near future so this could be an issue.

Thanks,

Quick Draw
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 05:29 PM
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Yep...the key should be there so I suspect probably lost or misplaced. I would contact Gene Cully of GM Parts House. Excellent Forum Sponsor and has helped a lot of folks on the Forum.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 05:41 PM
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Thanks C5Black Beauty. How do I know which key fits or will Gene know by my VIN #?

Last edited by Quick Draw; Aug 9, 2010 at 05:58 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 06:12 PM
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Either the original owner or the detailing department of the selling dealership probably kept the "key".

I doubt that the VIN will be helpful to determine the correct "key" needed.

If all else fails, a tire shop should have a socket tool which fits over the locking lug nut. It has LH spirals inside which lock onto the lug nut. Then it's removed with an impact. You can buy that tool yourself, but it'll probably never be used again.

Some have been successful in using a slightly over sized socket pounded onto the lug nut and removing it with a ratchet or impact.

If you want new locking lug nuts, try DISCOUNT TIRE or SUMMIT RACING. They carry GORILLA lug nuts and locks in either show chrome or black. It wouldn't hurt to buy an extra "key" just in case.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 07:31 PM
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Look in the glove box. The lock had a little plastic bag in my owners manual. On that plactic bag was a number of my key. I ordered another one, kept one in the Z-28 and one in my tool box.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim2003
Look in the glove box. The lock had a little plastic bag in my owners manual. On that plactic bag was a number of my key. I ordered another one, kept one in the Z-28 and one in my tool box.
Thanks! I will look for the plactic bag with the number on it.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 10:56 PM
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If your wheels have a locking lug on them, then yes, there should have been a key included. Each set of locking lugs/key came with a piece of paper that gave the key number and an address for ordering a replacement. Check in your paperwork and see if there is something like that with it. If not, you may be able to get the locks off by tapping a socket onto the lug and then breaking it loose. If that doesn't work or you don't want to try that route, you may be able to get a local tire shop to get them loose. Some tire shops or even the dealer may have a set of master keys that just might fit your locking lugs.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by hotwheels57
Either the original owner or the detailing department of the selling dealership probably kept the "key".

I doubt that the VIN will be helpful to determine the correct "key" needed.

If all else fails, a tire shop should have a socket tool which fits over the locking lug nut. It has LH spirals inside which lock onto the lug nut. Then it's removed with an impact. You can buy that tool yourself, but it'll probably never be used again.

Some have been successful in using a slightly over sized socket pounded onto the lug nut and removing it with a ratchet or impact.

If you want new locking lug nuts, try DISCOUNT TIRE or SUMMIT RACING. They carry GORILLA lug nuts and locks in either show chrome or black. It wouldn't hurt to buy an extra "key" just in case.
Good to know that there is a way to get the locking lugnuts off.

Looked in owners manual for small plastic bag as suggested by post after yours but found nothing.

If I knew the correct key # I would order one from Gene Culley.
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Old Aug 10, 2010 | 12:30 AM
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Are they the original locks or aftermarket, ie..McGard?
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Old Aug 10, 2010 | 05:50 AM
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Unless there were aftermarket locking lugnuts added to the car the 04's didn't come with factory locking lugnuts.

GM switched sometime in 03 from lugnut covers to stainless lugnuts and eliminated the locks.
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Old Aug 10, 2010 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by 2k2C5
Unless there were aftermarket locking lugnuts added to the car the 04's didn't come with factory locking lugnuts.

GM switched sometime in 03 from lugnut covers to stainless lugnuts and eliminated the locks.

Bingo! That is the information I was looking for.
I contacted the previous owner and he had the tires replaced once and also replaced the brake pads and did not remember using a lug nut key.

I did not know that the 2004's did not have the locking lugnut for each wheel.

Don't you just love this forum!

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help me with this one.
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