'99 Catera Sport Wheel Lock

[mzacherl]

I own a '99 Catera Sport and I have these rims [attached image]. It has a special bolt on the cap covering the lug nuts. There is a special key that is made of plastic that has three pins oriented in an isosceles triangle. I have lost this key, and am searching franticly for it because I need to change my tires very soon. Where can I find this thing?

[guardian]

Sorry to learn of your difficulty.

I can't tell you what to do in this circumstance. Finding this key being offered for sale would most likely involve luck. You could try your Caddy dealer, but I assume you already have done that, and having done so know better than we do if this item remains available from Cadillac.

So as I said, I can't tell you what to do. I can, and I will, tell you what I would do:

I would make a key.

Of course that's easy for me to say, because I have my own (small) machine shop. I would probably fab up the key out of brass or nylon, something soft.

Assuming you have no shop, and most folks do not have a shop at home, you can take the problem to a small local machinest in your area. I would approach a one or two man shop - nothing larger. But a shop having the basics, a Bridgeport machine and perhaps a lathe

If you have any mechanical ability at all, try to sketch up a drawing of the key from memory, something you can show the machinest.. It does not have to be fancy. Anything is better than nothing. And drive to the machinest's place in your Cat so he can examine the location into which the key must fit. A decent machinest should be able to fab something up for you without undue trouble.

Good luck!

[elvin315]

Along the same lines as Guardian suggested, you might be able to make a temporary replacement. Use some paper and take a "pencil rubbing" of the lock. Transfer the 3 holes to the end of a wooden dowel. Pre-drill three holes slightly smaller than appropriately sized nails. These nails, with their heads cut off, should fit the keyholes. Drive the nails into the dowel and cut them down so they're just long enough to fit into the holes. Too long and the force needed to turn the lock will split the wood. File the rough edges and hopefully you'll have a new key. If it works duplicate it using an old plastic screwdriver handle in place of the wood.

[mzacherl]

Thats actually a good idea. I have a access to a metal shop so i may be able to make something.

I found the part # finally also for the key and locks so I think ill be able to get it now!