PaulTheBall
6th October 2004, 08:52 PM
ok so I got off my bum and rotated my wheels a couple of weeks ago. Once every 60,000 km can't be that bad can it? :oops:
By the end of it I had totally trashed the wrench that comes in the back of the Barina. This was after the problem of having to stick another bar to extend it because you can't get any torque on that puny little handle. Presumably the same wrench is found in other Opel models.
The threading inside the head was almost all gone, and certainly could not grip anything. I had to use a socket wrench set to tighten the last wheel.
So I go into the dealer today to ask for a replacement under warranty... but they refused. They claimed that the damage was done by not putting the wrench over the nut properly. That was correct. It is easy to start turning that wrench without having it over the nut correctly.
Anyhow I'm going to invest in a better wrench or a socket wrench soon because the design of the standard wrench makes it too easy to damage.
So the lessons for the rest of us are:
1. If you are going to use the standard wrench, make sure that before you turn it around, the head is fully covering the nut. Kick or hammer it in to make sure.
2. Pack some kind of extension handle in your kit NOW. You don't wanna be jumping on a wrench to loosen nuts if you are stuck on the side of the road, at night, in the rain.
Have fun folks!
:)
By the end of it I had totally trashed the wrench that comes in the back of the Barina. This was after the problem of having to stick another bar to extend it because you can't get any torque on that puny little handle. Presumably the same wrench is found in other Opel models.
The threading inside the head was almost all gone, and certainly could not grip anything. I had to use a socket wrench set to tighten the last wheel.
So I go into the dealer today to ask for a replacement under warranty... but they refused. They claimed that the damage was done by not putting the wrench over the nut properly. That was correct. It is easy to start turning that wrench without having it over the nut correctly.
Anyhow I'm going to invest in a better wrench or a socket wrench soon because the design of the standard wrench makes it too easy to damage.
So the lessons for the rest of us are:
1. If you are going to use the standard wrench, make sure that before you turn it around, the head is fully covering the nut. Kick or hammer it in to make sure.
2. Pack some kind of extension handle in your kit NOW. You don't wanna be jumping on a wrench to loosen nuts if you are stuck on the side of the road, at night, in the rain.
Have fun folks!
:)