Key number

As long as you bring the title to the vehicle, with your name on it, and have a photo ID, yes, they can make you a key.

Just for the heck of it, try getting one with just the vin # and no ownership papers.

If the key is badly worn then most likely so are the tumblers within the lock. A new key, cut from the code, my not work. Cut another key, copied from the one you have, WBMA

mike hunt

Big Al wrote:

Hi Mike...

Hmmmm. In this case wouldn't two "worns" be twice as bad as only one? :)

Take care.

Ken

One might think that but no, they mate to line up the tumblers to allow the cylinder to turn. It is a common problem on collector cars, new code cut keys don't always work.

mike hunt

Ken Weitzel wrote:

What are you doing on a GM newsgroup? What kind of job is that for a Beeblebrox?

I'm going to remove the trunk lock and take it to a locksmith. I'm guessing there is a number on it.

Al

I got a key cut for my 1987 300ZX and it works better then the worn key...

Wouldn't the tumblers be made of a harder material, thus the reason the key wears down in the first place?

The pins and the key are usually brass. My problem is the keys were never what you would call perfect. They are just cheap duplicates, and they are getting worse with use.

Al

"Paradox" wrote in news:KEiae.3094$Zi.1374@fed1read04:

This has worked for several of us but Mike is so knowledgeable on all things automotive, he can't help himself.

I've actually had the opposite happen. Had to replace the rear cylinder (tailgate) on an SUV I owned. The old key wouldn't work in the new cylinder, had to get a new key cut. You'd think they would have checked that when replacing the lock cylinder.

OK, I tried. Have to have the title and a photo ID.

Al

Thanks Al, you just helped clarify an earlier discussion that one could easily walk into a dealer and get a key cut from the vin#. This way anyone could walk up to your car get the vin # and then have a key cut, hence drive away.

Any REPUTABLE dealer, and one that wants to continue doing business, would have those requirements, or follow them anyway. Happened here, a guy got thie VINs of 2 vehicles, one from each of 2 dealers a few miles apart. They then got keys cut (obviously someone didn't check for the proper paperwork). The guy then stole one vehicle, that had a plate on it, drove down the road and stole the other (with no plate, he swapped it onto that vehicle from the first) and drove off. He was caught trying to steal gas from a gas station down the road (the second vehicle was an SUV).

Wait, maybe he had test-driven the vehicle earlier in the day, the dealer had STUPIDLY given him BOTH keys for the vehicle. He put a blank on the ring and took one of the cut keys. Either way, someone wasn't thinking clearly that day...