C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Wed 23 May 12 10:31

C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Hi has anyone got any experience of or know the answer to…

To be fair to them Southampton Saab are still investigating this but yesterday they told me it was not possible to get a replacement ignition key for my 2001MY.
I had to get a new barrel with new keys.

But I got an email from a C5 owner in the USA last night that said . “ They took my second key, read the code and cut me a new key, but it wasn't cheap. Didn't have to replace the ignition lock assembly”. This was “recently” but it was for a 2004MY.
Anyone got a replacement key “recently”?
Is there a differnece on keys between 2001 and 2004 MYs?

Cheers,
Pete

Wed 23 May 12 13:28

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

I assume based on this and your other thread that you have a key, but need another. Correct?

And, if I am right, the issue is that Southampton Saab cannot determine which key out of the 10+ different “chips” (ie the small metal/plastic piece at the top-end of the key, by the bit you hold to turn the key)

FWIW, the 10+ different chips (small/metal piece) are all differing resistance, so that when inserted into the barrel, the (key) resistance is measured and balanced to what they car thinks it should be. In other words, if the resistance is wrong, the car won’t start

I think GM call this the VATS code

If this is your problem, then the dealer is possibly blagging you about needing a new barrel. It is possible to measure the resistance of an existing key (multi-meter) and buy a blank from Ecklers. After that simply have it cut in the normal way

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-ignition-key-vats-co...

I know this because one of the members in the Midlands bought a C5 from the US that arrived with only one key and he overcame the problem by following the steps above

Does this help?

--------------------
CCCUK Membership Secretary
The views expressed in my posts are personal to me and unless stated, do not represent the opinions of the CCCUK

2003 Euro Spec Electronic thingy....
2003 V6 Daily Barge - with 184k on it. Ticking along nicely
2012 Kia Sportage (her shopping cart)


With one V8 and one V6, I'm doing my bit to improve the Summers

Wed 23 May 12 13:48

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

[

Hi Guy, yes it does thanks. My position is as you assumed, ie I have one original ignition key, the other original key having just been stolen. The key I have has been, or will be, reprogrammed by Soton Saab to negate the stolen key - doesn't stop someone using the stolen key to physically enter the car and set the alarm off.

I suspect they are not blagging me - their first port of call will the GM/Corvette computer system to which they have a licence and I suspect that is saying keys from GM are not available; I have not checked yet but I wonder if the Ecklers key is a GM key or third party sourced.

Anyway that sounds like the route I can go down - so thanks for the advice

Cheers
Pete

Wed 23 May 12 15:57

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Speak to Keith at Eurovettes he has several of these keys in stock, all you need is the resistance on your existing key to make sure you have the correct blank which you then get recut at a reputable locksmith. Not sure what you are saying about reprogramming, the chip is a fixed value resistance, it cant be programmed,
Mike.

--------------------
Mike ,
What is it with me and silver Vettes?

Wed 23 May 12 16:21

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Vats Code Resistance in Ohms
Key no

1 --------392
2 --------523
3 --------681
4 -------887
5 -------1.13k
6------- 1.47k
7 -------1.87k
8------- 2.37k
9 -------3.01k
10----- 3.74k
11----- 4.75k
12 -----6.04k
13 -----7.50k
14 -----9.53k
15 -----11.80k

Just take your reading and order the key, SIMPLES!!!!!

Last edited by autocolor on Wed 23 May 12 16:22; edited 1 time in total. [2 %]
--------------------
Mike ,
What is it with me and silver Vettes?

Wed 23 May 12 17:24

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Thanks for that Mike


Ok this is where I own up to serious brain cell loss. I should not be talking about a key but about a key and a radio key. I think the discussion so far has been on the physical door/ignition key. When I was talking about re-programming the key I was referring to the radio key. Brain went dead because I forgot about this.
Full explanation
1. My ignition key and radio key were stolen
2. I have had Soton Saab reprogram my other radio key which negates the stolen radio key; and importantly means that the stolen radio key cannot be used to disarm the security system.
3. Now the thief with my physical key could physically get into the car but will set of the alarm system, I assume.
4. I am assuming, can anyone absolutely confirm, that he could not start the car because the security system will not have been disarmed.
5. With the help on the previous postings I see I can now get a replacement physical key

6. Does anyone know where we can get a radio key from – eg do GM still supply them?
Out of interest; when you take delivery of the car the dealership gives you a pin no. to allow you to program in additional radio keys if desired. Now that Soton Saab have re-programmed the radio key I still have, going in with the Tach2 I assume, does that negate my pin number? IE I need to make sure I get a new number from them

Wed 23 May 12 17:41

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Hi Pete, by radio key do you mean your Key Fob with the buttons which activates alarm, opens boot , petrol flap etc?
If you need a new fob or 2 they will need to be trained to match the car, but first you need to know if the car is euro spec or US spec as fequencies are different, however if your Saab man has reprogrammed your existing fob then he should have the details to retrain a new one.
I am not sure if your man has "reprogrammed" your fob or just retrained it to match the car, if is just retrained then your missing fob will still work with your alarm so you need to understand exactky what your guy has done.

One bit of good news, the blank keys are only around £12, in fact I paid more to have it cut than I paid for the blank, I think the locksmith was nervous of getting it wrong.

Mike.

Last edited by autocolor on Wed 23 May 12 19:31; edited 1 time in total. [13 %]
--------------------
Mike ,
What is it with me and silver Vettes?

Wed 23 May 12 23:49

Re: C5 replacement ignition key - how to get?

Hi Mike, yes it is the key Fob; GM call it a radio key in the Chevrolet alarm manual I received when I bought the car.

To be precise it is actually a UK spec car. I bought it from a specific Vauxhall dealership when GM were selling the car direct into the UK via 20 dealerships around the country.

Certainly I need to find out exactly what has been done but I am 99% certain that what has been done is to reprogram my remaining Fob. There was no need to retrain it as it was already trained and in use on the car; I used whichever of the two keys/fobs came to hand in the morning

As you say having reprogrammed it they will be able to train the new fob to match. My point/sort of question was me thinking ahead in that some time in the future I might want myself to train another Fob so I need to be sure whether my current pin number has been changed. Indeed I am sure that if you have to renew the battery in the FOB you have to go through the retraining process, which is why GM give you the capability to do that yourself via the pin number. Although after 11 years the need to change a battery has not yet arisen.

I am getting the resistance measurement from them in the morning and I will then call Keith to see what he has. That will then leave me with the replacement of the missing Fob and it is not clear to me at the moment whether Southampton Saab will be able to source that or not.

Cheers
Pete