Door key question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
Door key question
When I bought my car last week, the seller did not have a key for the doors. What would you guys do in that situation? Is there a way to re-key those locks? If so, how would I go about that?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
You can take one out and take it to a lock smith.I think a locksmith could make one while still in the car.Do you by any chance have the key knockouts? If so a GM dealer can make keys from those.If you were near me I would give you my coffee can of old keys and you try till you find 1 that would fits.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
thegazman
I don't know what year Vette you have, but my 79 uses a different key for the doors and ignition. Don't spend a lot of money on a locksmith as you can buy news locks with keys from most of the Corvette parts suppliers for a little over $30.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,757
Likes: 2,506
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
A locksmith can repin any lock. When I bought my Vette the glovebox, door lock and spare tire lock all had different pinnings. In my case I took the door lock key and the glove box lock and spare tire lock in and he pinned them to match the key. For two extra, original GM keys and to repin two locks he charged me $12.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Streator Illinois
I had the same problem with my '75. The local locksmith had a bucket of "Trial keys" and we tried several dozen and still didn't find one that worked. I removed the driver's side lock and he took it apart to determine the pin configuration and then made a key. Cost me $10. And yes, a locksmith can repin a lock in order to have a different key unlock it.
I had always heard that a locksmith has some type of universal or master key that will go into a lock and give the correct combo in order to duplicate a key but apparently that is not true, at least not with this guy who has been in business for 30+ years.
Terry
I had always heard that a locksmith has some type of universal or master key that will go into a lock and give the correct combo in order to duplicate a key but apparently that is not true, at least not with this guy who has been in business for 30+ years.
Terry
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
Thanks for all the input!
My car is a 1970. I haven't tried using the ignition key in the door locks, but I will try that tonight. However, I doubt it will work.
It sounds like I will have to take one out and get a key made. I am assuming I just have to take the interior door panel off to get at one of the locks?
PK
My car is a 1970. I haven't tried using the ignition key in the door locks, but I will try that tonight. However, I doubt it will work.
It sounds like I will have to take one out and get a key made. I am assuming I just have to take the interior door panel off to get at one of the locks?
PK
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Thanks for all the input!
My car is a 1970. I haven't tried using the ignition key in the door locks, but I will try that tonight. However, I doubt it will work.
It sounds like I will have to take one out and get a key made. I am assuming I just have to take the interior door panel off to get at one of the locks?
PK
My car is a 1970. I haven't tried using the ignition key in the door locks, but I will try that tonight. However, I doubt it will work.
It sounds like I will have to take one out and get a key made. I am assuming I just have to take the interior door panel off to get at one of the locks?
PK
As previously mentioned the ignition and door locks are all the same key while the alarm, storage compartment and spare tire key area the same for early C3s.
Your keys should be marked J for the doors and ignition and K for the storage compartment, alarm and spare tire. These keys were used for 1966, 1970, 1974 etc.
If your key is not a J key, the ignition lock has been changed.
If it is a J key but still doesn't work, you can have the door locks matched to it as mentioned above.
cc
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
You guys are AWESOME!!!
Yes, you were correct, my ignition key fits my door locks. I now understand why I didn't know this but it is a story for a different day. I guess that instead of titling the thread "door key question", I could have just as easily used "dorkey question"! Oh well. The next dorkey question will be up momentarily.
Thanks to everyone who helped me out here!
Yes, you were correct, my ignition key fits my door locks. I now understand why I didn't know this but it is a story for a different day. I guess that instead of titling the thread "door key question", I could have just as easily used "dorkey question"! Oh well. The next dorkey question will be up momentarily.
Thanks to everyone who helped me out here!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
You guys are AWESOME!!!
Yes, you were correct, my ignition key fits my door locks. I now understand why I didn't know this but it is a story for a different day. I guess that instead of titling the thread "door key question", I could have just as easily used "dorkey question"! Oh well. The next dorkey question will be up momentarily.
Thanks to everyone who helped me out here!
Yes, you were correct, my ignition key fits my door locks. I now understand why I didn't know this but it is a story for a different day. I guess that instead of titling the thread "door key question", I could have just as easily used "dorkey question"! Oh well. The next dorkey question will be up momentarily.
Thanks to everyone who helped me out here!
Now for the storage compartment, alarm and spare tire key...
cc
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
Good thread I have had some door lock problems as well.
Does anyone know where I can buy "C" coded keyway locks for the ignition and doors on my '72 please. The replacment ones also do not the correct cover so the key can be inserted only one way.
Does anyone know where I can buy "C" coded keyway locks for the ignition and doors on my '72 please. The replacment ones also do not the correct cover so the key can be inserted only one way.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 673
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne Victoria
I had a similar problem when I bought my '74,
The guy I bought her from told me "the ignition
switch is broken- It wont lock".
After many weeks & much head scratching I
found the problem
(I purchased an original owners
handbook & manual) The shifter has to be in REVERSE
to lock the steering -the lock wasn't broken at all.
The P/O had owned her for 5 YEARS and didn't know
this (He was surprised when I contacted and told him
about it).
Cheers
Gav
The guy I bought her from told me "the ignition
switch is broken- It wont lock".
After many weeks & much head scratching I
found the problem
(I purchased an original ownershandbook & manual) The shifter has to be in REVERSE
to lock the steering -the lock wasn't broken at all.
The P/O had owned her for 5 YEARS and didn't know
this (He was surprised when I contacted and told him
about it).
Cheers
Gav
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
I had mismatched ignition and door locks so I purchased an ignition with the correct keyway and had the door locks matched to it.
cc
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
The car was not originally optioned with an alarm, so no problem there. When I took delivery of the car, there was no spare tire, spare pan, jack or lug wrench included. I have contacted the seller who promised that the car was "all there" to tell him about this and ask for the missing pieces. He has yet to respond.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
Thanks for the advice Clifford. The Locksmiths down here in Aus can't relate to a "C" keyway so I will have to get the correct locks in the US. I have been looking on Flebay but "C" coded keyways don't seem to come up very often. I am looking for the complete ignition and door locks to prevent any hassles.
Chris
Chris
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Thanks for the advice Clifford. The Locksmiths down here in Aus can't relate to a "C" keyway so I will have to get the correct locks in the US. I have been looking on Flebay but "C" coded keyways don't seem to come up very often. I am looking for the complete ignition and door locks to prevent any hassles.
Chris
Chris
cc
