C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

No keys

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 08:11 PM
  #1  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default No keys

Just bought 89 at auction there are no keys ? Can anyone tell me how I can turn on ? Thanks Gary
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 08:18 PM
  #2  
PatternDayTrader's Avatar
PatternDayTrader
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Default

Originally Posted by GaryInArizona
Just bought 89 at auction there are no keys ? Can anyone tell me how I can turn on ? Thanks Gary
You can break into the column through the tilt mechanism if the vats system is bypassed, but I'm guessing your not here to learn how to steal a car. So I think if I were you, I would just replace the ignition lock cylinder as a starting point. Once that's done, you can determine if the vats system is functional, and decide what to do from there.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 08:50 PM
  #3  
FAUEE's Avatar
FAUEE
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,428
Likes: 6,544
From: Melbourne, FL
Default

I'd see if my.local Chevy dealer could make me a new set of keys for it. As stated, theres a fairly significant anti theft system you'll have to contend with.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:08 PM
  #4  
1993C4LT1's Avatar
1993C4LT1
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 16,097
Likes: 821
From: Dallas Texas
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

Yeah new ignition for the column. There's 15 different key codes.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:39 PM
  #5  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default

Hi thank you for info no trying to steel a car , Do you know how much work to replace cylinder? Thank you Gary
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:43 PM
  #6  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default

Called them today they said I need to go to locksmith but cant drive car and no trailer? THANK YOU,
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:46 PM
  #7  
PatternDayTrader's Avatar
PatternDayTrader
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Default

Originally Posted by GaryInArizona
Hi thank you for info no trying to steel a car , Do you know how much work to replace cylinder? Thank you Gary
Its pretty easy in my opinion. Your car doesn't even have an airbag. Its maybe a one hour job provided you have the lock plate tool. Lock cylinders are not expensive parts either. Probably less than fifty bucks for your car.

Last edited by PatternDayTrader; Oct 24, 2018 at 09:48 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:47 PM
  #8  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default

HI do you know how hard it is to put in new ignition ? Thanks Gary
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 09:51 PM
  #9  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default

sorry no lock plate tool ? can I rent one?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 10:01 PM
  #10  
PatternDayTrader's Avatar
PatternDayTrader
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Default

Originally Posted by GaryInArizona
sorry no lock plate tool ? can I rent one?
I would think so. Check with AutoZone first.
Even if you had to buy it, its not an expensive tool. Maybe 30 bucks or so. I might have paid 50 for mine, but it came off the Snap On truck, which is the most expensive place on earth to buy tools.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2018 | 10:47 PM
  #11  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default

Thank you I will check at Auto Zone tomarow
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2018 | 04:41 AM
  #12  
ls777z's Avatar
ls777z
Drifting
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 397
From: Clay New York
Default

Try a mobile locksmith. It will cost you a little more but they will have all of the tools to do the job.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2018 | 06:28 AM
  #13  
hcbph's Avatar
hcbph
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,431
Likes: 609
From: Minneapolis Mn
Default

Originally Posted by ls777z
Try a mobile locksmith. It will cost you a little more but they will have all of the tools to do the job.
Sounds like you need both an ignition key and a door key. Mobile locksmith would be my choice.
On the Vats issues, there are a couple of options. I've seen 'boxes' that plug into the wire that comes out of the column and can do any of the 15 combinations. Another is to get a mixed bag of resistors and make up your own combination for now. Connect each combination one at a time to the connector that goes up towards the DIC and try them with the new key. When it cranks, you have the right combo. Know though after each test you either have to wait about 5 minutes or disconnect and reconnect the battery to reset the timer.

Here's an example of the universal box, though I've not used one of them: https://www.clksupplies.com/products...kaArGcEALw_wcB

Last edited by hcbph; Oct 25, 2018 at 06:35 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2018 | 11:27 AM
  #14  
GaryInArizona's Avatar
GaryInArizona
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 31
From: Topock AZ
Default

Thanks so much, Very helpful.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To No keys





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:09 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE