Keys!!!!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh PA
What in the heck is wrong with General Motors??? When I bought my 04 Z06, it came with aftermarket key's. I decided to look for the original style chevy key because the shape of the head is wider making it easier to start the car when you turn the key. G.M. always has that slogan "Keep the parts on your car G.M." What a joke, the dealer wanted $47.00 per key and then wanted to charge me to program the keys for an extra $20.00
I decided to check with ecklers to see if they carried the keys and how much. Thank God Ecklers was selling them for a reasonable price $14.99 each, but they didn't have the machine to cut the keys which I didn't expect them to. When I brought the keys to the dealer to have them cut, the guy behind the counter said that he didn't want to cut the keys because they are expensive and last time they tried to cut one like it, it took them 3 times before they got one to work . I wont mention the name of the dealership but I don't understand how a Chevrolet dealership can not cut a key for a Chevrolet correctly, do you? I guess I am going to stick with my aftermarket keys and give up on the General. I don't need all the stress.
I decided to check with ecklers to see if they carried the keys and how much. Thank God Ecklers was selling them for a reasonable price $14.99 each, but they didn't have the machine to cut the keys which I didn't expect them to. When I brought the keys to the dealer to have them cut, the guy behind the counter said that he didn't want to cut the keys because they are expensive and last time they tried to cut one like it, it took them 3 times before they got one to work . I wont mention the name of the dealership but I don't understand how a Chevrolet dealership can not cut a key for a Chevrolet correctly, do you? I guess I am going to stick with my aftermarket keys and give up on the General. I don't need all the stress.
I then got 2 off ebay for $5.50 each, took them to Home Depot to be cut... and they only work some of the time. I think the kid cutting the keys screwed them up.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
I work at a Chevy/Corvette dealer in Canada and here is the pricing I have in my system from GM in Canadian funds.
For a 97-04 Corvette Vats key
Retail = $47.70
Cost to Dealer = $28.05
The programming is a simple procedure that can be performed by each customer on their own. The procedure should be listed in the owners manual of the vehicle. The only time we as a dealer have to charge for a reprogram is when a customer loses all the keys he or she has for the vehicle. As long as a customer has at least one key, a reprogram charge is not required. The dealers that are charging are doing so just for the money. They should inform the customer that they can do it on their own.
As far as the cutting of the keys go, I have unfortunately had to turn away customers with Chevy Colorados as our brand new $6000 key machine keeps botching the cuts on those blanks for some unknown reason. The manufacturer cannot help me for some reason on this issue either!
For a 97-04 Corvette Vats key
Retail = $47.70
Cost to Dealer = $28.05
The programming is a simple procedure that can be performed by each customer on their own. The procedure should be listed in the owners manual of the vehicle. The only time we as a dealer have to charge for a reprogram is when a customer loses all the keys he or she has for the vehicle. As long as a customer has at least one key, a reprogram charge is not required. The dealers that are charging are doing so just for the money. They should inform the customer that they can do it on their own.
As far as the cutting of the keys go, I have unfortunately had to turn away customers with Chevy Colorados as our brand new $6000 key machine keeps botching the cuts on those blanks for some unknown reason. The manufacturer cannot help me for some reason on this issue either!
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
What exactly needs "re-programed?"
I work at a Chevy/Corvette dealer in Canada and here is the pricing I have in my system from GM in Canadian funds.
For a 97-04 Corvette Vats key
Retail = $47.70
Cost to Dealer = $28.05
The programming is a simple procedure that can be performed by each customer on their own. The procedure should be listed in the owners manual of the vehicle. The only time we as a dealer have to charge for a reprogram is when a customer loses all the keys he or she has for the vehicle. As long as a customer has at least one key, a reprogram charge is not required. The dealers that are charging are doing so just for the money. They should inform the customer that they can do it on their own.
As far as the cutting of the keys go, I have unfortunately had to turn away customers with Chevy Colorados as our brand new $6000 key machine keeps botching the cuts on those blanks for some unknown reason. The manufacturer cannot help me for some reason on this issue either!
For a 97-04 Corvette Vats key
Retail = $47.70
Cost to Dealer = $28.05
The programming is a simple procedure that can be performed by each customer on their own. The procedure should be listed in the owners manual of the vehicle. The only time we as a dealer have to charge for a reprogram is when a customer loses all the keys he or she has for the vehicle. As long as a customer has at least one key, a reprogram charge is not required. The dealers that are charging are doing so just for the money. They should inform the customer that they can do it on their own.
As far as the cutting of the keys go, I have unfortunately had to turn away customers with Chevy Colorados as our brand new $6000 key machine keeps botching the cuts on those blanks for some unknown reason. The manufacturer cannot help me for some reason on this issue either!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 412
Likes: 1
From: Lampasas Texas
Just to be on the safe side take it to a locksmiths shop and have them cut the keys. I bought some locks for my house at home depot and had them keyed alike and then wanted the guy to cut me a couple of new key to match the one set that came with the original lock. They guy screwed them up twice before he got it right.
Nothing need to be programmed you just have to buy the right key. There is a chip in the key and they have a different resistance. They make 15 different vat # keys.
Just use a meter across the chip on your current key.
VATS #, Resistance in ohms
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
Nothing need to be programmed you just have to buy the right key. There is a chip in the key and they have a different resistance. They make 15 different vat # keys.
Just use a meter across the chip on your current key.
VATS #, Resistance in ohms
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
I need a new key and did not know how to tell which one I had.
I will be getting new keys from Eclkers.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 30
It's just a simple run-of-the-mill resistor in the key. It's not even really a "chip". There's only ~15 variations so all you need to do is match whatever ohm your resistor is.
