Lost all keys! Now what?
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Extremistan
Lost all keys! Now what?
Hi..new member here...
I was napping in the airport in Buenos Aires a few weeks ago when some asshat walked off with my backpack . In the backpack were all my keys including the ones to my '02 Z.
Today I went to the GM dealer with the 3 necessary pieces of information:
1) photo ID
2) title
3) registration (which I had to make a special trip to the DMV for since the original is locked inside the car).
They filled out some papers and ordered it. Said it would be in Monday. $52
Here's the catch....he said there is only one key for a 2k2 Vette. Same story for a 2k1 Vette btw. My Z had 2...one for the door and one for the ignition. Is that normal? Are Z's different? I never used the FOB cause it was too damn fat for my pockets. The door key had a smaller head. Is that correct? Has the ignition switch been changed on my car?
This car was 4 years old when I bought it but I've never suspected anything was ever tampered with.
I was napping in the airport in Buenos Aires a few weeks ago when some asshat walked off with my backpack . In the backpack were all my keys including the ones to my '02 Z.
Today I went to the GM dealer with the 3 necessary pieces of information:
1) photo ID
2) title
3) registration (which I had to make a special trip to the DMV for since the original is locked inside the car).
They filled out some papers and ordered it. Said it would be in Monday. $52
Here's the catch....he said there is only one key for a 2k2 Vette. Same story for a 2k1 Vette btw. My Z had 2...one for the door and one for the ignition. Is that normal? Are Z's different? I never used the FOB cause it was too damn fat for my pockets. The door key had a smaller head. Is that correct? Has the ignition switch been changed on my car?
This car was 4 years old when I bought it but I've never suspected anything was ever tampered with.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 8
From: North Plainfield New Jersey
there is only 1 key required for the vette. If you had a separate key for door and ignition, 2 things come to mind.
1) Previous owner made a copy of the key, but didn't get the right one since the factory key has a resistance chip in it. If he ordered the wrong chip key, it won't work in the ignition, but should still at least open the door.
2) Previous owner had the door's lock changed, and was too cheap to change the rest of the locks.
If I had to guess, I'd say it's the 1st option. Not many people understand the proper VATS scale and which key to order.
1) Previous owner made a copy of the key, but didn't get the right one since the factory key has a resistance chip in it. If he ordered the wrong chip key, it won't work in the ignition, but should still at least open the door.
2) Previous owner had the door's lock changed, and was too cheap to change the rest of the locks.
If I had to guess, I'd say it's the 1st option. Not many people understand the proper VATS scale and which key to order.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
there is only 1 key required for the vette. If you had a separate key for door and ignition, 2 things come to mind.
1) Previous owner made a copy of the key, but didn't get the right one since the factory key has a resistance chip in it. If he ordered the wrong chip key, it won't work in the ignition, but should still at least open the door.
2) Previous owner had the door's lock changed, and was too cheap to change the rest of the locks.
If I had to guess, I'd say it's the 1st option. Not many people understand the proper VATS scale and which key to order.
1) Previous owner made a copy of the key, but didn't get the right one since the factory key has a resistance chip in it. If he ordered the wrong chip key, it won't work in the ignition, but should still at least open the door.
2) Previous owner had the door's lock changed, and was too cheap to change the rest of the locks.
If I had to guess, I'd say it's the 1st option. Not many people understand the proper VATS scale and which key to order.
with you 100%
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Hope the prior owner didn't change the ign switch, If he did the key you ordered won't work, If the new key opens the door and not start the car you might have to remove the switch and install a new one.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Extremistan
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
One key fits both the door and ignition if they are OEM fittings.This was my thought
More likely that there was a problem with the ignition barrel rather than the door lock. If heard of many instances of the security light coming on when the ignition lock wears out. Don't think I've heard of any door lock issues with the mechanical side of the lock - it's always electrics with door locks.Unfortunately, you'll find out when the new key arrives. Long shot but if the work was done under warranty, it may be documented in the GMVIS system. That said a dealer would have access to that based on your VIN and would have known. Also, a dealer would have ordered an ignition cylinder with the correct key surely?
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 29, 2011 at 02:36 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Extremistan
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria Ca.
I know what you mean about "too many keys"-My keys consist of a key and a fob,but if I'm using my wife's truck for something,I've got to be careful if I put her "gob" of keys and other assorted crap in my hip pocket-
1 wrong move and I could take out one of the twins....
1 wrong move and I could take out one of the twins....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
After paying $52 at the stealship order the right blank VATS keys on fleabay
After getting the ignition and I hope the door lock key from the stealership find the resistance on the chip and order 2 or 3 blank vette keys from fleabay. Shop around and find a REAL LOCKSMITH who will simply cut the blanks for less than $2. The one I use charges $1,50 but some rapists here want $10 to $20 to simply cut a key. Put your spares in your bedroom night table or other place where they don't get lost.
Get a fob to open the door. Using the key all the time will wear out the lock. If you don't believe me keep using your key and then replace your lock later.
Don't get the keys cut at Home Depot or the like as the person doing it knows nothing about keys or locks.
Get a fob to open the door. Using the key all the time will wear out the lock. If you don't believe me keep using your key and then replace your lock later.
Don't get the keys cut at Home Depot or the like as the person doing it knows nothing about keys or locks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
There are two issues here.
The key opens the door. If the key is the same one as the ignition (and for a stock car it's the same) it will turn in the ignition.
The VATS pellet needs to be the one programmed into the BCM or it wont start the car. You can have a key that opens the door but it won't start the car.
The key opens the door. If the key is the same one as the ignition (and for a stock car it's the same) it will turn in the ignition.
The VATS pellet needs to be the one programmed into the BCM or it wont start the car. You can have a key that opens the door but it won't start the car.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Extremistan
bad news...picked up the new key today and it doesn't open the door. The door lock (at least) has been changed. I guess I'll call the locksmith and see if he can open it w/o breaking the window. I really don't want to break the window. Then HOPEFULLY the new key will work in the ignition.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
bad news...picked up the new key today and it doesn't open the door. The door lock (at least) has been changed. I guess I'll call the locksmith and see if he can open it w/o breaking the window. I really don't want to break the window. Then HOPEFULLY the new key will work in the ignition.
Rick