Lost Keys
Thread Starter
c5-pewter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Coconut Creek Florida 33066
St. Jude Donor '08
Lost Keys
A friend of mine lost the keys to a 1997 coupe. (No spare) A CT dealer, who shall remain anonymous, said that GM does't keep codes beyond 10 years. Common sense dictates that this has to be absolute BS. 
It has been my experience that a code (out of 13 possibilities) can be obtained from a competent dealer with the VIN # and proof of ownership of the vehicle, and that even a locksmith has access to the same GM resource. Does anyone know how long GM keeps these codes? Does anyone have alternative ideas short of switching the ignition and the locks? Thanks, GRT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
A friend of mine lost the keys to a 1997 coupe. (No spare) A CT dealer, who shall remain anonymous, said that GM does't keep codes beyond 10 years. Common sense dictates that this has to be absolute BS. It has been my experience that a code (out of 13 possibilities) can be obtained from a competent dealer with the VIN # and proof of ownership of the vehicle, and that even a locksmith has access to the same GM resource. Does anyone know how long GM keeps these codes? Does anyone have alternative ideas short of switching the ignition and the locks? Thanks, GRT
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
How many times have we all seen or know people trading in cars who give the dealer both sets of keys, yet when the dealer sells the car again, they magically only have one key? I've never been in car-sales but it sure seems like they are deliberately hanging onto a key, just in case the deal falls through and they need to take it back.
