New Ignition Key

[Hammer]

Folks,
I just finished getting keys made for my ZR-1 and Firebird. Thught I would share. I got the key blanks from an ebay seller. They were $9.89 apiece plus $3.00 shipping. Walmart cut the keys for free. They said they charge for the key not the cut. Total for the two VATS keys was $24.43 (insurance included) shipped. I got them in two days from Chatsworth, CA. So I ended up getting both the VATS keys for less than the dealer wanted for just one, which was $27.00. I now have spare ignition keys for both vehicles. WHEW.

This seller has instructions on each auction (he also has a website) on how to figure the key needed. You just have to know how (or know someone who does) to use a multimeter to measure the resistance of the keys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-...1774QQtcZphoto

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Folks,
I just finished getting keys made for my ZR-1 and Firebird. Thught I would share. I got the key blanks from an ebay seller. They were $9.89 apiece plus $3.00 shipping. Walmart cut the keys for free. They said they charge for the key not the cut. Total for the two VATS keys was $24.43 (insurance included) shipped. I got them in two days from Chatsworth, CA. So I ended up getting both the VATS keys for less than the dealer wanted for just one, which was $27.00. I now have spare ignition keys for both vehicles. WHEW.

This seller has instructions on each auction (he also has a website) on how to figure the key needed. You just have to know how (or know someone who does) to use a multimeter to measure the resistance of the keys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-...1774QQtcZphoto

John you can just take your key to ACE hardware and they can read the key number for you as well. My local ACE has the equipment. Now if you dont have a key to read well then the ohm method is real darn handy lol. GC

[petefias]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Folks,
I just finished getting keys made for my ZR-1 and Firebird. Thught I would share. I got the key blanks from an ebay seller. They were $9.89 apiece plus $3.00 shipping. Walmart cut the keys for free. They said they charge for the key not the cut. Total for the two VATS keys was $24.43 (insurance included) shipped. I got them in two days from Chatsworth, CA. So I ended up getting both the VATS keys for less than the dealer wanted for just one, which was $27.00. I now have spare ignition keys for both vehicles. WHEW.

This seller has instructions on each auction (he also has a website) on how to figure the key needed. You just have to know how (or know someone who does) to use a multimeter to measure the resistance of the keys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-...1774QQtcZphoto

That's interesting. My security key has a code of 2 (I owned this car since new), but according to the info on the link my code suppose to be 11. Who do I believe? The tag that came with the original key or the web site?

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by petefias

That's interesting. My security key has a code of 2 (I owned this car since new), but according to the info on the link my code suppose to be 11. Who do I believe? The tag that came with the original key or the web site?

My guess is its not an exact science since you know its a code 2.

[Aurora40]

I got keys made for my '87 and at first the old one tested out wrong. The replacement didn't work. Then the dealer looked it up by VIN and got me a key that worked. The pellets wear down over time, it may be the resistance changes enough from that to look like a different key number?

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

I got keys made for my '87 and at first the old one tested out wrong. The replacement didn't work. Then the dealer looked it up by VIN and got me a key that worked. The pellets wear down over time, it may be the resistance changes enough from that to look like a different key number?

Sounds like a reasonable speculation to me.

[ZRWON]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Folks,
I just finished getting keys made for my ZR-1 and Firebird. Thught I would share. I got the key blanks from an ebay seller. They were $9.89 apiece plus $3.00 shipping. Walmart cut the keys for free. They said they charge for the key not the cut. Total for the two VATS keys was $24.43 (insurance included) shipped. I got them in two days from Chatsworth, CA. So I ended up getting both the VATS keys for less than the dealer wanted for just one, which was $27.00. I now have spare ignition keys for both vehicles. WHEW.

This seller has instructions on each auction (he also has a website) on how to figure the key needed. You just have to know how (or know someone who does) to use a multimeter to measure the resistance of the keys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-...1774QQtcZphoto

JOHN, Here's a link to all you ever wanted to know, and more, about VATS key codes, measuring resistance, etc and the link to CLK SUPPLIES where I've purchased several blank keys for $3.25 each + a ~ buck S&H (phone # is 800-848-6989)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=VATS+KEYS

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