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Need a new ignition key

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Old 02-21-2007, 07:39 PM
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Default Need a new ignition key

I just bought a 1991 SSE that was a one owner. Got it from a dealer and only one set of keys came with it and they are wore so bad I can't get copies made. I took the car to a Pontiac dealer and he said it should be an E code key and I have a C code key. He said someone must have changed the ingition switch. I called the original owner and he said that the switch was never changed. The dealer wants to pull the ignition switch and make new keys. Does anyone know for sure what code of key this car shoud be? Does this dealer know what he is talking about? I don't want to spend the money to pull the switch if it is not needed. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Old 02-21-2007, 08:09 PM
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Default Re: Need a new ignition key

Originally Posted by 73survivor
I just bought a 1991 SSE that was a one owner. Got it from a dealer and only one set of keys came with it and they are wore so bad I can't get copies made. I took the car to a Pontiac dealer and he said it should be an E code key and I have a C code key. He said someone must have changed the ingition switch. I called the original owner and he said that the switch was never changed. The dealer wants to pull the ignition switch and make new keys. Does anyone know for sure what code of key this car shoud be? Does this dealer know what he is talking about? I don't want to spend the money to pull the switch if it is not needed. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
The dealer should be able to read the key from the chart in the factory service manual that will give the depth of cut for each notch. As for the linear cuts and C or E????

I thought dealers could reference the VIN and find the key codes for a car if it hadn't been changed...
Old 02-21-2007, 08:38 PM
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go somewhere else to get keys made.

do you have the pellet in your key (resistor-passkey)?
Old 02-21-2007, 08:45 PM
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It'* a 91 Hans...

Why are you posting if you don't know.......
Old 02-21-2007, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Hans
go somewhere else to get keys made.

do you have the pellet in your key (resistor-passkey)?

It does not have the pellet in the key.
Old 02-21-2007, 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by BillBoost37
Why are you posting if you don't know.......
Because if the car does not have passkey he can go with a generic key.

My 89 did not have passkey but I was not 100% clear if the SSEs did. This is why I was asking becuase if he has passkey he will need the correct resistance key or bypas the vats system obviously we know that is not applicable in this case.

I'd still say bring the key elsewhere to have a copy made. Its possible the dealer is trying to rip you off and bringing the key to another place like home depot or lowes he could get the key copied.

Case in point, I had a door key for my old truck that was completly trashed and worn smooth, the locksmith I usually went to when I needed copies said he could not make a copy but I took it to lowes and they made one that worked no problem.
Old 02-24-2007, 08:38 AM
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Good news! My wife was cleaning the inside of the car and found a set of original keys tucked up in the pocket of the sunvisor. Just saved us $200. Thats how much the dealer wanted to pull the ignition switch and make new keys. The code on the original key is a C, not an E like the dealer said it should be. No wonder I don't trust the dealers.
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