mos68x

Hey guys, got a problem that I was hoping someone might be able to help me out with. I recently lost my keys and haven't been able to find them for the last week. I need the car though since we can't do it with only one, so I need to 'fix' this one somehow. Normally I would just order the new parts at the local part store and be done with it but we are flat broke right now so I had an idea that I wanted some help with.


How can I break my current ignition cylinder so that I don't need the keys but will still start? I will put in a push button start setup so that it doesn't turn over and start. I just need to this until I have the money to replace it. Sorry for my lack of experience in stealing cars lol.

Thanks

camaronewbie

I see you're carbed now, so VATS won't be an issue.

I think this will work, without busting the ignition switch...

Under the dash, in the fuse box, you should find a empty terminal that reads BATT - there should be 12v there all the time, regardless of the key. Also under there you should find a connector that has a large (10 guage) dark green wire and a 10 guage purple wire - there's nothing connected to it, it just hangs in there close to where the wires run through the firewall connection. Grab a chunk of 10 guage wire, crimp a male spade connector on one end, and a femal spade connector on the other end. Put the female connector in that wire connector on the spade for the purple wire. Then bump the other end in that fuse spot marked BATT and see if the car will start.

If it works, then you could get a $10 remote start button from autoparts store - they usually come with alligator clips on the wire ends - cut those off, and crimp on the spade conectors like the test wire above, and connect it in like above - then you can tuck it under the carpet/floor mat and under the seat, and start it with that button until you get the issue resolved.

That would give you a starting button anyway.

BUT - you'll still need to go under the steering column and wire in a toggle switch to turm on/off the ignition circuit at the ignition switch (not the lock cylinder, but the actual switch which is lower in the column). You should be able to tap into the wire going in and coming out of the switch to rig your own toggle there without too much damage to anything, using those connectors that clamp onto an existing wire without cutting it. But I'm no help there - I never really looked at the ignition switch itself before. You'll defintely want a toggle there - if you straight wire that, then you're hot-in-run items will always run and kill your battery (like your fuel pump, electric choke, etc.) UNLESS you skip the switch and just disconnect the battery everytime you stop for longer than a few minutes.

Hope any of that works/helps - good luck!

mos68x

As for the two wires, heavy green and purple, I already know about them. The only difference is that I took care of those two wires down at the plug for the automatic shifter without destroying the wires...just in case I wanted to go back to an automatic. The wiring doesn't scare me since I'm an electrician so with the diagrams we have around that is fine, BUT thank you very much for that info anyways. The problem for me is that I still need to get that cylinder taken care of so that I can turn the steering wheel, lol. Can I take it out and turn the wheel? Or do I have to have it in there to turn something else to unlock the wheel? IF by some chance I do find the keys then it would be nice not to have to break it, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice if it's necessary. It is the mechanical part of this problem that I'm not sure about.

Anyone??

camaronewbie

Oh - so you want to turn the wheel too? Geez - asking for alot aren't we?

I knew there was a reason my logic was off!

camarito

you don't need to turn the steering wheel to start the car

Gumby

Just pull the lock cylinder, remove steerign wheel and junk under it, then remove the screw that lock it in place, just search around to find out how.

I can tell you the lock cylinder is round, cept for on 1 side is a raised square, if you grind that square down, you no longer need a key, [done it long ago to a car.]

But funny haha

The key code to get a new key is stamped on that part too.

Take it to a lock smith and walla, a new key.

mos68x

but i do need to have the wheel turn so i can drive it lol

A friend of mine told me that I should be able to remove the lock and start it with a screwdriver, is this true? If it is I'll remove and do it that way until payday and then take the locks to the local locksmith to have him cut me new keys instead of buying new locks. That will be both cheaper and still let me drive it drive it right now for work and such...if removing the lock will work. I have my manuals and the website to find out how to remove the lock, I just want to be sure that will do the trick for the time being.

Gumby

Yes a scredriver can work, but its not the best, the end of the lock cylinder is slotted, the part inside is a nub, but what ever you use, yes you can just turn it.

mos68x

Thanks for that info, now I can do the rest of the work. Later on I will probably even add in an RFID setup with really short distance too. But right now I just need to be able to drive the car. I will give this a shot on monday, not gonna miss my time with the kids tomorrow just for the car.

Gumby

Have them help with the car and create lasting memories that stick with you and help mold new motorheads.

I don't member any F'days with my Dad when I was young, not that they wern't special but nothing stands out. But I member the day he had me help spray paint his car white.

Course if babies, then they can't but 3+ can help work on that.
Then they can tell everyone they helped Dad "hotwire" a car.

[Oh wait, that could back fire in the teenage years ]

ls1fiend

Haha the whole time I was reading this I was thinking "Dear lord this could come back to haunt him in later years when there is a nice third gen sitting in the driveway that doesn't belong to the family."

mos68x

LOL part of the reason is because i don't have the car with me since we are at the in-laws for fathers day and fortunately for me the car is parked at the house. We should get back tonight sometime but I'm sure that it will be to late to do anything to the car. Somehow I have that feeling that it would backfire if I ever did teach him that lol.

sonjaab

Just call a locksmith and they will come out to the car and make
up a key and a SPARE !
For the time and effort involved to butcher out the ignition lock without
the proper tools and know-how its worth it!

mos68x

That really isn't an option since I live on a military post. I'll have to take it out so that I can take it to them since they can't get on post easily and charge extra for it.

mos68x

Anybody have any low tech tool solutions for the lock plate behind the steering wheel? Can't afford the stupid removal tool for it, but I might be able to borrow it from the on-post auto center. I tried to pry off the mount for the aftermarket steering wheel but couldn't get it off, so if anyone had any suggestions before noon tomorrow that would be great.

Thanks

Gumby

Push n shove n muscle it, to get the C clip off, taking it apart is much easier then putting it all back together

Though have done it many times with no special tools.

mos68x

Thanks guys, I stopped by the on-post auto shop and borrowed the steering wheel puller kit, which included the lock plate remover. I got the lock plate off and only lost one little clip, don't even know what it was for. I also got the ignition cylinder out and started that car, woohoo lol. Someone mentioned taking the lock to one of the local locksmiths and having them recut keys for it, but I'm not sure about the numbers. The only ones I see on the side are alpha-numeric (3 numbers and 1letter), I'm not sure if that's what you were talking about or not. Do I have to go to a locksmith or to the dealership? Either way it won't happen till payday, but I'd still like to know.

Thanks for the help guys.

my27kgame

theives use a slide hammer screw it into the key slot and let the hammer do the rest

Gumby

A dealer or a good locksmith will have the master key to match your code to make a copy.

Though I would not post my key code on the internet, bad karma

As anyone oculd go ask for a key with that code.

mos68x

Yup, but they'd still have to know where to look too. Besides with an entire set of keys missing that is the lesser of the worries, lol. I would love to make an entire replacement of that lock that is electronic with and RFID, but that would take me some time to design.

sonjaab

Most big box parts stores sell a aftermarket direct replacement GM
ignition lock and key set for around $13 bucks.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&parentId=62-0



But yet again when I got my Z-28 with NO keys a locksmith came
to ME and make a set for both the ignition and doors/t-tops for
a reasonable $30 bucks !!!!!!!!!!!!
No tearing apart/damaging anything and ended up with THREE
sets of keys!

mos68x

A locksmith right outside post wanted to charge me $25 each lock to make keys for them. For that cost I might as well just buy brand new locks instead. But I found a locksmith further away closer to where the wife is from and found a locksmith that would do them for $17 for both sets, hopefully tomorrow I'll at least have a set of keys for the ignition. I'm getting tied of having to use my pliers to turn the car on and off, lol, man I feel so ghetto right now. Aftermarket was $47 for the ignition, door locks were only $13 though for both, so for $60 I might as well buy new ones if I would've had to buy new keys right outside post.

Gumby

How patriotic of him to stick it to you guys…..

mos68x

Yeah, business of supply and demand, so many soldiers lock themselves out of homes and cars that they can charge what they want since they are the closest one around.

Gumby

That's should mean he able to cut ya a deal, with so much business...

Ask that other guy to print up some flyers to put up around base

Gumby

Nother tip for others reading this, GM doesn't have like a million different key codes, you can always try keys from other GM cars of the era..........

mos68x

You would think so, but no....

86NiteRider

iTrader: (10)

There are 15 different VATS ignition key codes.

mos68x

Well I finally have a key for the ignition lock again...and for less than $10. He was only able to make me one copy that worked in the lock. So I'm going to have to make copies after payday and after I get the door lock out and keys made for that as well.