My car only came with one set of keys and now I need to get another set of keys made.

How do I determine what kind of key I need or what kind of resistor chip it needs to have or are they all the same?

If I get an OEM key from the dealer, they'll probably charge me an arm and a leg, right? I've seen people selling blank OEM VATS keys on Ebay... Should I bother bidding?

Maybe the owner's manual has some info, too, but I thought I'd check with my fellow F-body enthusiasts, too.

TIA!

TS

 

there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 36 different resistor chips that could be in your key. if you have a DVOM you can check the resistance yourself and match it to the list of values for the keys an then you can buy the key that matches off of ebay and have it cut. But if your dealer is nice they will just check the resistance for you and you can get a key from ebay. I think from the dealer they are in the neigborhood of 28 bucks

 

Im a locksmith and theres 15 different resistor values used on f-bodies. If you must do it yourself and I wouldnt bother use a voltage meter set to 20 ohms. It will give you the resistors value then a chart to give you the key blanks number. Or better yet go to a locksmith plunk down 20 - 30$ depending on whether your local locksmith is gready or not and have a key made in OOOooooo about a minute

 

OK. So, there is no other way to check it than measuring the resistance?

I really need to go out and buy me one of those voltage meters one of these days... I guess it would be good to have one around.

Or maybe I'll just stop by at a dealership and see what they say...

Thanks, guys!

TS