Key Cylinder or Key with resistance replacement

02/98 Chevy Lumina, 3.1 L. Engine, Mileage Unknown.

Owner acquired vehicle recently and he lost the key. They contacted a home and AUTO locksmith and were told they'd have to go to the dealer to get a key and get it done.


Any truth to that or is there aftermarket key cylinders available that can be authorized via a scan tool or not? I haven't checked the modis edge for this year model yet as I figured I'd probably have someone who's did many of these.

IF Paul has a video for this one that would be great. Other than getting one from a junkyard unless absolutely necessary how easy is the assembly to remove and install with today's common tools?

Hope I covered all the bases. I don't know if this car had Electric locks but I just remembered I took a pic of the vin so maybe that'll help someone with Chevy VIN knowledge?

So I called the stealer and they said it's $75 total as long as it has the original vehicle key as they'll cut based on when it was sold and that don't include door key which stealer said is separate.

They said if the key don't match up then the car's key cylinder will need to be done by a locksmith to match the key.

$75 seems steep for a old car so a junkyard may be the option but you're talking electronics so have to keep that in mind. IF the cylinders aren't that hard to swap out with a key that'll work I assume based of it matching resistance wise to the key cylinder once installed in the car. Being a Veteran I do get free access to the EWE PULLET YARD that's about a 10 min drive.

This is a deal for my Daughters guitar lessons teacher. I do a little work on the side for him when necessary and he barters guitar lessons. His lessons are $30 per hr.

Did a water pump last year on a older car (96 Toyota Camry) and I didn't pay for about 14 guitar lessons it was @ $30 per lesson. HE bought parts and coolant as well.

I'll also let the owner know I'll be able to work on this one being Paul has a long list of GM troubleshooting videos from the years which would apply based on same principle even if not the 3.1 engine.

Fingers Crossed!!

Interesting video. Maybe you could use a variable resistor to possibly find the right resistance its looking for and then wire in the right resistor in the harness probably be easier to have the dealer make a key

Here's something I found on the Auto Zone Website which is a PDF which may come in handy for future reference for us and others as well.

IF I knew a way to find the resistor code as you can see there's a handful I'd just replace the key tumbler with a new one with a regular key avoiding the Stealership with the bypass.

So if I understand properly Paul didn't worry about the wires going to the ignition when he made the cut?

Also he soldered the two wires on the lower end together with the resistor before putting the vacuum line hose over it and closing it up? Was kind of hard to see even full screen on mobile device.

Laptop is down and swapped TVs out in living room so can't stream as of yet as we upgraded to a larger TV due to Christmas deal and son took my 42 in I had last night to his dorm in the fraternity house so I have a TV but have to get sound as I use the HDMI control. Time to go read that manual as well.


Also on the variable resistor what were you referring to? A adjustable one or something different. I think it would probably be more liked by them if bypassed as you can get keys made cheaply then.

Have to find some resistors locally if we still have a radio shack around town.
Hope the below PDF helps others as well.

A little something extra to add for those vehicles author the vats system that aids in troubleshooting "no start" issues I came across that has various test procedures for verifying. Voltages to do with the circuit completion that ultimately allows the vehicle to be started. This would especially be handy when diagnosing no start issues,

ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/gm-anti-theft-systems-overview/