question about keys

[havoc1969]

I traded for a 1989 suburban 1/2 ton 4x4 and only got an ignition key for it. I know it's not much money to get a new set of door key cylinders, but what I would like to know, is if the original door key cylinders would be keyed the same as the electric window key on my tailgate. If so, I know I can take the old cylinder key to the locksmith and he can make me a key for the back window...

Thanks in advance, and where the hell do I pay my dues to become a full fledged member here....do ya'll have paypal...

 

[4X4HIGH]

Yes, the door key is also used for the tailgate.

Here is a link to the membership page. http://coloradok5.com/forums/announcement.php?f=33&a=6

 

[Fordum]

My father bought a new 1985 Lincoln, and by accident, we found out that the keys to my 1979 F150 were the same.
That turned out so handy, we re-keyed everything, and kept on doing if for years if we got new cars.
At one time, I had a Torino, an F150, he had a Lincoln and a 150, and they all used the same keys.
You never had to ask anyone to move their car, and if you locked yourself out, just call and the other would drive over and unlock it.

Darned handy. For a while I kept busy re-keying friend's cars and trucks for them. As long as they were the same family of vehicles, I could usually get it done.
Now, with the electronics, its not as easy.
But I understand it can be done with some cars. Just program all the cars to the same code.

 

[USSkoval]

But if they are all keyed the same, theft becomes an issue if someone else finds out.

 

[havoc1969]

Yes, the door key is also used for the tailgate.
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Thanks for the info, maybe I will just pull the pass side cylinder and get it over to the locksmiths..... my motor is out in my back window, but once I get the key thing straightened out, I will get that motor and put it in, and hopefully everything will pan out,,,lol

 

[Fordum]

But if they are all keyed the same, theft becomes an issue if someone else finds out.

I wouldn't think so, more than usual.
Someone would still have to steal one of our keys. Of course, if they did, they would have a larger selection to choose from.
But, it would be harder for them to steal one, since we only carried one apiece. Instead of one for each car.

Plus, its been Detroit's dirty little key secret for a long time now. There were only a few thousand possible key combinations for all the cars.
And they produced millions of cars.
So there were a lot of matches, but nobody tried them, so it went unnoticed.

Locksmith suppliers sell rings of "try-out keys" for the different car makers fairly cheaply. I think there are 65 in the GM set, they sell for less than $80, and have a sucess rate of about 80%

In other words, 8 out of 10 times, one of those 65 keys is the right one for any given GM car or truck..