tmleadr03

Had to take my girls new (to her) 2003 Trailblazer into the dealer for a check engine light. That was taken care of no problem, what I found disconcerting was the "master key" we found in the Trailblazer. It wasnt one of ours but it fit the ignition and turned the car on. I didnt realize that dealerships had "master keys" and I dont know about you guys but I dont like that very much. Has anyone else run accross this?

durasmack

If they dont have a key, they can take the vin, look up the key pattern and cut a new key from that.... they dont need a key to begin with... that is probably why it was still in there as they would have no need for it for any other vehicle...

westcoaster

check to see if the "new" key is cut the same as your keys, if the pattern is the same the dealer made a new key. If the pattern is different then it is a "master" key.

btw, I have a master key here for all hitachi excavators, not as easy to hide or transport one of those things....

tmleadr03

Differant then the one I have, its a master key.

rammtuff

Actually master keys are more common than you think.
Caterpillar equipment....one key fits all.

MasseyMan1089

Same way with like Massey for instance. They have 2 keys from the older style, one with 2 prongs, and one with a single prong. Most riding mowers us the same key as well. I saw Craftsman or one of them have different style keys, and you can buy the at Lowes? haha. I guess its just another thing we dont have much control over.

CarlJensen

All good repo men or women have a whole set of so called master keys to fit allmost anything. They can get into your truck in seconds! That's why they are usually licensed and bonded. Those keys can be found in a lot of hands.

westcoaster

Now for the fun part...
See how many different vehicles you can start with that key (with the owners permission)

Begle1

Well, if you don't like the idea you can always install a new ignition...

I don't know about changing door locks, but you can probably do it somehow...

derek840378

sometimes keys of common vehicles will work. at a wedding once, my cousin locked her keys in her suburban. my uncle's suburban's keys worked to unlock it.

westcoaster

My chev astro van key worked in the door locks of 5 caravans and the ignition of one of those vans at work.

tmleadr03

I started a 89 Dodge Caravan with my Ram key once. It was a tight fit, but it work.

usmc2311

Had a girl friend when I was in college (years ago) that had a Dodge Daytona and she went home from school one day (she lived near the school) and after getting in the house remembered something she left in the car. Went out to look for it and realized it wasn't her car. Drove it back to school to find a girl in the parking lot with the campus police freaking out because her car was gone. Angela just didn't walk two more rows over to where her car was. There are only so many combinations that keys can be made before repeating.

At least with my truck if you don't have the chip in the key truck won't start. When i lost my keys in the river at Havasu I called the locksmith to come out and open it. All he could do was to open the door. Said that DC won't give the key codes out so he couldn't cut me one. Had to get one cut to be able to have the truck towed to the dealer. Cost me 90 bucks to get one cut and programed. Now I've figured out how to program my own in the truck.

newriverSpecon

I read an article several years ago that said GM only has about 1200 keys. I think the FED requirment was 600-800. The article was highlighting a case where a guy was jogging at a park and died of a heart attack. He had keys on him and the police found a truck they openned, called his wife, and she went to identify the body. She was shocked when it wasn't her husband. Two trucks in the parking looked alike and they got the wrong one.

Randy

Hillbilly_Deluxe

A lot machinery have a one size fits all key. Timberjack has twi different styles (one for skidders another for excavators, etc) Cat has a key for every machine and from what I've heard a Cat key will work in some Hitachi machines too.