GM Keys open other vehicles

[SSRacer]

Searched and didn't find this. Got it from a local board. Scary stuff...
http://cbs13.com/local/cars.car.keys.2.568269.html

Here's something to consider as the holiday shopping season approaches: That General Motors-built vehicle you drive may not be as secure as you think.

Call it a rumor or an urban legend, but it turns out that this one is true. Industry experts say you can take a key to a 1994-2004 GM vehicle and open nearly any other GM vehicle.

With millions of them on the road, we had no trouble putting the "mystery of the key" to the test. Armed with two General Motors keys from our station's own fleet, we hit the street to see if we really could open any other such vehicle, with the owners' permission, of course.

It was a huge shock to the car owners we spoke with. Within minutes we were able to open the doors to a Chevy van, a 1997 GMC truck and a 1992 Chevy. But we were using the same key, one from the CBS 13 fleet, on every car.

"Kinda scary," said one Chevy owner.

Even though our experts say that it is 1994-2004 range, we were able to open a 1991 Chevy with that same key. While some opened easily, others took a little wiggling, and jiggling, but the key worked; I opened them. Sixty percent of the GMs & Chevys we tried opened.

"Because you can wiggle the keys you're actually picking the locks with the keys," says Rick Vanina of J&J Locksmiths here in Sacramento.

Vanina says a little wear and tear on the five tumblers inside the lock loosen tolerances and make GMs easy targets and easy prey for thieves.

Melany Gilavery returned to her car after a two hour shopping spree to find that her son's iPod was missing.

"My daughter opened up the glove box and she goes 'well mine's gone too'," says Melany.

Melany says she still has no idea how thieves got inside the car.

Thieves also took the stereo system out of Bob O'Yamen's 200 Chevy S-10.

"I figured they went in through a window, but no windows were broken," says Bob.

And Bob made another discovery. His truck's key opens his buddy Clay Collet's Chevy Blazer, and vice-versa.

A Chevy corporate representative told us the key problem "is not an issue that's bubbled up with them" but it's possible given that there are a finite number of key combinations for any given model year. He claims GM has "made improvements to the locks in model years 2007 and newer, which more than doubles the number of key combinations." That gives some relieve to owners of new GM vehicles, but for those with older models, you're left with only a few options. The first is to get an alarm with a little flashing light. Locksmiths say replacing the lock won't do, because the problem is with the design. And don't leave valuables in the car. If you have to, put them in the trunk.

[Metallman56]

oh just f*cking great.

[Bryan]

Wow, that's sh!tty.

[coupe]

Nah i will stick to bustin out windows with spark plug porcelain

[baker07]

thats true, i had a 96 grand am and my original key that i got with the car (not a copy) open 2 other grand ams at the mall parking lot, me and my friend were talkin not paying attechin n befor we knew it we were sittin in the rong car... twice in one day... i work at a GM dealership (Buick, Pontiac, & GMC) and tried my key in a simular grand am i have a 2001 this was a 1999 but my key worked so i never leave anything in my car..

[cardude007617]

wow. thats scary stuff......

[bigstribs]

my old buddies key could open my door

[SSRacer]

Think I'll look around the parking lot when I leave today and see if there are any GM's that I'd like to drive home today.

[cardude007617]

Originally Posted by SSRacer

Think I'll look around the parking lot when I leave today and see if there are any GM's that I'd like to drive home today.

, very badz

[baker07]

pritty sure you aint gonna get one started unless its the Vats keys and you have the right resistor in the key its its passlock 3 good luck

[boost21]

I will try this one out next time i go home

[bigbenSC]

I'm sure this is the same for most manufacturers. After time things wear out and the number of vehicles on the road definately exceeds the number of key combinations.

[Cormaster]

Not true. The Grand Am's key is a completly different size than say the Cavalier/sunfire key. The grand am has a large key with a big Pontiac Emblem on it, the Cavalier/sunfires have a small key with tiny rubber coating that says "GM" on it.

My brother has locked his keys in his sunfire before, and I tried to unlock it with my cavalier key and it doesn't work at all. This is just a myth.

[hass]

meh, old story.
grand am keys can open other grand ams though.
definitely.
I did it on a friends car.
It only opens the door though, it can't start it.
since door = 5 tumblers
ignition = 10.

I really don't think they should have made this public really though.

[XMBlackGT1]

The key for my 03 GAGT opens my dad's 2001 Silverado. I have never tried starting it though.

[Ajaxus]

so what you're saying is, i can move my brothers car when he's at work?


score!

(it's an 03 gagt..i figure if any key will work at starting it..it would be another ga key..)

[2003SCT]

My S10 and GA are not interchangable. Tried it by accident and no worky.

CHRIS

[iceman]

eh we did that at GAP before. They told us the possible combinations for the doors.. I don't remember how many there were. Ignition is a different story though, this only happens with the doors

[cardude007617]

it would only be logical that the doors are simpler locks than the ignition. but still. its no doubt quite a scary thing if you have anything in your car.....

[SSRacer]

I'm curious about where it says it's due to the lock essentially wearing down over time. I have only used my key to get in the car when the battery has died. Always use the keyless entry, so does that make it less likely to work?