Lost Car Keys

Chungwa

First off, apologies if this has been asked and answered - I did a search and didn't fine a thread but who knows?

So I lost the keys to unlock my car door. The door is currently unlocked and I have the key to the ignition just not the doors. I'm an idiot and don't have a spare set - I understand this is a big dumb move but I've made it and I think this situation has taught me to always have a spare.

Anyway, I can deal with this for a little bit since I can still get around - but I want to be able to lock the door. The car is old and crummy, a 95 Plymouth Sunbird (I believe), so it isn't really a prime target - of course I don't keep anything of value since the doors are unlocked, but I do live in a sort of crummy neighborhood.

What can I do? Is it just a matter of calling a locksmith or is there an actual way I can get replacement keys?

Thanks so much!

FyreWulff

A locksmith will probably be a lot faster, but you could always try a local Plymouth dealer.

edit: also you might be able to save some money with a locksmith since you can bring the car to them

Nakatomi2010

I tihnk you can contact the manufacturer and get a set from them, though a car that old, perhaps not...

You try calling a dealership? honestly they'll know the best option for you...

Warrn

Sunbirds are Pontiacs, so I would suggest calling a Pontiac or other GM dealer.

TL DR

Nakatomi2010 wrote: »

I tihnk you can contact the manufacturer and get a set from them, though a car that old, perhaps not...

You try calling a dealership? honestly they'll know the most expensive option for you...

Fixed

illig

unless you'd like to spend the equivalent of the cost of your car getting replacement locks, i'd avoid going to the dealer (i mean it's a sub$1K car)

do a little research to see which cars had the same locks, (chevy cavalier definitely... probably many other GM cars of the era as well since GM loves to use the same part in many cars)

and then go to a junkyard to get a complete set of lock cylinders and keys (both doors, plus trunk)... since your ignition key still works, leave it alone as taking the steering column apart is a PITA

if you don't mind waiting a few days, buy the parts new on ebay.. something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/90-91-92-93-94-CHEVY-CAVALIER-SUNBIRD-TRUNK-LOCK_W0QQitemZ370186301368QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370186301368&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1205|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

rfalias

Couldn't a locksmith fashion a new key? I've seen them do it on the fly when someone locks them self out.

AtomBomb

A new key from the dealer shouldn't be that expensive. I had a 91 Toyota MR2 that I needed a new key for in 2004 or so. I they just needed the VIN and they ran one off for like $10. I had a key, but I didn't want to get it copied because it was really worn out. The new one they made worked great.

a penguin

What he said. I had this done for a 2000 Focus, and the grand total was $17.

The year may kill that though. I don't know if they had them on file for 95. If not, then I'm not sure if you can get a new key. The other option is new locks, which can be cheap or $$$ depending on the car/ who does the work. I did that on am '86 Mazda, the parts were ~$30.

Djeet

So is it common for the door locks and the ignition to have separate keys? Cause it seems weird to me to separate these functions.

I've seen "valet" keys that start the car but will not unlock the glove, center console and trunk, but I've not encountered a car with a separate key to open the door that doesn't also start the car.

Six

Djeet wrote: »

So is it common for the door locks and the ignition to have separate keys? Cause it seems weird to me to separate these functions.

I've seen "valet" keys that start the car but will not unlock the glove, center console and trunk, but I've not encountered a car with a separate key to open the door that doesn't also start the car.

This can result when the ignition key cylinder has to be replaced for any reason, as happened with my previous car. The original keys thus ended up being for everything but starting the car, and I had to carry around two keys.

illig

Six wrote: »

Djeet wrote: »

So is it common for the door locks and the ignition to have separate keys? Cause it seems weird to me to separate these functions.

I've seen "valet" keys that start the car but will not unlock the glove, center console and trunk, but I've not encountered a car with a separate key to open the door that doesn't also start the car.

This can result when the ignition key cylinder has to be replaced for any reason, as happened with my previous car. The original keys thus ended up being for everything but starting the car, and I had to carry around two keys.

actually, most US domestic cars used that setup till the late 90s... one ignition key, one door/trunk/glovebox key... while most foreign cars used a master key and valet key, where the master would unlock all doors and start the car, while the valet key would open the doors and start the car but wouldn't open the trunk or glovebox

Six

illig wrote: »

Six wrote: »

Djeet wrote: »

So is it common for the door locks and the ignition to have separate keys? Cause it seems weird to me to separate these functions.

I've seen "valet" keys that start the car but will not unlock the glove, center console and trunk, but I've not encountered a car with a separate key to open the door that doesn't also start the car.

This can result when the ignition key cylinder has to be replaced for any reason, as happened with my previous car. The original keys thus ended up being for everything but starting the car, and I had to carry around two keys.

actually, most US domestic cars used that setup till the late 90s... one ignition key, one door/trunk/glovebox key... while most foreign cars used a master key and valet key, where the master would unlock all doors and start the car, while the valet key would open the doors and start the car but wouldn't open the trunk or glovebox

Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever owned or driven regularly a domestic car, so I didn't realize that. The car I was referring to was a Honda, and it had one key that ruled them all until the whole ignition system needed replacing at one point, when I ended up with two.

PreludeDude253

Most of the time on that old of a car any key from the same model of car can be used as the used alot of the same locking configuration as theft wasn't that much of a problem in the early day's

THEPAIN73

Timothy Leary Come Check Out This Theory wrote: »

Nakatomi2010 wrote: »

I tihnk you can contact the manufacturer and get a set from them, though a car that old, perhaps not...

You try calling a dealership? honestly they'll know the most expensive option for you...

Fixed

No... they will need a VIN to cut the key, and proof you own the car.

Dealerships aren't always in it for the money.

They tend to actually try with their customers and cutting a key is super easy.

A car that old won't need programmed and it won't run a lot of dough.

Sporked

Man I'm surprised no one has mentioned this. Look in the glove box for the key code sticker. If you're lucky, it's there, and you should be able to bring it to a locksmith (like an actual one, not a key copy place) and they should be able to look it up and cut you new keys. You might also be able to get the key code from the VIN, the dealer would be who you have to talk to for that. They'll want the title or some proof of ownership, most likely.