Servicing General Motors vehicles has become much more difficult for the automotive locksmith. In the past, all General Motors locks, no matter who manufactured them, could use the same tumblers and springs. Over the last several years, lock manufacturers do not appear to have this restriction. The result is that vehicles are being equipped with locks that are using different tumblers, springs and retaining components. Without prior knowledge, there is no way to know who makes the lock or what wafer tumblers or springs are necessary. This has proven to be a nightmare for locksmiths.
For me, it started when Saturn began using locks manufactured by Huf in 1997. The wafers and springs used in the previous locks manufactured by STRATTEC and BWD were not interchangeable with the Huf wafers or vice versa. At that time, the only place to obtain the Huf tumblers was from a Saturn dealership. The cost: almost $2 a tumbler and more than $1 per spring. Combinating an ignition lock using the Saturn dealer components cost between $20 and $30, and that was just for the parts, not the time to drive to the dealership or to combinate the lock. I was told by the dealership that I could purchase a keying kit for just a little over $500 at their discounted price.
Aftermarket locksmith companies A 1 Security Manufacturing and ASP came to the rescue by introducing keying kits for a lot less.
Since Saturn in late 1997, General Motors continues to change who builds the domestic vehicle models locks. The three major lock manufacturers are Huf, Ortec, and STRATTEC. STRATTEC sells lock service packages, tumblers and springs, and some keying kits for General Motors vehicles through locksmith distribution. The aftermarket distribution of locks and parts made by other manufacturers, such as Huf and Ortec, are not as well organized and the information is not always complete or accurate for the locksmith market. To make matters worse, Huf and Ortec locks can vary by model as well as by year, making it extremely difficult to know which wafer tumblers fit what locks.
Many of the General Motors ignition, door, deck, and compartment locks are designed to interchange as complete units. However, the internal components such as the wafer tumblers, springs and spring retainers do not.
In an attempt to make this easier, A1 Security Manufacturing and ASP sell keying kits and replacement tumblers and springs for a number of General Motors vehicles. The A1 keying kits are comprised of original equipment wafer tumblers, springs, and retainers. The ASP keying kits of are comprised of original equipment and manufactured wafer tumblers, springs, and retainers. The A1 and ASP keying kits contain 25 of each depth of wafer tumbler.
For the purpose of this article, we will discuss only vehicle models that are not manufactured by STRATTEC. Note: Vehicle manufacturers make changes to their lock mechanisms. The A1 Security Manufacturing and ASP keying kits are not guaranteed to operate all of the new vehicle production and any aftermarket changes.
A1 KEYING KITS
The A 1 Security Manufacturing Corp. keying kits are:
A 1 Security Manufacturing General Motors Original Equipment Combination Pinning Kit & Replacement Tumblers Keying Kit #20001. This keying kit is designed for General Motors 93 "Z" groove keyway locks. According to sources at General Motors, this lock mechanism will eventually be used on the majority of new GM vehicles. The kit contains four sets of wafer tumblers and springs to accommodate the following vehicles:
- 2003+ Pontiac Grand Prix
- 2004+ Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac Srx
- 2005+ Cadillac Sts, Chevrolet Cobalt, and Pontiac Pursuit & G6
- 2005 Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana, and Saturn Relay equipped with the 93 "Z" groove lock mechanism
- 2006+ Buick Lucerne, Cadillac Dts, Chevrolet Impala, Hhr & Monte Carlo, and Pontiac Solstice
A 1 Security Manufacturing General Motors "H" Cars Original Equipment Pinning Kit & Replacement Tumblers Keying Kit #20005. This keying kit is designed for General Motors vehicles using the Ortec and compatible locks having the 75 groove keyway. The kit contains one set of four depths of wafer tumblers and springs to accommodate the following vehicles:
- 2000-05 Buick LeSabre
- 2003+ Cadillac CTS
- 2001-03 Oldsmobile Aurora
- 2000+ Pontiac Bonneville
A 1 Security Manufacturing Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon Pinning Kit & Replacement Tumblers Keying Kit #20020. This keying kit is designed for the Asian lock mechanism using the reverse of the TR47 keyway. The kit contains one set of four depths of wafer tumblers and springs for 2004+ Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
ASP KEYING KITS
The ASP keying kits are available in several configurations. Specialized keying kits contain wafer tumblers and spring for a specific lock style in a vehicle. For example, the A-41-106 Keying Kit is designed for 1998-04 Cadillac Seville ignition lock. Combination keying kits cover a number of different lock styles.
The ASP specialized keying kits are:
ASP Keying Kit #A-41-103 contains four depths of wafer tumblers and one spring design to accommodate 1997-99 Buick Park Avenue door and trunk locks using the 0001-2000 code series.
ASP Keying Kit #A-41-104 contains four depths of wafer tumblers and one spring design to accommodate 2000-05 Buick LeSabre door and trunk locks using the O5001-O6999 code series.
ASP Keying Kit #A-41-105 contains four depths of wafer tumblers and one spring design to accommodate Saturn ignition locks using the 0001-2000 and H0001-H3988 code series. This includes the 1997-05 Buick Park Avenue ignition lock.
The following two ASP General Motors Combination Keying Kits are available for late model General Motors vehicles using the H0001-H3988, the O5001-O6999 and the G0001-3631 code series:
ASP A-41-150 Keying Kit contains five sets of four depth wafer tumblers and compatible springs. This combination keying kit contains all of the wafer tumblers in specialized keying kits A-41-103, A-41-104, A-41-105, A-41-106, and A-49-101.
ASP A-41-152 Keying Kit contains three sets of four depth wafer tumblers and three sets of five depth wafer tumblers. There are three sets of compatible springs. This combination keying kit is designed for the 93 "Z" groove lock mechanisms, the 70,000-75,298 code series, and the specialized set of four depths of wafer tumblers.
The wafer tumblers for 93 "Z" groove lock mechanism are designed for:
- Buick Terraza 2005 equipped with the 93 "Z" groove lock mechanism
- Buick Lucerne 2006
- Cadillac SRX 2004-up, Cadillac STS 2005-up, Cadillac DTS 2006
- Chevrolet Cobalt 2005-up, Chevrolet Malibu 2004-up
- Chevrolet Uplander 2005 equipped with the 93 "Z" groove lock mechanism
- Chevrolet HHR 2006, Chevrolet Impala 2006, Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2006
- Pontiac Grand Prix 2003-up, Pontiac G6 2005-up, Pontiac Pursuit 2005-up
- Pontiac Montana SV6 2005 equipped with the 93 "Z" groove lock mechanism
- Pontiac Solstice 2006
- Saturn Relay 2005 equipped with the 93 "Z" groove lock mechanism
The 70,000-75,298 code series wafer tumblers are designed for 2004-up Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
The specialized set of four depths of wafer tumblers are designed for:
- 1997-01 Cadillac Catera
- 2004-up Chevrolet Aveo
- 1988-93 Pontiac LeMans and specific models of BMW, Daewoo, Mercedes Benz, and Suzuki.
NOTE: Both the A1 20001 keying kit and the ASP A-41-152 keying kit contains five wafer tumbler depths in the section for the Pontiac Grand Prix. The Pontiac Grand Prix does not use a number five depth wafer. These wafers are also used in vehicles having the G0001-G3631 code series.
For more information, contact your local locksmith wholesaler or:
A 1 Security Manufacturing Corp., 3001 West Moore, Richmond, VA 23230. Telephone: 877-725-2121. Fax: 804-359-9415. Website: www.demanda1.com.
Auto Security Products (ASP), P.O.Box 10, Redmond, WA 98073-0010. Telephone: 425-556-1900. Fax: 425-558-1205. Website: www.carlocks.com.
