Replacing/ reconfiguring car locks?

[mandrill]

I am missing a set of car keys and suspect that they were taken from the trunk lock of my car or dropped on the ground close to the vehicle outside my building. I'm not sure if I left the keys in the trunk lock overnight or just lost them somewhere.

In any case, I am now worried about the car being driven away. What is involved and what is the cost for the car's locks to be reworked for a new key?

 

[Moraff]

Depends on the make, model and year of car. Contact your dealer to get an idea of price, then shop around.

 

[mandrill]

Do you have any idea of the general range of prices?

 

[james t kirk]

$1,200 to $2,000 depending on make and model I'd guess.

The ignition cylinder will be the most expensive. The whole tree may have to come apart.

Doors - Door panels have to come out, then the door lock assembly.

Then you have the cost of the parts. (not cheap).

 

[elmufdvr]

take out the things you value..and make sure you have theft on your insurance.. then just wait for it to go bye bye.. if not then.. you just might get lucky that someone found them and has no idea what to do with it... just hope if it does go bye bye... that it is not found so you can get paid on it in full.. if found then the insurance co will fix it.. then you are stuck with damaged goods.. good luck..

 

[afterhours]

totally depends on a car, electronic keys from recent models are very different from old-fashion metal keys

 

[burt-oh-my!]

I had the same situation a few years ago, and was told by the dealer that it would cost around $600 as I recall. I didn't go for it, I just made sure there were no valuables in the car. Eventually I WISHED they would steal it!

 

[mandrill]

Owww!!!! I am very unhappy. Thanks.

 

[james t kirk]

That will teach you to lose your keys.

 

[mandrill]

Hey, at least I've never lost my wallet and cards! (Touch wood!)

I went out and purchased a steering wheel anti-theft device today. Not perfect, but would deter casual teen joyriders, if that is who stumbled over my lost keys. I figure pros would beat pretty much anything anyways.

 

[oldjones]

The in-key ID chip that electronically tells the car 'OK to go' is the biggie. They cost. Simply replacing door and trunk cylinders (keyed alike) shouldn't be prohibitive, depending how thoroughly they're integrated with the powerlocks. If the chip's anti-theft protection starts at the door you're screwed. Back when I did it, Honda sold individual cylinders or complete sets for $20-30 per. The hardest part of the change was getting the inner door panels off. The cylinders are made to be a 2 second install on the line.

Then you carry an ignition key and a door key. And just in case the guy with my keys came back on a night I hadn't locked up, I did put a kill switch under the glove box.