Substitute For Kia Sportage Key

A situation I came across a while ago as many other locksmith technicians in the field was finding out there was something new in the market.
A customer drove up to the shop in a brand-new Kia Sportage and needed some copies made of the ignition/door key. After a complete search in our company's inventory, I realized we did not carry it. So like any other professional locksmith technician, I improvised. I found that an Ilco X198/B74 is long enough, and even though the millings allow the blank to pass the keyway, I had to modify the blank.

I rounded the head of the key and cut the blade from the head to the shoulder stop to narrow the blade enough to fit in the ignition. After this was completed, I cut the keys on the modified blank and got the customer on their way. Sometime after, I found out that the new Sportage uses an Ilco X267/KK4 blank.
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Broken GM Glove Box Fix

I got a job from a locksmith company I work with to make a key to the trunk of an older GM vehicle. I was in a hurry that day and as I was taking the glove box lock apart to get the last 4 cuts of the key, I somehow broke the ears that retained the cylinder plug in the housing. That of course meant the cylinder plug would not stay in the lock housing. Looking for a way to solve the problem (I did not have another lock on the truck), I noticed that the back of the plug has a groove cut around it to accept the “ears” of the retainers.

I measured back on the housing where the back of the plug stops, and drilled a hole in the housing in line with the ridge on the plug. I then screwed a sheet-metal screw in the Housing and into the ridge of the plug. It’s the same principle as a set screw holding a mortise cylinder. I put the glove box back together collected my money and went on to the next job.

Automotive Locksmith Services (208) 946-4162

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Progressioning Trick - GM Ignition

When making a key for the trunk or door locks for GM automobiles, there is a method that most of the time will be faster then using the GM progression chart in which some locksmith companies know about.

When progressing a door key from the glove box cut of 3-2-2-3, the possibilities by progression are-First key: 11-31-42-53-55. Second key: 13-33-35. Third key: 22-24-44. However, by using Code Source, you will find when you go to the code series of the vehicle the following possibilities: 11-31-42-53. In other words, you should have a working key with the first progressioned key. This will save time and key blanks as well.

This trick should also work on Ford 8-cut systems when making an ignition key from from the door cylinder cuts. Here is an example for code series 0001X. For door cuts 1-3-2-1-2-1 with a progression chart you have possibilities of the first key being 12-13-23-33. Second key: 22-24-34-35. Third key: 32. With Code Source go to code series 0001X-1706X and find the bitting that matches to door cuts. With door cuts 1-3-2-1-2-1 the possibilities are 12-34. It will work on Ford 10-cut systems.

NorthWest Locksmith Boise (208) 946-4162

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