(There's enough old farts on this forum that should know where that came from.)
TONS of misinformation on this forum and the others. I'll give you guys the facts here. Not information regurgitated from the web either, except for this link I'm gonna post to an informative and pretty objective report about the issue.
For now, watch this video. CNBC - Watch Full Episodes | CNBC | Failure to Recall: Investigating GM It explains quite a bit of it. Any other questions that you have post them here and I'll answer them with the real story.
A couple quick answers...
The dealership IS NOT supposed to give you back the old keys. It's a SAFETY recall and that's part of the repair. The dealer and/or tech is leaving himself up to HUGE liabilities if he gives the customer back the old keys.
It's the SWITCH that was the issue. The lock cylinders DO suck, and many, many have failed, that's why they're included in the recall. The new lock cylinders are the newer completely different design that's been used in many other cars for years.
The hole in the key is a factor, but not a huge one. I think part of the reason for the key replacement was to make it so weak that the hole in the key would pull apart first, like is shown in this video. The new keys look like something you'd buy at Walmart. (That part is my opinion, not substantiated facts.)
The old keys DO work in the new lock cylinders.
The new keys have to be learned to the theft deterrent system.
The new keys will work fine in the doors.
The recall takes about an hour, maybe two if the tech is slow. The bottom plastic part of the steering column trim cover is removed to gain access to the switch and lock cylinder. Nothing else is taken apart. The computer is not accessed, no codes are checked or should be set in the process.
You are entitled to a free rental. If you take the rental, you either have to leave your car at the dealership or in your driveway and CAN NOT drive it while you have the rental.
You have to call or go into the dealership to get parts ordered. Parts are ordered only by vin for the specific car. The lock cylinders are a generic part, they come uncoded. The keys also come uncoded. The dealership cuts the keys to your key code, accessed by your vin through the GM database. The tech codes the new lock cylinder to that same key code by putting the correct numbered tumblers into the new lock cylinder. The new lock cylinder is installed, the new keys learned to the cars theft deterrent system, the new ignition switch is replaced at the other end of the lock cylinder housing and away you go.
Gotta run, I'll check back here later. Hope this clears up some of the confusion and misinformation.
BTW, it sure would have been nice if the GM Customer Service people could have done this. Political Correctness and being so scared to say the wrong thing has made their role on these forums TOTALLY WORTHLESS. Sure, shuffling every response off to PM's is safer, but then what's the point of a PUBLIC forum? If they have to have a lawyer proofread every word they post online, they might as well not bother. That's too bad because they have a chance to give GM a friendly voice on the forums but choose to keep quiet and stay pretty much neutered instead.
TONS of misinformation on this forum and the others. I'll give you guys the facts here. Not information regurgitated from the web either, except for this link I'm gonna post to an informative and pretty objective report about the issue.
For now, watch this video. CNBC - Watch Full Episodes | CNBC | Failure to Recall: Investigating GM It explains quite a bit of it. Any other questions that you have post them here and I'll answer them with the real story.
A couple quick answers...
The dealership IS NOT supposed to give you back the old keys. It's a SAFETY recall and that's part of the repair. The dealer and/or tech is leaving himself up to HUGE liabilities if he gives the customer back the old keys.
It's the SWITCH that was the issue. The lock cylinders DO suck, and many, many have failed, that's why they're included in the recall. The new lock cylinders are the newer completely different design that's been used in many other cars for years.
The hole in the key is a factor, but not a huge one. I think part of the reason for the key replacement was to make it so weak that the hole in the key would pull apart first, like is shown in this video. The new keys look like something you'd buy at Walmart. (That part is my opinion, not substantiated facts.)
The old keys DO work in the new lock cylinders.
The new keys have to be learned to the theft deterrent system.
The new keys will work fine in the doors.
The recall takes about an hour, maybe two if the tech is slow. The bottom plastic part of the steering column trim cover is removed to gain access to the switch and lock cylinder. Nothing else is taken apart. The computer is not accessed, no codes are checked or should be set in the process.
You are entitled to a free rental. If you take the rental, you either have to leave your car at the dealership or in your driveway and CAN NOT drive it while you have the rental.
You have to call or go into the dealership to get parts ordered. Parts are ordered only by vin for the specific car. The lock cylinders are a generic part, they come uncoded. The keys also come uncoded. The dealership cuts the keys to your key code, accessed by your vin through the GM database. The tech codes the new lock cylinder to that same key code by putting the correct numbered tumblers into the new lock cylinder. The new lock cylinder is installed, the new keys learned to the cars theft deterrent system, the new ignition switch is replaced at the other end of the lock cylinder housing and away you go.
Gotta run, I'll check back here later. Hope this clears up some of the confusion and misinformation.
BTW, it sure would have been nice if the GM Customer Service people could have done this. Political Correctness and being so scared to say the wrong thing has made their role on these forums TOTALLY WORTHLESS. Sure, shuffling every response off to PM's is safer, but then what's the point of a PUBLIC forum? If they have to have a lawyer proofread every word they post online, they might as well not bother. That's too bad because they have a chance to give GM a friendly voice on the forums but choose to keep quiet and stay pretty much neutered instead.