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Back in the 80s, GM only had like 10,000 key barrels that they used for all GM cars. That meant that you had a 1/10,000 chance of unlocking another GM car with

Back in the 80s, GM only had like 10,000 key barrels that they used for all GM cars. That meant that you had a 1/10,000 chance of unlocking another GM car with your GM key. Didn't even have to be the same model or maker, as long as it was GM. They solved this by adding the little chip to the key, so that even if you could open the door, you couldn't start the car with the wrong key, because it would read the chip in the ignition barrel. My uncle was involved in the testing and got to drive a Corvette for a while because that was the first model they tried it on.

wil421 4y ago
My old Toyotas (early 2000s models) had the chip in the key. A third spare didn’t have it so I taped it under my bumper. One of my keys because so dull it wouldn’t unlock the door anymore. We got a key off eBay and programmed it. The sequence to start the programming was pretty cool. It was something like turn the ignition key to specific places, press the brake a set number of times, and some other combos. Here’s an example. https://youtu.be/0Mbu_YDHGqc https://youtu.be/0Mbu_YDHGqc
- Arrath 4y ago
  I call these "car cheat codes". Even modern vehicles often have some of these, hiding options (like turning off the "BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT!!!" alarm) that the manufacturer may not want readily available. They can be kind of fun to enter correctly.
  - wil421 4y ago
    That reminds me I removed the seat belt chime in my last Grand Cherokee because I had a big dog sitting in the back.
pmontra 4y ago
Apparently FIAT had many few times less key barrels for their Uno model in the 80s. I remember a story about a car that used to be parked in a street. It was along the lines of - Son, did you drove the Uno today? - I did. - And you filled up the tank, thanks! - Nope, I didn't, no money for that. - So, who did it? - Mmm, was my bag in the car? - Nope. - Oops!
ljf 4y ago
2 decades ago I was in Thialand, and my friend hired a Honda C90 moped to get around the island we were on. After 2 weeks he took it back to the rental place and the owner wouldn't accept it as it wasn't his moped - looked just the same to us, but he checked the engine number (there were no number plates on the island). He didn't know what to do, but after a while of trying to figure out what to do, on a hunch drove back to the very first cafe we'd visited after hiring the bike, on the other side of the island. There outside the cafe was 'his' moped - a little dusty, but unmoved - he parked the bike and told the owners of the cafe, and rode back on the 'correct' moped. I hate to think what happened to the person who's moped we'd taken, I don't think there was an option of insurance when he hired the bikes.
rottencupcakes 4y ago
Fun relevant story - back in high school we figured out that my friend’s Chevy Suburban key would unlock and start my other friend’s Saturn S-Series (but not vice versa). Had a lot of fun with that one. Not sure the owner of the Saturn would agree.

wil421 4y ago

My old Toyotas (early 2000s models) had the chip in the key. A third spare didn’t have it so I taped it under my bumper. One of my keys because so dull it wouldn’t unlock the door anymore. We got a key off eBay and programmed it. The sequence to start the programming was pretty cool. It was something like turn the ignition key to specific places, press the brake a set number of times, and some other combos. Here’s an example. https://youtu.be/0Mbu_YDHGqc https://youtu.be/0Mbu_YDHGqc

Arrath 4y ago
I call these "car cheat codes". Even modern vehicles often have some of these, hiding options (like turning off the "BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT!!!" alarm) that the manufacturer may not want readily available. They can be kind of fun to enter correctly.
- wil421 4y ago
  That reminds me I removed the seat belt chime in my last Grand Cherokee because I had a big dog sitting in the back.

pmontra 4y ago

Apparently FIAT had many few times less key barrels for their Uno model in the 80s. I remember a story about a car that used to be parked in a street. It was along the lines of - Son, did you drove the Uno today? - I did. - And you filled up the tank, thanks! - Nope, I didn't, no money for that. - So, who did it? - Mmm, was my bag in the car? - Nope. - Oops!

ljf 4y ago

2 decades ago I was in Thialand, and my friend hired a Honda C90 moped to get around the island we were on. After 2 weeks he took it back to the rental place and the owner wouldn't accept it as it wasn't his moped - looked just the same to us, but he checked the engine number (there were no number plates on the island). He didn't know what to do, but after a while of trying to figure out what to do, on a hunch drove back to the very first cafe we'd visited after hiring the bike, on the other side of the island. There outside the cafe was 'his' moped - a little dusty, but unmoved - he parked the bike and told the owners of the cafe, and rode back on the 'correct' moped. I hate to think what happened to the person who's moped we'd taken, I don't think there was an option of insurance when he hired the bikes.

rottencupcakes 4y ago

Fun relevant story - back in high school we figured out that my friend’s Chevy Suburban key would unlock and start my other friend’s Saturn S-Series (but not vice versa). Had a lot of fun with that one. Not sure the owner of the Saturn would agree.