My GM Ignition Won't Turn. What Should I Do?
Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all use different key generations - tell us what's happening and we'll take it from there.
Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac have all used different key and ignition technology across the decades - tell us what's happening and we'll ask what we need to know before recommending anything.
GM key and anti-theft technology moved through several generations: simple cut keys, VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System, resistor-pellet keys used on Corvette, Camaro, Firebird, and others), Passlock (a passive system that reads key-blade movement instead of a resistor), transponder chip keys, Passkey III, flip keys, and finally proximity/push-to-start Smart Keys on newer trucks and Cadillacs. Diagnosis depends heavily on which generation your vehicle is on.
If your GM vehicle has an anti-theft security light flashing and the engine won't start even though the key turns, that's often a VATS or Pass-Key resistor/decoder issue rather than a mechanical ignition problem. We check the security system separately from the ignition cylinder itself.
A worn or loose-fitting key can accelerate wear inside the ignition cylinder over time. On older GM trucks and SUVs with exposed, column-mounted ignition cylinders, dirt and debris can also work their way in and contribute to a key that's hard to turn. On certain models, dashboard access to the ignition/column differs from others - we bring the right approach for your specific model rather than a one-size-fits-all method.
GM flip-key housings (used across many 2000s-2010s Chevrolet and GMC models) are also a known wear point - the internal hinge and spring mechanism can loosen, or the buttons stop registering, separately from the key blade itself.
If a key has broken off in the ignition, don't try to remove it yourself. Classic GM owners - older trucks, Corvettes, and other collector vehicles - often want to preserve the original ignition and door lock hardware rather than replace it with generic parts, and that preference shapes the repair-versus-replace conversation.
No. Tell us what's happening and we'll ask a few questions to narrow it down before recommending anything.
Often not the mechanical ignition at all - it usually points to VATS or Pass-Key, GM's anti-theft resistor/decoder system. We check that separately.
Where possible, yes - we understand that classic GM owners often want to preserve the original ignition and lock hardware, and we'll explain the repair-versus-replace tradeoff for your specific vehicle.