Are Master Keys real?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Nov 26, 2014
Messages
1,499
Location
Newark NJ
As far as "car keys." I saw on shows that repo guys have them... is that true? A lie? How?

I have been thinking about this lately (spurred by me examining my car door, and trying to figure out exactly how they got in my Honda. If the window rolls down as usual then I will be even more suspicious since I have heard you can "pop the window off the track.." if you musy know what brought this on.)
 
*alternate title: "Do Master Keys exist."

When they took my 1989 Nissan 240SX, there was a big pry-bar sized gash where they broke whatever door latch mechanism it had. Weird how no glass broke when they did that.

I wonder if a key was used on my Honda... I know they are "easy to steal" but I tried my key in other Hondas in parking lots, and they don't work..
 
Originally Posted By: MalfunctionProne
*alternate title: "Do Master Keys exist."

When they took my 1989 Nissan 240SX, there was a big pry-bar sized gash where they broke whatever door latch mechanism it had. Weird how no glass broke when they did that.

I wonder if a key was used on my Honda... I know they are "easy to steal" but I tried my key in other Hondas in parking lots, and they don't work..


Seriously? If so, seek some help.
 
I've tried the key to my 00 Jeep Cherokee in other Chrylser products in the junkyard and it was surprising how well it worked.

I have YET to come across a vehicle where the key would work for both the door and ignition, but there were a good number where it would work for either the door or the ignition.

Scary, really.
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I've tried the key to my 00 Jeep Cherokee in other Chrylser products in the junkyard and it was surprising how well it worked.

I have YET to come across a vehicle where the key would work for both the door and ignition, but there were a good number where it would work for either the door or the ignition.

Scary, really.
My grandmother had a 94' Dodge Caravan and in 2006 she bought a brand new 06' Dodge Caravan. The key from the old one worked in the new one, and she drove it one day not realizing she used the old key and the radio/ A/C didn't work with the old vans key lol.
 
Thats where the chip keys come in.

The tolerance of keys needs to be a little sloppy to allow for wear. Both in the key, lock cylinder and yes the key cutting machines.

A locksmith is pretty reasonable if you bring them the lock. Only expensive if you need them to come out.

The locksmith I go to for keys says they adjust to spec their key machines every 6 months. He said many places (HomeDepot) fix the key machines when they break. There is an automatic key machine at Walmart.
 
Some of the 2000+ vehicles have the chips in the key that need to be in correlation which whatever chip the vehicle responds to.

I am sure there are plenty of Chrysler keys out there that will unlock my Jeep, but I am sure there are much less that have the same key/ chip combination. The chip might even be vehicle specific? I dont know.. Still sucks someone could potentially steal the stuff out of my Jeep though. Hasnt happened yet.
smile.gif


You see the same sort of things when you go to lowes to get new door locks. If you root through their selection long enough, 9 times out of 10, youll be able to find 2 locks are are keyed alike.
 
My dad had a 1980 ford fairmont and its key opened the door (but not ignition) on a 93 escort.

I think you're thinking of a "shaved key" which jiggled in an old lock with loose tumblers can sometimes open it.
 
There are only so many combination of cuts, and once the locks wear down the tolerances get loose and it's pretty easy to jiggle the wafers into line and rotate the cylinder. There are no master keys for automotive.

The key slides through these wafers, if all the little hooks on the left line up it allows the lock cylinder to turn. Obviously jiggling the key or using a little force when they almost all line up will also allow the key to turn. There are usually 6 in the door locks, 8-10 in the ignition lock, and like 4 in the glove box lock. This allows you to have a valet key and a little better security for the important ignition lock that isn't exposed to the elements.

wafers-and-stacked-700.jpg
 
At the Napa I work at, we used to have a fleet of Chevy S10s. One key could unlock three different trucks. Came in handy when we accidentally locked the keys in the truck, but pretty terrible for security.
 
Some years ago I accidentally drove the wrong car for about half a day because there were two 'identical' cars in the lot and I took the wrong one without knowing. Interestingly once we realised we tried the other car and that one didn't work with the wrong key.
 
Originally Posted By: Whitewolf
Some years ago I accidentally drove the wrong car for about half a day because there were two 'identical' cars in the lot and I took the wrong one without knowing. Interestingly once we realised we tried the other car and that one didn't work with the wrong key.


So your the one who borrowed my car for half a day? I have been wondering who it was. You could have filled it with gas at the very least!
 
My Jaguars use Tibbe keys and as best I recall, any Tibbe key will lock any Tibbe lock, but you have to have the correct key to unlock.

There are certainly master keys for real property - every apt complex has them. Don't know about cars.
 
Originally Posted By: Win
My Jaguars use Tibbe keys and as best I recall, any Tibbe key will lock any Tibbe lock, but you have to have the correct key to unlock.

There are certainly master keys for real property - every apt complex has them. Don't know about cars.


When I was in college, one of the residence hall directors lost their master key.

For security reasons, the whole building had to have all of the lock replaced. At her expense.
 
Yrs ago I had my mom's 87 Nissan pathfinder at work, I worked at a rental car company. Well some customers came in with another pathfinder of around the same yr, they locked themselves out and we tried my keys and they worked well enough to unlock the door.
 
When I was a kid, Dad and I hopped into an orange R16, and got halfway out of the carpark before I realised it had a tacho and ours didn't...was 4 or 5 bays away from ours.

Power Industry used to have "heirarchy" type keys, where levels of authority had access to increasingly secure areas. Keeper of the Keys and GMs could go anywhere with just one key.

These days too expensive, and things like that are reserved for offices...
 
When I once locked myself out of our HG Holden, a guy driving past in an HQ stopped and said try mine - it worked.
 
I know J body cars will open and run with different keys.

We have 2, and 03 and 04.

Either one of our keys will unlock either one. My key will start hers. Oddly enough, hers won't start mine...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top