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SailinAway · 12-03-2019, 09:04 PM

I did find a cheap solution to my problem after dozens of phone calls. No Chevy dealer in New Hampshire would make a laser-cut valet key for a reasonable price. I had to go to a dealer in Maine when I was up there on vacation. They made me two keys (laser-cut sidewinder) in 5 minutes and charged me NOTHING.

But that was just the blade. You can't turn the blade in the lock by hand unless you have pliers. You have to find some kind of head for the blade. In the electrical department at Home Depot I found a ring terminal that could be installed solidly on the blade with a couple of light hammer taps. Something like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tyco-Ele...-000/202204288

Total cost for two keys: about $4. Absolutely no reason to pay a dealer $100 or $400.

Here's another possibility for a spare sidewinder cut key: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...WD8JJN37&psc=1

That's IF you can find a dealer that has the laser machine and will cut it for a reasonable price. Cantin's has the machine but if I recall correctly they charge $80 (??) to cut a sidewinder channel.

The blade opens the door but won't start the engine. It sometimes sets off the alarm but you can disable the alarm by immediately starting the engine with the spare key you should have in the glove compartment.

I now have 2 programmed key fobs and 2 blade spares to cover all possibilities: key locked in car, lost key outside car, can't find keys in house, etc. Within one week of getting the spares I accidentally locked my keys in my car! Spare blade in my wallet worked instantly.

12-03-2019, 09:04 PM	#17
SailinAway Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 991 Thanks: 256 Thanked 280 Times in 169 Posts	I did find a cheap solution to my problem after dozens of phone calls. No Chevy dealer in New Hampshire would make a laser-cut valet key for a reasonable price. I had to go to a dealer in Maine when I was up there on vacation. They made me two keys (laser-cut sidewinder) in 5 minutes and charged me NOTHING. But that was just the blade. You can't turn the blade in the lock by hand unless you have pliers. You have to find some kind of head for the blade. In the electrical department at Home Depot I found a ring terminal that could be installed solidly on the blade with a couple of light hammer taps. Something like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tyco-Ele...-000/202204288 Total cost for two keys: about $4. Absolutely no reason to pay a dealer $100 or $400. Here's another possibility for a spare sidewinder cut key: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...WD8JJN37&psc=1 That's IF you can find a dealer that has the laser machine and will cut it for a reasonable price. Cantin's has the machine but if I recall correctly they charge $80 (??) to cut a sidewinder channel. The blade opens the door but won't start the engine. It sometimes sets off the alarm but you can disable the alarm by immediately starting the engine with the spare key you should have in the glove compartment. I now have 2 programmed key fobs and 2 blade spares to cover all possibilities: key locked in car, lost key outside car, can't find keys in house, etc. Within one week of getting the spares I accidentally locked my keys in my car! Spare blade in my wallet worked instantly.