Saving a 96 Tahoe LS with lost keys.

[WillGlueIt]

Hi Everyone,

I am saving a 96 L31 Tahoe LS from the boneyard. I had it towed home last night. The only real problem I have at this point is the keys are lost. I bought a new lock cylinder with keys. I have the column shroud off, but I cannot turn the lock to the run position, so I can push a nail into the release hole and pull the lock cylinder. Any ideas of what I can do to get the old lock cylinder out? I am hesitant to drill it out, I do not want to damage the housing. One more quick question. Does this truck use PassLock 1 or 2? If so I will need to do a bypass. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gzes]

Why didn't you just go to dealer to get a key with the vin. Or worse case tow it to a locksmith and get a key made? Cheap and easy

 

[SunlitComet]

You do not have passlock as all. sent you an email.

 

[WillGlueIt]

It took forever to get the title from the person I bought the Tahoe from. But I got it today, and had it titled in my name. I took the title to a GM dealer and they made a key based on the VIN. Unfortunately the key doesn't work. The lock must have been replaced at some point in the past. Next step locksmith.

 

[WillGlueIt]

I ended up drilling out the old lock cylinder. I used progressively larger bits, and finished it off with a Dremel, using a round steel cutting bit. I took great care not to damage the housing the lock cylinder inserts into. The new lock cylinder was 20 bucks at O'Reillys. After calling several locksmiths, and not a one of them giving me an estimate under 200. I decided to drill it out. Locksmiths are far from cheap. And getting an estimate was like pulling teeth.

The truck cranks, but will not start. I cannot hear the fuel pump energize. I will dig back into it tonight.