Chevrolet Blazer S-10 Key Replacement in San Diego County (1995-2005)

Q: Does my 1998 Blazer have a transponder chip or just PassLock?

Just PassLock on the 1998-2005 Blazer S-10. There is no transponder chip hidden in the key blade at all. A small Hall-effect sensor inside the ignition cylinder reads the coded blade as you turn it, then talks to the BCM. We can cut a new mechanical key from your VIN curbside and run the 30-minute Passlock relearn if the cylinder was disturbed.

Q: How much for a Blazer S-10 key in San Diego?

3-button remote head key with a standard blade and no transponder chip. FCC ID is typically KOBLEAR46B and it takes a CR2032 battery. No flip key, no smart key, no push-button start. Straightforward remote head key that turns in the ignition. The 2005 runs the Passlock immobilizer, so the chip needs OBD-II programming. We handle that on-site for $135 to $195.

1998 - 2005

619 Blazer S-10 cranking with the security light on? Marco's van handles 1995-2005 cut, chip, and program in your driveway across San Diego County. 100+ five-star reviews. Book it today.

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Blazer Key Security, Year by Year

Pre-Facelift (Mechanical)

1995-1997

Plain mechanical key on the early second-gen Blazer with no transponder chip. No VATS and no PK3 on this generation; engine cranks and starts purely on the cut. We code-cut from your VIN and you drive away.

Facelift (Pass-Key III)

1998-2002

On-board programming keeps this straightforward, but only for the keyless remote. Your 1998-2002 Blazer runs GM's Passlock anti-theft system, which carries no transponder chip in the key. We cut by code, program the remote on-site, and run the Passlock relearn when called for.

Late Model (PK3+)

2003-2005

GM rode Passlock through the final Blazer years on this body. Still no transponder chip, still a remote head key. Remote programs on-board, and a Tech 2 steps in when the BCM needs to relearn the Passlock sensor. The right equipment rides in the van.

Identify Your Blazer Key

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Mechanical Key

1995-1997

Standard blade mechanical key. No transponder chip, no immobilizer, no remote buttons baked into the head on these early models.

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Remote Head Key

1998-2002

Remote buttons live right in the head. Lock, unlock, and panic on a standard blade. No transponder chip; Passlock handles immobilization through the ignition cylinder.

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Remote Head Key (PK3+)

2003-2005

Looks like a regular Blazer key on the outside, but the cylinder underneath now hides a PassLock Hall sensor. No chip in the blade itself; security is reading the resistance of the turn, not the chip.

Pricing by Generation

Pricing covers blank, cut, PassLock relearn or fob programming where needed, and the trip to wherever the Blazer sits in San Diego County. No surprise add-ons at the curb.

Key Type

EZ Car Keyz

Chevrolet Dealer

1995-1997 (Pre-Facelift)

Transponder Key

$125-$175

$250-$400

1998-2002 (Facelift)

Remote Head Key

$125-$185

$275-$450

2003-2005 (Late)

Remote Head Key (PK3+)

$135-$195

$300-$500

Chevy Key Help -Tap to Call

EZ vs. the Dealer

We tell you the price before we show up. No surprises, no hidden fees, no "diagnostic charges" tacked on after the fact.

EZ Car Keyz

Chevrolet Dealer

Upfront Quote

Yes, over the phone before we roll

Often quoted after diagnosis fee

Location

Your driveway, parking lot, wherever

Their service bay (tow if no-start)

Tow Required

Never

Often, if key does not start the truck

Average Wait

Same day, usually within hours

2-5 business days for appointment + parts

Typical Cost

$125-$195

$250-$500

Lockout Service

$105-$145

Not offered

Skip the Dealer - Call (619) 876-1271

Blazer Key Problems We See Most

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Cylinder Wear Eats the Key

Crank, no fire, security light steady. The PassLock Hall sensor in the cylinder drifts out of spec on these high-mileage Blazers and the BCM pulls fuel. We diagnose at the curb, swap the cylinder or hardwire a PassLock bypass.

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Ignition Cylinder Worn Out

High-mileage Blazers come in with cylinders that quit. Wafers wear past 150K, key sticks, refuses to turn, or wiggles. We replace on-site, recode to your existing key, you skip the dealer keyfit charge.

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PassLock Wipes Itself After Battery Swap

CR2032 in your fob does not last forever, and when it leaks acid eats the board. Common on Blazers near the coast in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach. Board good? New battery and a clean. Board damaged? We replace and reprogram on the spot.

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Cylinder Wear Eats the Key

Most Blazer fobs that owners call broken run a tired CR2032. Crack the fob, drop a fresh battery positive-side up, you are back. If new battery does nothing, the board died; replacement plus 30-second on-board pairing puts you back in business.

Blazer DIY Programming: What Works?

1998-2005 (Remote Only)

Yes - DIY Possible

For the 1998-2005 Blazer with one working key, you can run the GM 30-minute PassLock relearn yourself. Three cycles of ignition-on for 10 minutes, then ignition-off for 5 seconds. No scanner needed; the BCM relearns on its own. Just need the patience to babysit 30 minutes of nothing.

1998-2005 (Transponder)

No - Pro Required

Got zero working keys? The 30-minute relearn falls apart. All-keys-lost on a PassLock Blazer needs the cylinder code pulled from GM or the cylinder physically read with our equipment. That part is not happening in your driveway with hand tools.

How It Works

Chevrolet phone inquiry in San Diego County

Phone or Text

Phone or text (619) 876-1271 with the year and what is going on.

Chevrolet service arrival in San Diego County

We Roll to You

Anywhere we can point the van in San Diego County: La Jolla, Mission Valley, Lakeside, Spring Valley.

Chevrolet key configured in San Diego County

Cut and Program

Code-cut on the Ilco from your VIN, program the remote fob if your year supports it, then run the PassLock relearn if needed.

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Blazer Key Questions San Diego Owners Ask

Does my 1998 Blazer have a transponder chip or just PassLock? ▼

Why won't my 1998 Blazer start and the security light stays on? ▼

No, your battery is probably fine. This is classic Passlock failure on the Blazer. The resistor inside the ignition cylinder wears out or the BCM circuit gets flaky, and the truck thinks someone is stealing it. Try the 10-minute key cycle relearn: turn the key to ON, wait 10 minutes until the security light goes off, turn it off, repeat two more times. If that does not stick, the ignition cylinder itself needs replacing before any key programming will take. We see this constantly on 1998-2002 Blazers across the county and we carry replacement cylinders in the van.

How much for a Blazer S-10 key in San Diego? ▼

Why is the Blazer security light staying on after I jumped the battery? ▼

No, not all of them have chips. Basic non-transponder keys exist for the Blazer, and they will physically turn the ignition and open the doors. But they will not start the truck. The immobilizer requires the Texas 4D transponder chip to communicate with the BCM before it lets the engine fire. If you need a key that actually starts your Blazer, it has to have the chip and it has to be programmed. We can verify what your specific truck needs by VIN when you call (619) 876-1271.

Call (619) 876-1271

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Blazer Trivia

Blazer S-10 hung around so long it outlived the S-10 pickup it was based on. The 4-door GMT330 stayed in production through 2005 in the US, four years past the pickup's 2001 retirement, mostly because the small SUV market just kept buying them. The chassis was tough enough that 619 off-roaders are still hauling them up trails in Anza-Borrego.

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