Question 1

Do you use OEM or aftermarket keys on a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?

Accepted Answer

We use professional-grade key blanks sourced from tested suppliers, not the cheap blanks floating around online. For a transponder key like the one on the 2012 Colorado, two things have to be right: the blade cut and the chip programming. A low-quality blank can have an inconsistent chip response that programs fine in the shop and then throws a security fault a week later. The blanks we carry are spec-matched to this application. We've seen customers come to us after buying a blank off a retail site and having a local guy try to program it, only to get intermittent starts. Getting it done right the first time costs less than fixing someone else's shortcut.

Question 2

How long should a replacement transponder key last on a Colorado?

Accepted Answer

Years, with normal use. The transponder chip itself is passive, meaning it has no battery and nothing to wear out electronically. The blade and the plastic head are the parts that actually take abuse. The key ring loop is usually the first thing to go on these, and a cracked head can eventually expose the chip to moisture. If the shell wears out but the chip is still intact, the electronics can often be transferred to a fresh housing without reprogramming. Keep the key on a light ring, not a heavy keychain that stresses the ignition cylinder, and it'll last.

Question 3

What if my new key stops working a few weeks after you program it?

Accepted Answer

Call me. I come back. Every key I make is covered under warranty. If it fails to start the car, develops a chip recognition problem, or anything else goes wrong under normal use, I fix it or replace it. Before I leave any job I test the key through a full cycle: blade turns in the ignition, engine starts, engine stays running, security light clears. If it passes all of that on site and something changes later under normal conditions, that's on me to make right. I've heard from people who paid serious money to a locksmith and then got ghosted when a button stopped responding after two weeks. That's not how I run things.

Question 4

My Colorado cranks but won't stay running, and there's a security light on. Is the key the problem?

Accepted Answer

That pattern, engine cranks, fires briefly, then stalls with a security indicator on, points to the immobilizer not recognizing the key's transponder chip. It can happen with a worn key whose chip has shifted inside the head, a key that was never properly programmed, or occasionally a communication issue between the ignition and the vehicle security system. It does not always mean the key is dead. Sometimes reseating the key or checking the ignition cylinder antenna clears it. But if the chip has failed or the programming dropped out, a properly programmed replacement key resolves it. That's a job I diagnose on site before cutting anything new.

Question 5

Can I program a second key myself at home to have a spare?

Accepted Answer

On some older GM vehicles there are onboard relearn procedures you can run without any tools. Whether that applies to your specific 2012 Colorado depends on the configuration of the security system and how many keys are already in memory. Some owners have reported success with an ignition-turn sequence when a second working key is already present. Others find that sequence does nothing and a programmer is still required. I wouldn't count on the DIY route, but I also won't tell you it's impossible for your vehicle without checking first. Either way, getting a spare made now, while the original key still works, is always cheaper and faster than doing an all-keys-lost job later.

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