1996 Chevrolet Impala
Key Replacement - Save vs Dealer in San Diego

1996 Chevrolet Impala MECHANICAL-KEY Replacement - Fast, Affordable & Professional

Worn ignitions on older Chevy trucks are one of my most common calls, and dealers love turning a simple fix into a full replacement. The Z-keyway ignition cylinder on Silverado, Tahoe, Impala, and other GM models wears down with mileage. The wafers get loose, the key starts catching, and eventually it either jams or snaps. The dealer will quote a new ignition, new keys, and a full reprogram. That's overkill for a wafer problem.

A customer at the gym in Otay Mesa had been wrestling his 1996 Chevrolet Impala ignition for a month. He'd have to jiggle the key, pull back, push hard. Some mornings it just wouldn't turn. The dealer quoted him $200 for a new ignition cylinder and keys. He was about to book it when a buddy told him to call a locksmith first.

I looked at his ignition and the issue was worn wafers, not a failed cylinder. So I used my ACDP to back up the body control module data before touching anything mechanical. Then I decoded the lock, replaced the worn wafers, and cut a fresh key that matched the repaired cylinder. His separate remote, FCC ID , paired right back up with a quick OBD sync. I showed him the old wafers so he could see the wear.

His total was $95. The dealer's $200 quote included parts and labor for a full cylinder replacement he didn't need. The ignition works clean now, the key turns smooth, and I replaced the worn parts instead of the whole assembly.

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