Question 1

Do I have to go to the Cadillac dealer to get a replacement key for my 1997 DeVille?

Accepted Answer

No. The 1997 DeVille takes a standard mechanical key, so this is a job any qualified locksmith can handle on site. There is no dealer-only equipment involved. A mobile locksmith can decode your lock or look up the key code and cut a replacement right at your vehicle in Oxnard, including out in Hollywood by the Sea. The dealer route means scheduling, possibly towing if you have no working key, and waiting. One visit on site is usually all this takes.

Question 2

What kind of key does the 1997 Cadillac DeVille actually use?

Accepted Answer

It is a metal key, edge-cut, that turns in the ignition cylinder and the door locks. No remote functions, no fob, no battery to replace. Replacement comes down to one thing: cutting a blade that matches your locks. That can be done by looking up the key code through the VIN or by decoding the lock cylinder directly. Decoding is the better move on a nearly 30-year-old car because the locks may have worn enough that a code-only cut feels a little off. Reading the lock as it actually sits gives you a key that fits what is there today.

Question 3

How long does key replacement take compared to going to the dealer?

Accepted Answer

On site with EZ Car Keyz, a mechanical key replacement for the 1997 DeVille is typically done in well under an hour. Most of that time is decoding the lock and making sure the cut works in every cylinder, door and ignition both.

The dealer path on a vehicle this age is less predictable. Cadillac dealers are fewer and farther apart than most other GM stores, so getting an appointment can take time. Then there is the question of whether they stock a blank for a 1997 or have to order one. And if you have no working key, you are looking at a tow just to get the car there.

A mobile locksmith comes to the car. The car does not go to anyone.

Question 4

My 1997 DeVille ignition turns but feels stiff and grindy. Is that a key problem or a cylinder problem?

Accepted Answer

Could be either, and on a car this age it is often both working against each other at the same time. The ignition cylinders on these DeVilles have a lot of years on them, and worn tumblers combined with a key that has itself been worn down from years of use creates a bad feedback loop. Each time the worn key turns the worn cylinder, both get a little worse.

Start by having a replacement key cut to the actual lock, not copied from the worn original. If the new key still feels rough, the cylinder itself may need attention. But a surprisingly high number of these calls turn out to be a worn key dragging through a cylinder that is actually fine once it has a properly cut blade in it.

Question 5

I have a spare key for my 1997 DeVille but it only works in the door, not the ignition. Why?

Accepted Answer

The door lock and ignition cylinder on these DeVilles can wear differently over time. If someone had the door lock re-keyed or repaired at some point, the two cylinders may no longer match. It is also possible the spare was cut to one cylinder but not quite right for the other.

Decoding both the door and the ignition separately and comparing the cuts will tell you exactly what is happening. From there it is a matter of cutting a key that satisfies both. That is a normal part of the job on older vehicles with long service histories.

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