TextHow Seville Keys Changed Over the Years
STS/SLS: Pure Mechanical
Your 1995 through 1997 Seville uses GM's VATS / Pass-Key II system. The ignition key has a resistor pellet embedded in the blade with one of 15 resistance values, and the car's instrument cluster reads that value before allowing the engine to start. No transponder chip, no battery, no programming, but cutting a new key requires matching the resistor value, which we read directly from the car. Same-day on-site service, just a clean cut on the right blank.
Late SLS: Still Mechanical
GM debuted the PK3 (Pass-Key III) system on the 1998 Seville, making it the first Cadillac to use a chip-based transponder. Your 1998 through 2004 model uses a remote head key with a GM ID13 transponder chip (B99-PT blank) and a CR2032 battery. The car checks the chip every time you turn the ignition. We pull the PIN, program the chip through OBD-II, and you are driving, just a standard blade that needs to be cut to your locks.
Which Key Does Your Seville Use?
A VATS / Pass-Key II key: standard cut metal blade with a resistor pellet embedded near the bow. No buttons and no battery, but the resistor value has to match what the car expects.
A 4-button remote head key (FCC KOBUT1BT) with a GM ID13 transponder chip (B99-PT) inside the head. The chip authenticates to the PK3 immobilizer; the remote handles lock, unlock, trunk, and panic.
What Your Seville Key Costs
Pricing includes mobile service to your location, key cutting, and testing in your ignition and door cylinders.
EZ Car Keyz vs. the Dealer
We diagnose before we quote. The dealer replaces parts before they test.
Skip the Dealer - Call (805) 790-8162Common Seville Key and Lock Problems
Worn Mechanical Key Blanks
Years of use grind down the peaks and valleys on your key blade. That is why your Seville key sticks or feels rough in the ignition. We compare against the original cut code, then cut a fresh one that turns like new. About 15 minutes in your Oxnard driveway.
Lock Cylinder Degradation
Ignition feels stiff, key barely turns, you jiggle it every morning. The internal wafers wear down on these C-body Sevilles, especially with a worn key. We rekey on-site or replace the cylinder entirely if it is too far gone.
Door Cylinder Actuator Failure
Owners blame the key when the door will not unlock from the power switch. Real culprit is usually a dead actuator, the small motor inside the door that moves the lock. We test the actuator first since sometimes it is wiring. Shot actuator? We replace on-site.
Can You Program a Seville Key Yourself?
No transponder programming. Your 1995 through 1997 Seville uses a VATS / Pass-Key II resistor key. We measure the resistor value directly from the car, cut a new blade with the correct pellet, and you are on your way.
Different story for 1998-2004. The PK3 transponder requires PIN retrieval and OBD-II programming; you cannot DIY this in the driveway. We handle it on-site in about 30 minutes.
How It Works
Call or Text Us
Reach us at (805) 790-8162. Tell us your Seville's exact year and what is going on.
We Drive to You
Anywhere in Ventura County.
Cut Your Key On-Site
We decode your Seville's locks or pull the cut code from the VIN, then cut a fresh mechanical key right at your vehicle.
Related Services
Did You Know?
The 1995 through 1997 Cadillac Seville used GM's VATS (Pass-Key II) resistor pellet system: a tiny embedded resistor in the key blade that the car had to read before starting. Starting with the 1998 Seville, GM introduced the PK3 (Pass-Key III) transponder chip system, making the Seville the first Cadillac to use a chip-based immobilizer. Kind of wild when you think about what came after.
KEY REPLACEMENT ACROSS ALL OF VENTURA COUNTY
We come to you, anywhere in Ventura County. No shop visit, no towing. Our mobile locksmith arrives at your home, office, or roadside.
Cadillac Key in Action
See a Cadillac proximity fob programmed on site.
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