Question 1

My key broke off in the ignition. Can you get it out?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Broken key extraction is a standard mobile job. I use extraction tools designed to pull the broken piece without damaging the ignition cylinder. On a 1998 Jimmy, the ignition cylinder is accessible and most extractions go cleanly. Once the piece is out, I can cut a new key on the spot from the extracted piece or from your vehicle's lock data. Whether you also need a new cylinder depends on how it broke and how much wear was already there. A lot of these older GM ignitions have some wear on them by now, so it is worth checking while we are in there. But extraction alone does not automatically mean a full ignition replacement.

Question 2

What kind of key does the 1998 GMC Jimmy use?

Accepted Answer

It uses a remote: a physical key blade that fits the ignition and door locks, paired with a separate 4-button fob for remote functions. The fob takes a CR2032 battery. The blade starts the car. The fob handles the door and other remote functions wirelessly. They work together but they are not the same thing, which means if your fob battery dies, you are not stranded. You can still unlock the door with the blade and start the engine normally. Where owners get into trouble is when they lose the blade side of the equation entirely.

Question 3

My GMC is showing a key warning on the dash. What should I do first?

Accepted Answer

Start with the fob battery. A weak CR2032 is the most common cause of range problems and warning lights on these. Pop the back of the fob, swap in a fresh CR2032, and retest. Make sure the new battery is seated flat and the contacts are not bent or corroded. If the warning clears, you are done.

If a new battery does not fix it, the issue is either the fob itself, the key blade, or something on the vehicle side. On late-90s GM trucks, a corroded or damaged ignition cylinder can sometimes cause recognition problems. If the vehicle starts fine but the warning persists, or if it starts and then stalls, that points toward the vehicle security system needing attention rather than just a dead fob. Call for a diagnosis at that point rather than guessing at parts.

Question 4

Can I program a replacement fob for my 1998 Jimmy myself?

Accepted Answer

On a lot of late-90s GM vehicles, there is an onboard programming sequence that lets you add a remote without any special tools, as long as you have a currently working key. The sequence involves the ignition and the lock switch in a specific order. It is documented and owners on GM forums have done it themselves with a new fob that matches the factory FCC ID on the original.

The catch: all-keys-lost is different. If you have zero working fobs or keys, the onboard sequence will not get you started because you need a functional key to enter programming mode in the first place. That is when you call me. Also, if you buy a used fob online, verify it matches the factory FCC ID for this vehicle before you try anything. A mismatched fob will not pair no matter how many times you run the sequence.

Question 5

The buttons on my Jimmy fob stopped working but the key blade still starts the car. Do I need to replace the whole thing?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. On these older GM fobs, the blade and the remote electronics are separate concerns. If the blade works fine, the fob side is its own problem. First check the CR2032 battery, then check that the contacts inside are not corroded or bent. If the board inside the fob got wet at some point, that is a common failure on these and sometimes the fob shell and internals can be replaced without cutting a new blade. If the fob is genuinely dead and needs replacing, I can match the correct replacement to your vehicle and program it on site. You do not have to replace the blade if it is in good shape.

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