1994-1996 Key knock Outs

[Ed N.]

I'm doing some research on late model C4s on key knock outs. If you have the knock out(s) to your square key, what does the knock out say on both sides? The picture in the JM only show two knock outs and they appear to be for the round "H" key.

Thanks.

[Ken R.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Photo of the keys from my 95 built 12-94.
80-p1020640_44f87716ede6f7ee02bd37878e415693afa6df47.jpg

[Ed N.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ken, thank you great picture and information. Ironically enough, the owner's manual indicates that not all pellet keys came with knockouts. Those that did not come with knockouts, came with a tag with a "bar-coded Tag." This information can be seen on page 2-2 of the owner's manual.

Maybe someone can chime in and tell us what numbers and letters mean under the bar code.

Thanks.

[Pat M.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ed, I only have the two round key knock outs for my 96, yet I do not have a bar-coded tag either. I suppose the dealer may have discarded the square key knockouts and/or tag without my knowledge.

[Ed N.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ed, I only have the two round key knock outs for my 96, yet I do not have a bar-coded tag either. I suppose the dealer may have discarded the square key knockouts and/or tag without my knowledge.

Pat, thanks for the information. I have spoken to several people that only have the round knock outs together with a white bar-coded tag. The latter seems to be a slight pattern. Also, the JM only shows two knock outs (appears to be the round ones) on a ring attached to the white tag.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Pat, thanks for the information. I have spoken to several people that only have the round knock outs together with a white bar-coded tag. The latter seems to be a slight pattern. Also, the JM only shows two knock outs (appears to be the round ones) on a ring attached to the white tag.

Ed-------


The code on the knock-out only relates to the "cut" of the key. There is no information as to what VATS code blank is required. I suppose the information on the bar-coded tag may include that information.

[Ed N.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ed-------


The code on the knock-out only relates to the "cut" of the key. There is no information as to what VATS code blank is required. I suppose the information on the bar-coded tag may include that information.

Joe, great information. For those of us who are missing knock-outs for our square keys, can the cut of the key tell us how to stamp an unstamped square knock-out? In other words, if one wanted to recreate a square key knock-out, where would the information that suppose to be behind the knock-out be acquired from?

[David K.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ed send Jesser's classic keys, a email and ask your question. He has an add in the driveline. page 28

keymanjj@hotmail.com

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Joe, great information. For those of us who are missing knock-outs for our square keys, can the cut of the key tell us how to stamp an unstamped square knock-out? In other words, if one wanted to recreate a square key knock-out, where would the information that suppose to be behind the knock-out be acquired from?

Ed-------


It's designed to work the other way around. The way it works is that the dealer has a hand-operated key-cutting machine. They take the code from the knock-out and refer to a book which tells them the settings for the key-cutting machine based on that code. Then, they insert the blank in the machine and cut the key. However, I suppose it would be theoretically possible to reverse the process but it seems like it would be difficult to me. If they don't have the VATS code for the key blank, they can "interrogate" an existing key, assuming there is one. This can also be done with a VOM.

[Ed N.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ed-------


It's designed to work the other way around. The way it works is that the dealer has a hand-operated key-cutting machine. They take the code from the knock-out and refer to a book which tells them the settings for the key-cutting machine based on that code. Then, they insert the blank in the machine and cut the key. However, I suppose it would be theoretically possible to reverse the process but it seems like it would be difficult to me. If they don't have the VATS code for the key blank, they can "interrogate" an existing key, assuming there is one. This can also be done with a VOM.

You bring up an interesting point. So if I have the key #8, can they extract/interrogate the code information that would pertain to the knock-out?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

You bring up an interesting point. So if I have the key #8, can they extract/interrogate the code information that would pertain to the knock-out?

Ed------


No, they can only interrogate a known key to determine what VATS code it is. That's all they can get from this process. Then, they know what VATS code blank they need to use. As far as I know, the key code on the punch-out only pertains to the cut of the key.

[Ed N.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Ed------


No, they can only interrogate a known key to determine what VATS code it is. That's all they can get from this process. Then, they know what VATS code blank they need to use. As far as I know, the key code on the punch-out only pertains to the cut of the key.

Thanks Joe for all your help, I really appreciate it. I recently took my original keys to the dealer to make a second copy and they place the pellet key inside some resistor reader machine and it tells them the VATS code. Pretty neat.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1994-1996 Key knock Outs

Thanks Joe for all your help, I really appreciate it. I recently took my original keys to the dealer to make a second copy and they place the pellet key inside some resistor reader machine and it tells them the VATS code. Pretty neat.

Ed------


That's the "interrogation" I was referring to. You can do the same thing with a volt-ohm meter by measuring the resistance of the pellet. Using a table found in the factory service manual or from online sources, you can match the resistance value to the VATS key number. Very simple.