88 Corvette keys

[Tom H.]

Just had a member email me regarding original keys for an 88. He states JG calls for three square headed ignition keys ?? Is that correct ? I don't recall these cars having 3 keys when delivered.

[Peter M.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Just had a member email me regarding original keys for an 88. He states JG calls for three square headed ignition keys ?? Is that correct ? I don't recall these cars having 3 keys when delivered.

I think this is correct for early C4's. They came with three ignition keys with pellets and two "B" door keys.

[Peter L.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Tom - I'm curious about the JM saying 3 square (rectangular) head keys also. I'm not aware of any GM cars that came from the Factory with 3 of any key. Pete

[Peter M.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Tom - I'm curious about the JM saying 3 square (rectangular) head keys also. I'm not aware of any GM cars that came from the Factory with 3 of any key. Pete

My 1986 roadster came with three ignition keys and two door keys.

FWIW

[Tom H.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Tom - I'm curious about the JM saying 3 square (rectangular) head keys also. I'm not aware of any GM cars that came from the Factory with 3 of any key. Pete

I'm all for it if they did, but I have no memory of 3 square keys in 88. Might I be getting old ????????

[Tom H.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

My 1986 roadster came with three ignition keys and two door keys.

FWIW

Must have been how it was. When did this practice stop ??

[Peter L.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

They might have done that in 88, but apparently they didn't continue providing 2 keys even with replacement igniton lock switches. Three years ago I had to get a new ignition switch lock for my 1996 Impalla SS and the GM Service replacement came with 2 keys with chips and last year it had to be repalced again and the GM Service replacement came with 1 key with chip. I hope it doesn't have to be replaced again because I expect it will come with a note as to the KEY NUMBER and I'll have to buy the key with the chip.

Pete

[Pete B.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

My 86 came with 3 square head keys, I remember specifically being told by the salesman that the pellet might become damaged, and this would keep you on the road. The 87 and 89 I have now has all 3 keys.
There was push back then to have "Certified Corvette specialists" sell the cars. Oh the passion!

[Tom H.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

I sure learned something here today......... Again ! Thanks guys !!

[Don G.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Three ignition keys were supplied with all 1986 through 1990 Corvettes. The extra key was a safeguard in case of a pellet key failure. My 1986 Corvette came with three keys and one of them was prone to failure. The owners' manual instructs the owner to do the following if the car will not start:

• Wait 3-4 minutes and try again to start the car.
• If it fails to start again, use another key.
• If the car starts, the first key is faulty.
• If it still doesn't start contact your dealer.

If the owner is not aware of this procedure, they may think the battery is dead. However, this can be ruled out because the lights and other functions will continue to work.

Sometimes the key failure is due to contamination or moisture on the pellet and cleaning may make the key function again. In my case, this did not work and I no longer use that key but keep it for judging purposes.

[Patrick N.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

My 88 came with 3. When I bought my 88 in 90 from the original owner, he gave me 2 ignition keys and claimed to have lost the third key. A few years back, I did the trick of swapping the driver and passanger lower seats and found the third key ground in the seat rails. Two pellets are shot, down to my last one-time to get some new ones.

[Terry M.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Tom - I'm curious about the JM saying 3 square (rectangular) head keys also. I'm not aware of any GM cars that came from the Factory with 3 of any key. Pete

Pete,

I guess we never had that talk about what happened to that third key for all the C2 and C3 Corvettes. They left St. Louis with three ignition keys. Usually one was discarded in transit and only two were given to the owner, but there are cases of the third key making it to the original owner. There are also cases of people finding a key in the heater plenum when taking the car apart. The transporter sometimes tossed the key on the dash and it followed gravity into the bowels of the HVAC system.

Ralph Spears, who used to work unloading Corvettes from freight trains in Framingham Mass, has posted about this in the past in response to someone who found a key in their heater plenum.

[Bill M.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Three ignition keys were supplied with all 1986 through 1990 Corvettes.

Don and Tom:

My '92 has 3 ignition keys. 2 are still on the dealer's key ring with dealer stock tag.

Bill

[Don G.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Owners' manuals for 1986,87,88,89, and 90 Corvettes specifically mention that three ignition keys are provided. It is not mentioned in 1991 and later model oeners' manuals. This fact suggests that only two keys were provided from the factory commencing with the 1991 model unless documentation can be found to the contrary.

[Bill M.]

Re: 88 Corvette keys

Owners' manuals for 1986,87,88,89, and 90 Corvettes specifically mention that three ignition keys are provided. It is not mentioned in 1991 and later model oeners' manuals. This fact suggests that only two keys were provided from the factory commencing with the 1991 model unless documentation can be found to the contrary.

3 keys is documented in the '92 FSM