To make matters worse, Huf and Ortec locks can vary by model as well as by year, making it extremely difficult to know which wafer tumblers fit what locks. The aftermarket distribution of locks and parts made by other manufacturers, such as Huf and Ortec, are not as well organized and the information is not always complete or accurate for the locksmith market.
STRATTEC sells lock service packages, tumblers and springs, and some keying kits for General Motors vehicles through locksmith distribution.
The three major lock manufacturers are Huf, Ortec, and STRATTEC. Since Saturn in late 1997, General Motors continues to change who builds the domestic vehicle models locks. I was told by the dealership that I could purchase a keying kit for just a little over $500 at their discounted price.Īftermarket locksmith companies A 1 Security Manufacturing and ASP came to the rescue by introducing keying kits for a lot less. Combinating an ignition lock using the Saturn dealer components cost between $20 and $30, and that was just for the parts, not the time to drive to the dealership or to combinate the lock. The cost: almost $2 a tumbler and more than $1 per spring. At that time, the only place to obtain the Huf tumblers was from a Saturn dealership. The wafers and springs used in the previous locks manufactured by STRATTEC and BWD were not interchangeable with the Huf wafers or vice versa. This has proven to be a nightmare for locksmiths.įor me, it started when Saturn began using locks manufactured by Huf in 1997. Without prior knowledge, there is no way to know who makes the lock or what wafer tumblers or springs are necessary. The result is that vehicles are being equipped with locks that are using different tumblers, springs and retaining components. Over the last several years, lock manufacturers do not appear to have this restriction. In the past, all General Motors locks, no matter who manufactured them, could use the same tumblers and springs. Servicing General Motors vehicles has become much more difficult for the automotive locksmith.
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