Key & Lock Cylinder Coding

Key and Lock Cylinder Coding

The lock system used for the Saturn vehicles is a one key system with a key profile that has a two-sided cut and milled grooves that are unique to the Saturn lock system. The teeth of the key locate the sidebar, flush to the outside of the lock cylinder from both sides of the cut.

Cutting Keys

The Saturn approved key cutting tool requires adapter kit SA9703B to cut second design keys. First design keys cannot be cut using this kit. The kit consists of a 10-position spacing plate (only positions two through ten are used) and a key insert. To install adapter kit to key cutting tool, follow steps in instruction manual provided with key cutting tool.

The customer information card or the retailer records will show the key code as a four-digit numeric code. To determine the actual cut sequence of the key from this code, look up the code in the appropriate Key Code book. The cut sequence will be shown to the right of the code listing. The ignition cut sequence should be used to cut new keys, as it has all of the cuts necessary for the key to work properly in all the locks on the vehicle.

Determining the Key Code

1. Insert the key in the Saturn approved key cutting tool with the tip of the key against the stop.
2. With the cutting die in the down position, move the carriage toward the die until it bottoms out. Record the depth (1, 2, 3 or 4).
3. Repeat for each position.

Lock Service Kit

The Saturn lock service parts are packaged in small packages and are disassembled. The door lock cylinder, rear compartment lid lock, lift gate lock, glovebox lock, and ignition lock units are all available this way. The lock cylinder service units have all the parts necessary to build up a lock cylinder except the tumblers and the tumbler springs. The lock service kit, normally found in the Saturn parts department, has the tumblers and springs necessary to build up the lock cylinder service unit to the customer's original key code. (To determine the vehicle key code, refer to the key identification and usage section.) The ignition module is also serviced as a disassembled unit.
The lock service kit also contains other components of the door, rear compartment lid, liftgate, glovebox and ignition lock system such as clips, pawls, lock cylinder caps, shutters, and springs. This kit is provided so that the retail facilities will have the components necessary, at all times, to service the Saturn lock system and maintain its one key integrity for the Saturn customer.

Lock Cylinder Lubrication

Lubricate the lock cylinders with a light oil or graphite lubricant. Never use a silicon spray lubricant.