Hi all, and thanks to Admins for boosting my points so I could post this. I just bought an '08 Vectrix VX-1. The previous owner forgot to give me the Master Key, so he sent it to me in the post. I just today received an empty envelope with a neat tear in the side. While I still hold out a tiny hope that Royal Mail have a box of such items lost during processing at each mail handling location, and I may be able to reclaim it, it is unlikely. How much of a problem is it likely to be for me, and what can I do about it if it's serious?
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You may buy a new clausor with key at vectrixparts:
http://shop.vectrixparts.com/ignition-lock-main-switch-with-key.html
A complete tear down of the front part of the Vectrix is required to replace it, not difficult, but quite long job ahead.
This really was a royal PITA, unfortunately. Disassembly was pretty straight forward, but drilling out the old bolts was challenging for me. I ended up completely destroying the old lock, but since I didn't have the key that didn't really matter.
Thanks for the link and advice, I'll keep it in mind in case I have to replace the whole switch assembly. However, I have the spare key so it's not an immediate problem. What I was more worried about was if the Master Key performs any special function or is required for any part of electronic repairs or maintenance? For example, I once bought a car that came with 2 black keys and one red key. I started driving it with the red key, and kept finding it refusing to start for no apparent reason. Turns out the red key had a master chip inside it and was for putting the car's immobiliser into 'program mode' to program the chip in a new spare key. Is there anything like that going on with the Vectrix red key?
And here we were thinking you were stranded? but you was not stranded after all. did you read the thread about spare key?
Thanks for bumping the thread. I had briefly read it but at the time I was more concerned that not having the master key was going to present a problem in the future. Judging by peoples' comments so far, it seems that there's no special transponder or chip in the master key, so I only need worry about losing the key I have. I've noted the various codes for the blanks from that thread so I can just go to my nearest vehicle key cutting service and see if they can make me another key to keep spare. Thanks all.
The two keys originally supplied with the vectrix should be the same, so there is no "Master" key, and fortunately for us there is no immobiliser chip inside the head of the key either:
Simply get another key (or two) cut from your existing key and keep the original Vectrix key safely as a spare in case you ever need to have another one cut at a later date. (It is always better to have a copy made from an original rather than make a copy of a copy)
Most decent locksmiths will probably have the correct key blank in stock, but they should be easily obtainable if your local locksmith doesn't keep them.
I would suggest a visit to your locksmith first (before purchasing a blank key) as some locksmiths refuse to cut keys that they haven't supplied, and as a result of this I simply refuse to use or recommend that particular locksmith!
Whereabouts in the UK are you?
Alan