I have an '85 245 that I wanted to have an extra key made for. Went to my local dealer with VIN and a couple of days later they called said they'd couldn't cut the key because the car was a Canadian model. If this is true, how do I get a key? Also, is there any way of getting a history of origin of the car from Canada?

Thanks. Hope you and your Volvo have a safe and happy New Year.

P.S. The speedo is in mph not kph.

I've never gone to a dealer to get a Key made.

Any hardware store can do it... Like Ace Hardware. Yo just need a blank.

Wow! Didn't realize that key cutting for the 240 was such an issue. When the Old Princess had the bad sense to break an original key off in one of the door locks, I extracted the broken piece with one of those dental picks I have in my tool chest. Took it, the other half of the key and the Princess to a local ("knew what he was doing")locksmith who took both halves of the key, stuck it in his machine and produced three beautiful all-steel keys in about 10 minutes. After a lecture to the Princess on how to prevent further 'issues' and a $10 bill, we were on our way. Couldn't have been simpler.

B

I would bet you that $10 those are not steel keys unless this was in 1975. Even the in 1995, a single steel key tended to about $12 where today I can get half a dozen brass (or bronze or whatever) for about that price. Are the edges of the keys yellow/gold where they were cut?

FYI, those keys are not inherently bad and are standard on most cars...just have to keep all your locks lubed and do not try to turn them when they are frozen solid.

I know a steel key when I see it. Especially since I asked for one. No bronze edges. Very magnetic.

You cannot get an OEM quality steel key from a hardware store. They use brass blanks which are much more likely to be an issue with a frozen locks.

Some more key facts and myths in this http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=304387

Time flies, don't it?
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

Art,

Do you recall the difference in the part numbers? Both are available on online from Tasca for about $12. My dealer charges $35 for a key ordered by VIN. if I can find a shop that cuts steel keys, it may be worth pursuing for the steel Volvo key.

Thanks!
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Paul NW Indiana '89 744 Turbo 180K/ '90 745 turbo 145K

Paul, if you are referring to my post with this image...



The more expensive key is the one for your doors and ignition switch. The other works the glove box and the trunk. I just googled the part numbers, otherwise I had no idea which was which. Of course these are keys for pre-86 240s, and perhaps some other models.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

They say you can do anything in international waters.
That's why I filled my hot tub with international water.

Hi Art I believe it what is called a Valet key. Works on everything but the glovebox and trunk.The other key works on everything.Dealer used to have a nifty little machine the would manually punch/cut the key.All that was needed was the VIN#.

"Hi Art I believe it what is called a Valet key."

Now that is another subject entirely. :) Pertains to 86 and later 240s.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Which is what I have these days 87 and 88

Yesh, apparently the on-topic part of this thread is dead now, so do you know what the reason is your valet keys won't work in the glove box? It is a clever design because it allows the 86- owner key blank to be backward compatible.


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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Confucius: Boyfriend who lose key to girlfriend's apartment get no new key.

I dont I ne did take a close look at the two different keys. Maybe one is a tad shorter than the other?

"I dont I ne did take a close look at the two different keys."

That's just what you need to do to see the difference between the blanks. Not length, but the cross section. Very clever.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

You can cut your own key if you have a key that works in the car's ignition. Here's a tutorial I produced for cutting a steel key, a metal most locksmiths abhor. If you get a Volvo blank, follow the steps and make your own. It's pretty simple.

http://s160.photobucket.com/user/chrisowenvt/library/Cut%20a%20Key

Chris in north Florida, '94 945 w/ 198k

when i was at the dealer in 85, we bought a bunch of canadian cars to sell as new because we'd run out. only difference i remember was they still had the 82-style u.s. bumpers and no a/c. keys weren't an issue. ask why they can't do it. doesn't make sense to me. good luck, chuck.