I lost my key to my TJ (98 Wrangler).....and I have a new tumbler for it. How difficult are they to change and do I have to worry about hte airbag going off in my face? I haven't drove it in about 3 months so the battery is completely dead.

Anyone have a diagram or something to give me a heads up...as I've never changed a lock/ignition tumbler before.

Thanks :beer:

anyone?

I believe you have to have the key to remove the lock. You may check , and if so you will have to get a key from a dealer. They will have to use the v.i.n. to cut a new key.

Well that's the problem the 2 dealers around me can't cut me a key....that's why I got a new tumbler.

I dunno why I would have to have the key to remove the tumbler?

Call a locksmith, not hard to make a key for the rig, but if you want to replace it , it requires the original key to remove the cyl unless you also replace the switchpack that the cyl is in. Requires a high security torx bit, not sure on the size though.

In 98 a transponder was optional on the wranglers and if you have it youll still have to get the rig reprogrammed regardless if you change the cylinder.

Dammitt. That sucks.

How much is a decent price for a locksmith.

Anyway I can just put a button for the starter w/ no key?

Price just varies, i charge 25 during the day to show up and to make that key your looking at about 85, but thats here in vegas and im really cheap because im just starting out on my own. In Cali id imagine to double that, but I dont know for sure.

If its transponder youll more then likely have to have the above done and then have it towed to a dealer to be reprogrammed, most locksmiths havent invested in this technology yet, but you may get lucky, call around, should be under locks in your yellow pages.


Edit: depending on how fast you need it I might be able to help with chrysler roadside, if you want me to try PM the vin , legal owners name and ill see what I can do.

Cool thanks I'll PM you that stuff. Also, no way to do a push button starter? And is there any way I can tell if I have a transponder? :beer:

Even if you put a push button starter, the steering wheel would still be locked right?

Originally posted by Brad
Even if you put a push button starter, the steering wheel would still be locked right?

Dammitt forgot about that. I think my TJ's wheel doesn't lock any more??

Not sure though...but there's gotta be a way around it. :D

Originally posted by Jason R


Dammitt forgot about that. I think my TJ's wheel doesn't lock any more??

Not sure though...but there's gotta be a way around it. :D

BFH and a chisel, maybe a slide hammer in the ignition like in movies:D I know you can bypass this on a GM column, might have to take all that pretty trim off and check it out.