Automotive Locksmith Question

[Kodiak]

If a vehicle is stolen and the lock destroyed in the process, is it common practice to replace locks on both car doors?

I purchased a used car some months ago and the two identical keys I received with it do not operate the driver or passenger door. They do however open the trunk and operate the ignition. The only reason I can comprehend for this is that the car was once stolen or broken into and the owner had the locks replaced. However, why wouldn't the locksmith key the doors to match the previous locks and the ignition?

Is there an automotive locksmith that can shed some light on this? If it is any help the vehicle is a '97 Ford Thunderbird.

[linty]

i do this sometimes when somebody loses a key or has it stolen, and don't want to spend the money rekeying ignition and trunk. since the person can no longer get into the car, it doesn't matter that they have the ignition key.

[linty]

sorry, to clarify. i rekey the two doors to a new key.

[Krypos]

make sure the car isnt currently stolen. maybe it was broken into and then those keys were rekeyed and they dont have the door keys because of the same reasons.

make sure its not stolen!

[2octops]

People are cheap and some will not spend the money on having all of the locks changed. Many will just go to the auto parts store or junkyard and buy door locks and put them in themselves.

Pull the door locks and take them to a locksmith and either have a key fit to them or have them rekeyed to match the other key.

[Spike666]

everyones got it right.. people are cheep. who knows why yours is the way it is? but there are 5000 reasons. probably money, sometimes whats easy or convienent.
you can have the door locks changed to match or change them all.

[CVScam]

I work at a car dealership and I just have to ask you how bought a used car that you don't have a key to unlock the doors to. I can imagine that you have been locked out of the car a number of times already.

[2octops]

I work at a car dealership and I just have to ask you how bought a used car that you don't have a key to unlock the doors to. I can imagine that you have been locked out of the car a number of times already.

It's not all that uncommon really.

I know a salesman that has sold several just last year that had absolutely no keys at all. After he sold them, the customer had me come out to the lot and fit keys to the car and THE CUSTOMER PAID THE BILL.

Now, THAT'S a real used car salesman!

[Kodiak]

I work at a car dealership and I just have to ask you how bought a used car that you don't have a key to unlock the doors to.

I purchased the car from a private seller, not a dealership. The car has keyless entry so when I inspected it I foolishly assumed that the keys would fit the doors and didn't bother to try them. However, If the keyless entry should fail I'll be locked out so I will look into getting the locks rekeyed.

[Shrub]

I replace the full lockset,

Petrol cap, boot lock, door locks and ignition,

The old keys are then removed from the ecu and new ones made,

If a lockie doesnt have a codeing machine they will often leave the ignition if an original key is available and leave the chips alone just changing the door locks,

As for doors being odd locks i suggest one of the doors is a replacement from a scrap yard and the original lock left in, may not be the case but a possability, you will see this in the sun light by the panels being a differant colour,

[Kodiak]

The doors being replaced is certainly a possibility. But barring a pretty serious accident I can't understand why both doors would be replaced. The car shows no signs of being in an accident but the trim by one of the windows does seem to be a little more faded on one door than another.

I think your on to something here Shrub. Thanks for all the replies!

[Shrub]

I dont know what the state of play is around there but here things like car doors tend to rot quite badly depending on storage, vehicle and age,

Maybe it was a repair for poor bodywork more than dents,