If what your trying to remove is a metal rod, it's the rod that moves the ignition switch;
If your talking about a wire harness, it's the security system.

If you use the Vin to have the key cut, you will have a key that fits the ignition and the door cylinders.
And most important, it will work with the security system.
Might end up being the best $200 you've ever spent.

 

Not wire cable or rod [ older type not a 2001 ] .

I left out SHIELDED " CABLE "
It's much like most shielded cables speed-o , motorcycle throttle etc. , maybe plastic center moving part down the cable , From the cast steering column mount for the lock cylinder .

 

Throw us a picture, I suspect it's the mechanical link to the ignition switch

 

I'l see if I can load tomorrow , the switch plugs into the bottom of this holder .

 

You can go to the dealer and with VIN# and registration proof insurance and drivers license get a new key made for about $20 i got one made for my 2006 Cadillac XLR.

 

I called a GM dealer and they quoted me a price about 10 times higher ?

 

What year is your truck because the key isn't that much 1999 to 2007 GMT800 has no chip in the key so you can just get the key, now the FOB is another entirely different thing.

 

Ignition key is cheap. Got it from Walmart for my 2001.
The keyless fob is something else.
$75 for programming plus cost of keyless fob from dealership.

 

Picture of cable

 

Assumed like other sites that car / truck details were off to the side , now that you ask I look & reminded that not on this - is the details not posted , oh well .
It is a 2001 Sierra 2500HD .

" Just get the key " any details ?
Or did you read my posts , seems like some read part , or not all , besides me leaving some details out ;(

 

you lost the key or the key is worn out . dealership will give you the correct key with the security code in the KEY !
the BCM computer device will start the engine with the key security code ..now the key should be 2001 gm truck , cost is around 20-30 bucks..
in todays world new vehicles 200-400 bucks ...

 

Trying to get back on track , disconnecting cable to cylinder holder , then to remove lock cylinder ?
Picture above

People say I can get a key for $20 , you need to prove that somehow , that is not what the dealer said when I called ?

 

You can get a key for $20, I have one.
It's just a plain aluminum key.
I have, on too many occasions, locked my keys in the truck, I have a plain key to open the door, I was told, do not try to start the truck with it.

 

You do not say how , you just say you got one , again for the 3rd , 4th time I've called the dealer .

Then you say " I was told, do not try to start the truck with it " , now your post doesn't make sense ?

And still no answer on disconnecting the cable ?

 

Ok, you need to start paying attention to what's being typed

I said I had a $20 dollar key.
I also said it was only for opening the door.
I also said do not use it to start the truck.

I also told you the truck has a double security system.
I also told you the key is part of that security system.
I also told you that the new key requires programing.

And I also told you that spending $200 for a new key, properly programmed, would be the cheapest solution to your problem.

Now your cable.
The picture is too small to see what is holding it; but it is either a clip on the outside that needs to be raised, or it's a latch on the inside that needs to be pushed, or lifted.
You think you need a key to remove it. I believe you require a key to separate the cylinder from the assembly, I do not think you need a key to remove the cable attached to the assembly.

Now, what are you thinking of doing when you get the cable disconnected?

Whatever you do, you will still need a key, and it will still need to be programmed.

Save yourself some grief, put it together and get a proper key, that is the cheapest solution.

 

My bad, I have a spare key for Walmart to make a copy for cheap.

You don't have a key, so save yourself some trouble disassembling the ignition key cylinder to get it rekeyed by a locksmith, listen to Ray and that will be the most cost effective way to get a key.

 

YOU KEEP SAYING GET A PROPER KEY ???

I said 4-5 times I called a dealer and they said $100s of dollars ???

I figured that once I get the cable disconnected , I would take to a locksmith [ rather than pay for the mobile fee ] .

Ok the picture could be better for you to figure out .

But I was hoping for someone that already knew / was familiar with could see what they were talking about ?
And could help with info to disconnect ?

 

And Grasshopper, I'll continue to say: GET A PROPER KEY.

The proper key is a dealer cut, or a locksmith cut key. A key cut from the trucks VIN.

Your talking about removing the key assembly to get a locksmith to cut a key.
Ok, you remove the key assembly and take it to the locksmith.
He cuts the key and it turns the lock, now what? How do you bypass the security system?
You don't, your cheap key will let you turn the cylinder and start the truck, 10 secs later the security system will kick in and kill the engine. Now what do you do?

A GM dealer and a good locksmith will cut a key from the VIN, the VIN info will let them start with a key blank that has the proper transponder, this key will work when you insert it. The programing is done because the key has the correct transponder codes. The truck will start and you and it will be happy.

You can argue all you like; but the cheapest way to fix your problem is to get the correct key cut at a locksmith, or at the dealer.

 

From the beginning , before coming here I went to a few locksmiths , then call more , also called dealer --- no one of these was cheaper that around $200 .

So no matter how many people / repeat $20 - does not change things at my end , so the reason for removing lock cylinder .

So for you folks who say $20 , give me your dealers contact info [ after you have called & or done this ] ?

Those that keep saying get a key for $20 , are the one arguing - as if I have not tried !

 

Understand this: you can not buy a key that will work for $20, stop wishing for the impossible.

 

That's what I have been saying !

And still no answer to the question - disconnecting the cable ?

 

You can probably find a Youtube vid on disconnecting the cable.

 

That's why I'm asking here , more direct , or at least I was under the impression [ apparently wrong ] it was a shorter route .
Or at least help to a shorter search on youtube [ need to know what the cable does , or what to call it in the youtube search ] .
Been there done that also , but without the correct term , it's many hours of time spent looking .

 

steering wheel lock. maybe. is about the only thing I can think of but I have never worked on this era of truck. follow the cable to whereever it goes. disconnect the other end.

that looks a lot different than the gmt400's. on my old trucks the key is the only way to do anything to the ignition, it doesn't really come apart like this.

let us know how you make out. as far as I know these trucks ignition keys have to be programmed and there is no way around it.

 

I made a spare key last yr. , does not have a chip , no programing required .

Then when I lost my regular key , couldn't find the copy , doggey-dew .

 

You started this 3 days ago, that's all ready "many hours spent" and you still want to remove it.

I've spent 3 days trying to tell you not to remove it, one of us is going to give up after this post.

For the last time, if you remove the lock assembly and take it to a locksmith, he has 2 choices.
1 - if you give him the VIN he can cut you a key that works with the security system.
or
2 - if you do not give him the VIN, he can cut you a key that will not work with the security system until you get the security system reprogrammed to work with this key.

In case #1, you do not need to remove the lock assembly and you will have a key that works.

In case #2, you need the lock assembly so he can cut a key that works with the cylinder; but, and for the last time, it will not work with the security system, and the truck will not run.

In case #1, cost: $200

In case #2, cost: $50 for key and $200 to reprogram the security system.

Or, if you try key #2 without programing the security system, it will cost you $50 for the key and $300 to #500 to fix the security system.

Your choice, I'm done.

 

No security system , for key , the spare copy worked , but lost also .

So I guess forums groups nowadays are not populated by techs , just social groups ?

3 days and most do not reply to the question , - this is turned into " kill the messenger " , and all those giving non answers - so not most will be pissed of at me - imagine you asked a question and mostly no answers , or one that did not apply ?

Not a chipped key , and no answer to disconnecting cable , if that cannot be fathomed , oh well .

So the cheapest is ebay about $85 for lock cylinder - ignition & 2 door keys - then I'll drill out the old cylinder .