on all orders over $150*
on all orders over $150*
At the end of 2021, we released a video showing how and why these Ram ProMaster ignitions break, how to get them out, and everything you need to get it done. The good feedback and all the orders for the ignitions and kits have been amazing. But something that we've been asked a lot more about is, ‘How do I rekey them?’
To answer that question, we're going to key up an ignition and hook you up with a PDF document that goes over everything that I will be talking about, so when your time comes to rekey one, you're going to be able to have success rekeying these Ram ignitions!
DECODING THE KEY
If you have an existing key that you need to rekey a new ignition to, hopefully, you have a machine where you can decode it quickly and know what the bitting is. If you don't, here’s an easy method that is going to help you know what the bitting is, so you don't have to spend all of your time trying to figure that out.
In the PDF document, you're going to see these depths. There are going to be four of them with the increments under there for each one.
Take a pair of normal calibers and turn on. Hold the key (use the image below as reference) and measure the distance from the top of this cut to the top of the key.
There are going to be eight cuts along the key.
To measure what number you need, look at the PDF and then measure each cut. The first cut measures 0.070.
If we look at our paper, we can see that number four is a .072. So, we know that the first cut is going to be a number four. Continue doing it through the whole key. You can decode it easily that way without any equipment.
Of course, if you have equipment too, you can pop it in a Triton Plus or a Futura Auto.
PINNING KIT
Once you get this kit, get it prepared. Take a piece of wafer and tape one of each. It’ll be really helpful because getting them mixed up is always a bummer.
REKEYING THE IGNITION
Take the ignition apart, get rid of all the little pieces until we have a clean cylinder.
If you take number one wafer on side A and other wafer on side B and point them in the same direction, you’ll see the part that reads the key. The subtle part here is on the opposite side.
Since this ignition has a sidebar, it’s important when installing the wafers to make sure that the little notches are going to be facing the sidebar.
On the lid of the pinning kit, you’ll see A1, B1, C1, D1, and A2, B2, C2, D2. Depending on what code software you are using, you might see A, B, C, D or 1, 2, 3, 4. They mean the same thing.
A spring was in the cylinder before I installed a wafer from D. When done, insert the key. If the sidebar is flat, the installation of wafer is good. If it's not flat, it's wrong.
Before installing the second wafer, pull the key out and cover the first installed wafer using a rubber band to prevent it from popping out. Make sure that there is enough space for you to install the second wafer. In this case, the second wafer is from B or number 2. Once installed, insert the key and check the sidebar.
Repeat the same process. You can add more rubber band if needed. Do not forget to move the rubber band as you go further and check the sidebar after each wafer installation.
IMPORTANT TIP
Once done with the installation of wafers, keep the key intact to the cylinder and take the rubber band off. Put this little bar in.
It should look like this.
Pull the key back enough until the bar drops down. Do it sideways to prevent the pins from falling. Put the cover in.
Put the cover and push it all the way until you hear a pop. By then you can turn it to get it to the lock and unlock spot.
There you have it! I hope this is helpful and useful. It can be a little bit of a pain, but doable. It might take you 10 minutes or less to pin one of these apps. But if you're charging right, you are not only going to make money, but you're going to make your customers happy because they're going to be able to use their existing key as well as the door and the ignition. If you have any extra helpful tips or tricks on how to rekey it, definitely let us know. Thank you, and we'll see you next time.
