88towmanche Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 88 MJ came with two keys: Round (oval) for the doors and square (rectangle) for the ignition - this is how I remember old Chevy's were keyed so seemed correct to me when I got it. 88 XJ came with just the one square key - opens the doors and the ignition - this sound correct? Have no idea why it would be this way from factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 It may not be a factory key. Does it work for the glove box too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 You can easily rekey the lock cylinders to match your ignition. Not wise or practical but easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 My 89 has the square ignition key and round door key as well. The keys do not fit in the wrong locks as the keyways are mirrored. I wonder how they did it. Do the locks work smoothly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88towmanche Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, Dzimm said: It may not be a factory key. Does it work for the glove box too? Don't know - will check tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88towmanche Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share Posted March 4, 2020 51 minutes ago, Minuit said: My 89 has the square ignition key and round door key as well. The keys do not fit in the wrong locks as the keyways are mirrored. I wonder how they did it. Do the locks work smoothly? Only really messed around with the rear hatch - square key locks/unlocks that one fine, will confirm the doors and glove box tonight. Don't lock the doors at the house and haven't been driving it around as it needs a number of things attended to before road worthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 5 hours ago, 88towmanche said: 88 MJ came with two keys: Round (oval) for the doors and square (rectangle) for the ignition - this is how I remember old Chevy's were keyed so seemed correct to me when I got it. 88 XJ came with just the one square key - opens the doors and the ignition - this sound correct? Have no idea why it would be this way from factory. Nope. I bought my '88 XJ new. Two keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 5 hours ago, eaglescout526 said: You can easily rekey the lock cylinders to match your ignition. Not wise or practical but easier. No, you can't. I've covered this before. The ignition is a 6-bit (6 tumblers) key. The door key is a 5-bit key. I discussed this at some length with a professional locksmith and he told me that, because of the different number of tumblers in the same length keyway, it can't be made to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 1 minute ago, Eagle said: No, you can't. I've covered this before. The ignition is a 6-bit (6 tumblers) key. The door key is a 5-bit key. I discussed this at some length with a professional locksmith and he told me that, because of the different number of tumblers in the same length keyway, it can't be made to work. Oh yeah that's right. I forgot the ignition key is a 6 code. Then something is funky with the PO's key cylinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdog Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Can you lock it with other keys, wonder if they just pulled the tumblersStock 1988 swb 4.0 ax15 np 231. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limeyjeeper Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 You can key the 91's the same I just did it for mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeptec1 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 All my early MJ,s and XJ,s pre 91 use the oval key for door locks, glove box tail gate. Square for ignition. They used GM locks and keys. Chrysler owned Jeep staring in 87 but the Chrysler changes did happen til 91. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Could the single key setup be an aftermarket replacement kit? I could see some aftermarket places advertising it as a one key for all upgrade type of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88towmanche Posted March 5, 2020 Author Share Posted March 5, 2020 13 hours ago, Eagle said: No, you can't. I've covered this before. The ignition is a 6-bit (6 tumblers) key. The door key is a 5-bit key. I discussed this at some length with a professional locksmith and he told me that, because of the different number of tumblers in the same length keyway, it can't be made to work. Ok - well this weird then - the square key unlocks both doors and the hatch and works in the ignition. Does not work for the glove box. I thought maybe the door and hatch locks were trashed or something and would open with any key or a screwdriver so I messed around seeing if the MJ keys or a few other keys I had laying around worked....nope. The passenger side lock is wonky - sloppy fit, gotta jiggle the key to get it done, the hatch and drivers door lock/unlock smoothly with the key - ignition same. So, have no idea how this is possible - must have been messed with by previous owners - probably easy enough to fix by buying the door/hatch locks from a JY XJ if I need to change (provided they have the round key to go with) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88towmanche Posted March 5, 2020 Author Share Posted March 5, 2020 2 hours ago, dasbulliwagen said: Could the single key setup be an aftermarket replacement kit? I could see some aftermarket places advertising it as a one key for all upgrade type of thing. Gotta be it - didn't come that way from factory, no question (to my non-locksmith-expertise observations) the square key for this 88 MJ works both the door locks and igntion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derf Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 12 hours ago, jeeptec1 said: All my early MJ,s and XJ,s pre 91 use the oval key for door locks, glove box tail gate. Square for ignition. They used GM locks and keys. Chrysler owned Jeep staring in 87 but the Chrysler changes did happen til 91. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk All AMC vehicles used GM key configurations. It took several years to get converted over to Chrysler setups. It was probably a combination of production contracts (agreeing to buy columns/locks for x number of years) and just working in the design change to a production year. Or in the case of the full size Grand Wagoneer, they didn't bother because they were already working on killing it off and didn't want to change too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawidBrook Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Can a locksmith program such keys at their stores or dealership is the only option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howeitsdone Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 Call around to your local locksmiths. It's very hard to find one that can still work with GM 6 wafer. I called close to 10 when I lived north of ATL and none of them could do it. Your best bet is to just replace the locks unless you find one that does it. IIRC it's actually cheaper to replace the cylinders then have someone re-key too. There is no "Programming", just cut keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 I took an ignition cylinder from a same year XJ to a locksmith. He reprogrammed it to match my original keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Janitor Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 I replaced my ignition switch and then had got some OEM key blanks off ebay. Took them to a local locksmith and made to match. I put 97 doors on my rig so I had to get a separate later year Chryco key made for that. One of my favorite mods tho is having Jeep branded keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1987Comanche Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 Standard GM is round key for exterior doors, trunk, glove box and square for ignition. However, it was different when they first went to the square/round setup. My '69 Cutlass uses the square key for doors & ignition, and the round key is for glove box and center console lock. Briggs & Stratton/Strattec is a great source of info if you fish around a bit. The 1980s and 1990s ones are around, I just pulled the below link as a quick example. https://aftermarket.strattec.com/application/files/1315/5181/3647/1974_Briggs___Stratton_Catalog.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 On 8/17/2022 at 12:37 PM, DawidBrook said: Can a locksmith program such keys at their stores or dealership is the only option? Few dealerships even have the tool or the codes to cut new keys for an '88 XJ or MJ. A good locksmith can do it -- good luck finding a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Comanche Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 Yeah I got a oval and square key too. Square for ignition and round for doors and glove box [never locked it, cannot confirm it it works on it] but man....when I bought this truck from my grandfather when I was 19 this confused me so much....never had vehicle that required two keys before. Took a while to get used to. But with time it became 2nd nature. He also gave me a whole new spare set?? I have the set I use and I have another that also does work, just have them in case somthing happens. Very cool to see this was something they did from the factory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxyjeep Posted August 18, 2022 Share Posted August 18, 2022 I have a 91+ column and 97+ doors. I rekeyed the doors and glove box to match the ignition lock with the newer black plastic "Jeep" key. I'm a big fan of re-keying. Every locked door in my home is a single key and I made sure to do the same with my Jeep. I can't imaging having 2 or more keys for the various locks in my vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NathanBlackburn Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 a Locksmith rekeyd the door and the glove box but still i am having issues with the ignition lock, any ideas whom to call for better assistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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