Replacement 5th Generation Chevrolet Camaro Key Design Loses Switchblade Style: Video
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General Motors recalled every 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro ever built last month due to a faulty ignition switch which may allow the key to be knocked loose if it is bumped by the driver’s knee. Fixes for GM’s other ignition switch recalls, including the one which plagued Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other small cars, have so far proved to be complicated with backordered parts and a prolonged repair schedule. However the fix for the Camaro is simple and easy, if a YouTube video dug up by LSXTV is any indication.
In the video, Bob Stall Chevrolet employee Mike Polite shows the Camaro’s ‘switchblade’ key with the key element removed and attached to a normal fixed key. This will reduce the chances of the key from being bumped loose and because it’s easier to produce keys than it is entire ignition switches and ignition cylinders, Camaro owners should be able to have their car fixed in a reasonable amount of time.
Polite says the fix won’t stop the key from being bumped out of the ignition switch completely, but will reduce the chances of drivers hitting the key with their knee as the conventional key is smaller than the ‘switchblade’ style fob.
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“Not a bad solution”
If I was a 5th Gen Camaro owner, I’d be calling up GM and asking for a FOB’s worth of a refund. If I bought a car with a switchblade FOB, I’d expect a credit if that was being scrapped.
That is unacceptable. We as owners cant agree with the resolve. Is look very ugly. At least a decent beeper must be included. Not good or fair enough at all to those who invested that amount of money. GM you are so wrong.
To hell with this recall. There is no way on God’s green earth I’m going to get this done. I’m sorry (not sorry), but you have to be pretty darn special to hit the key with your knee… and by special, I mean stupid.
Me neither. I have intentionally tried to turn the key with my knee–no can do.
I didn’t want to give mine up either and didn’t, until the key broke off the key fob this week while it wasn’t even in the ignition. I was pissed. I took it in to my dealer who said they have to replace the 21st Century style technology, which I paid for, with crappy 20th Century style solution. I agree this is unacceptable as a solution for something I paid for when I paid for a fully loaded SS.
This is what is in play.
GM is just hacking the key off giving you back a FOB that has a big gap on the side with a separate key.
Now the recall is really bogus as the odds of kicking the key off is slim to none. GM I really do not expect many to bring the car in for this as it is clear on the forum sites that most owners will not take their car in.
Many dealers are doing videos to send out the warning of that the recall will do and that the issue Is really not a real issue.
Here is a video that really shows what is up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ07t3G3pYE&feature=player_embedded
I have one of these keys with my GMC and it would be a cold day before I would let them do this. GM really should have offered a better solution or just not even done this recall as it is not realistic.
Either way I suspect that if GM deals with anything more than the unsold cars and the few percentage of people with no clue of what they will do are the only ones they will see.
There is no way that I would stand for any part of my car being defaced in that fashion. Absolutely not. I’d take the (unlikely) risk that my normal (read that as human) knee hitting the regular keyfob and shutting down the car. After all, what I would need to do is remember that my knee just hit the fob, make the connection with the shut down engine, and then turn the key again for a simple, and quick restart. People today are just too dumbed down to think before, during, and after their daily commutes.
So the majority have to suffer with this Bulls*** just because a couple 100 people decided they were gonna be f****ing retards and decide not to adjust their seats properly? I’m sorry my brother drives a genesis coupe, that thing is just as cramped as the camaro, not to mention he’s 6 foot 3, 280 lbs, he’s pretty big, and I’ve never seen his knees come withing an inch of the steering column, let alone the key fob. I say, this is the old GM at work again, instead of looking for the cheapest solution possible, how about taking the time to replace the switch, and telling customers “hey, it’s not a giant issue, but we’ll still take care of it the best way we can”?
Forget it, I’m not taking my fob in for this baloney. I just watched the clip scott3 referenced in his post. It would seem if your knee hit the fob you’d have bigger problems than inadvertently turning off the switch.
Why is there any type of key involved at all, these vehicles should have been produced with keyless entry and push button start.
Having to wait for this recall with my ordered 1le sitting at the dealer for two weeks, I would of accepted it with a toilet seat attached. The benefit of this fob abortion is that when you feel for your fob in the dark the void tells you which one. I hope gm spends the money to design a fob replacment or a snap on led flashlight
If I was waiting for this recall on a new car I would fight the dealer on doing it. They would give me the unaltered new key or I would void the deal.
I am sorry to say unless they are pushed into it you will end up with a new car and a hacked fob.
As for you reality the fact is the push buttons are a pain in the ass and look horrible on the door. A remote button is the way to go.
As for push button ignitions I am waiting for the issues on them to crop up. Right now if you get a hung throttle or other issue you just hit the key and kill the engine in that instant. On a push button you have to hold it in and wait. I expect someone will have an accident some where and this too will come under fire for not instantly shutting off.
and again i won’t get my key done, theres no way my knee will hit
Yea, took my car in for service and was told about the recall. I figured it needed to be done (without doing any checking on what the recall was actually about). I was told I’d get two new keys. I was very unhappy with what i received when I picked up my car.
I like my switchblade key and won’t be getting this done.
I don’t like this solution. Better if GM install the push start button.
Remember guys it’s not just a knee issue hitting the key Fob. I had a hot drink spill on me and reached down to grab the cup.
Guess what? I hit the key Fob with my arm and the car shut off. Once that happens you have no control over the car.
Too me it was worth changing out the Fob to 2 separate keys after that incident.
Had another friend that her key got stuck in the Fob and couldn’t get it out.
Food for thought.
why are you reaching down for a cup while driving?!?!? Pay attention to the road!!! Food for taught.
I brought my vehicle into the dealership today for the recall not realizing that the key was going to change. i was under the impression that i would get two new keys. I was and still am FURIOUS at the end result. I made a complaint to the dealership as well as to General Motors. I find that the fix for the ignition recall is TOTALLY TACKY AND TASTELESS!!!! They need to figure out a fix for this and fast!!!! They went about this the cheap way and I am not satisfied!!!
I brought my vehicle into the dealership today for the recall not realizing that the key was going to change. i was under the impression that i would get two new keys. I was and still am FURIOUS for the result. I am not satisfied!!! This is realy BAD.
Estoy realmente enojada con este cambio de llaves, pense que me iban a dar dos nuevas, y salen con 2 llaves que lucen realy chip como si estubiera manejando un bocho por favor esto es malisimo me enoje tanto. Im realy unhappy.
No way in hell!! I refuse to let this happen. I like my Camaro SS the way it is, Thanks but No Thanks.
Very Disappointed with the way they left my keys separated.
Looks like we went back to Gen 1 from Gen 5. Totally tasteless looks idiotic.
Make it keyless entry and push start. WHY THE HELL UR STICKING TO TRADITIONAL WAY.