key question

So i was just wondering for a while now, what has GM done to the newer ignition colums from the older ones, i remember on the early and mid 90's the GM igniton key had a black little chip on it, and before that (70's and 80's i belive) there was no chip at all, just a key (which i herd the 70's and 80's were very easy to steal too by breaking the side colum). how have they made these newer keys like my 98 grand prix has? i herd there was an internal chip inside the key or something, but i have a copy of a copied key that i use and never had the original, so it got me wondering too if my copy has a chip or not.

The keys have a transistor in them, and that's why the key blanks are more expensive than normal keys (like a house key for example). Did you purchase your key blanks at a dealer? i believe you need the vin to get the proper key blank.

GM currently has two types of anti-deterrent key systems. Passkey and Passlock. The Grand Prixs have Passkey. Yours should be a Passkey II system.

The key should have a resistor pellet.

actually i got my key copied at the local home depot here, they just asked the car year make and model, and they looked it up and the blank key had a number for my type of car. so then the newer keys like this do have an internal thing instead of the older ones that had the black chip on the outside?

actually i got my key copied at the local home depot here, they just asked the car year make and model, and they looked it up and the blank key had a number for my type of car. so then the newer keys like this do have an internal thing instead of the older ones that had the black chip on the outside?

Something is not right here. You might consider giving Rich your VIN number. I've never seen a '97 and up GTP without Passkey and the resistor pellet. We need to see what anti-theft deterrent option you have installed. Didn't you have RCDLR and BCM problems in the past? Has the Passkey been bypassed?

yeah i got a new BCM and took it to the dealer and they programmed it, and my remote keyless entry never worked... rich looked up my number before and it said i diddnt have the theft alarm, the remote i have is just the 3 buttion. maybe that would have something to do with why my key is wierd? ill get rich my vin number when i get home so we can see whats goin on, if any of you may remember, i think GTPdad helped me out, i had this fixed a while ago but i used to not have to press the brake down to shift out of park, but would that be related to the key stuff? maybe something with my ignition was messed up. but ill get my vin posted. thanks again in advance!

k rich my full vin number is 1g2wp5218wf217587

no one ever ran my vin number to see whats in my ignition security system :( if someone can do so that would be great, thanks!