ignition lube

[Ken M]

06 silverado 1500 with passlock theft-deterent system. Can I lube the ignition switch with either graphite grease or WD40 with out messing up the system? Key was hard to remove today.

Topic

[TexasCoder]

I owned a 2004 silverado with the passlock, I use to always spray my key down, then insert the key into the ignition and door key holes. That way I never actually spray down into the ignition or door cylinders.

For all the years I owned it, I never had one trouble with the pass lock system, I would not recommend taking the can and spraying it directly into the ignition, but if you spray your key and then insert it into the cylinders, you should be fine.

Double check your key and make sure it does not have any sticky substance or fair amount of dirt/grease build up, if it does, wash the key first before lubing it and the key cylinders.

[EricTheCarGuy]

NEVER use wet lubricants on lock assemblies it gums them up, use graphite only, it works great and won’t mess up the electronics. BTW most key electronics are not in the lock assembly itself.

[dreamer2355]

Thanks for the tip on the graphite lube. I know some ‘old timers’ use that same lube on speedometer cables that run into the back of the instrument clusters on older vehicles too if they start to ‘chirp’.

[Trcustoms719]

1+ on Erics post.
I would not use spray lube in the ignition switch.

[Author]

Replies