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[duxy]

hi, can any body tell me wether I have to re programme  key or alarm if I change  ignition barrel and key.
my local garage says I have to have this done. need some help on this matter. I have tried to grease tumbler but not helping much, some times works but seems to be getting harder to turn on ignition.

[zirk]

No you don't if you retain the Immobiliser Chip and Alarm PCB from the original key. 

[b4ndit]

Just done mine with a new barrel from the main dealers and no problems at all

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Yep, same as ʞɹᴉz/zirk says, that's a mechanical system. the immobiliser is a separate system. (though the chip is in the key of course, but this could be sellotaped to a credit card if you wanted, makes no odds)

I even did it with a PFL key and barrel in a FL, with the FL immobiliser chip still in the FL key, which was held it against the ring for a second during ignition. (the chip can then dangle around, be in your pocket, even. The chip doesn't need to be against the ring all the time for running)

Options-
Get a full key and immobiliser set from a breaker on here
Get just a key and barrel, swap over your chip. Be aware the glovebox and driver's door will be a different key, you'll need to retain that original key for those purposes.
Get replacement sliders for the lock. These can be got as a kit for £20 approx,
Get replacement sliders for free... nick the barely used ones from your glovebox. 1 hour and you're back on the road with peace of mind. It's basically the same lock, they share the same sliders. Glovebox lock have less sliders, so theoretically there's more keys out there which would fit that lock, but if a car thief is already at the stage where they're sitting on your seat trying a bunch of Vauxhall keys I think your car's security is already 'breached'

You can get spare sliders from any glovebox, each slider is numbered. There's only [I think] 9 versions/types of slider, but the number of slots for them to sit in means there's many tens of thousands of combinations. I've made a spare glovebox lock doing this, and most of the way to making a spare ignition barrel, too. Just pick them up from scrap cars as and when. 

[05omegav6]

A complete lock set with two/three keys shouldn't break the bank... and extra chips are peanuts

Programming the chips shouldn't cost the earth either, provided you have the car pass of course...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

As the owner of a 1996 Omega I feel something of an affinity with you 

As said above, it won't cost the earth for a replacement set.

Best advice I can give is to do something asap... hat's ASAP. I left mine for literally a couple of days, until I weighed up the options, and in that time the barrel went from sticking once or twice to jammed solid. (they can go months and months before they go)

So
-Pop the cowl off (screw underneath, and turn the wheel to expose two screws one at a time)
-Reveals the lock barrel. follow it along its length, inward, toward the steering column, you'll see what looks like a 5mm hole drilled forwards, toward the front of the car.
-Key in. Turn to position II
-Allen key in, might need a good force, in fact, you can be as forceful as you like. It's actuating a lever not unlike the latch on your front room door.
-Barrel pops out, complete with key

Now choose what to do...

I was lucky, I had a spare car up the drive at the time (that car is now my daily driver) to nick the barrel out of as a 'get me back on the road' measure.

Reason I say get the thing out ASAP is to get that old jammed barrel out it took me about 3 hours of fighting, screaming, levers, picking tools, the lot to get the broken one out. You need the key in and turned to position II to remove the barrel. But it cost me an evening, and a taxi fare to get my girlfriend to an appointment the next day, then myself to work - because I didn't jump up and fix it right away.
The fix was a barrel from the breakers for the sum of a fiver. But the cost was far higher, not just monetary. 

My contingency plan was to simply remove the levers from the barrel and run the car without any for a day or two. Ok, this means if your car gets broken into they can turn the barrel with a nail file, but they will still have an immobiliser to bypass, so it won't have got them anywhere. So in the short term you haven't compromised your car security.

Like I say, short term is to nab the ones from your glovebox (or door lock to be fair, apples and oranges which is easier to do)

Most breakers on here will have the MFL-onward keys, not the slimmer, slicker, all-round sexier key type like yours and mine  But worth an ask anyway. Oh, and yes, you can fit a MFL / FL key and barrel, you'll just have a fatter key with two/three redundant buttons, as the remote locking will still activate using the separate fob. 

Hope that's cleared up a few points for you. If you have any further questions, feel free to just ask 

[duxy]

high guys, got new barrel from main dealers.
trying to fit but cant see 5mm hole, there is a small electrical box under barrel , what is this for and do I have to remove it to remove barrel?

[duxy]

hello mate when u got your new barrel for your ignition, did your original key fit new barrel. I got mine from main vx dealer using my car pass but my key don't  fit new barrel.
looking at the cut of temp key its not the same. defo original  barrel on car.

[05omegav6]

Lock barrel is probably worn as well... Can be cleaned up as per guide