2004 Chevrolet Colorado Key Replacement in Los Angeles

The 2004–2012 Colorado uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Chevrolet Colorado key guide.

2004 Chevrolet Colorado: key facts

Key type: Mechanical (no chip)
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: none (Passlock — no chip in key)
Programming: NONE
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Passlock: the security sensor lives in the ignition lock cylinder, not the key — a correctly cut key starts the vehicle with no programming. Security-light no-starts usually mean a failed Passlock sensor, and a 30-minute (3x10-minute) relearn is required after ignition-cylinder or BCM replacement.

What kind of key does a 2004 Colorado use, and what does that mean for you?

The 2004 Colorado uses a mechanical key. There is no push-to-start, and there is no chip inside the key head. Chevrolet put the anti-theft system, called Passlock, in the truck instead of in the key. The security sensor lives in the ignition lock cylinder.

For you, that makes a replacement simpler than on many later vehicles. If the key is cut correctly, it turns the ignition and the truck starts. Nothing has to be programmed to the truck, and no special scan tool is needed to pair the key. Our key-facts table above shows the same details for this exact year.

It also means a key that looks right can still fail for mechanical reasons. A blade that is cut slightly off, or a lock that has worn over the years, will cause trouble. Those are physical problems, and we fix them with cutting and lock work.

Duplicate key or all keys lost: how does it work on this truck?

Both situations are workable on a 2004 Colorado. You do not need an original key in hand to get a new one made, and having every key lost does not stop us.

Duplicate: if you still have a working key, we can copy it. If the blade is badly worn, we may cut from the lock instead, because a copy of a worn key carries the wear forward.
All keys lost: we can make a key for the truck without an existing one. Because there is no chip to pair, the job is cutting and fitting, not programming.
Spare key: the best time to have one made is while the current key still works. It is the simpler and more economical route compared with an emergency call after the last key is gone.

What if the truck has a security light and won't stay running?

A good key does not always mean a running truck. The most common problem on this setup is a failed Passlock sensor in the ignition cylinder. The usual signs are a security light that stays on, and an engine that starts and then dies, even with a key that is cut right.

Replacing the key will not fix that. Swapping keys on a failed sensor only costs you money, so it is worth sorting out before anyone cuts anything. If the ignition cylinder or the body control module gets replaced, the truck needs a relearn procedure afterward. That relearn takes 30 minutes, run as three 10-minute cycles.

Two other problems come up on this truck:

Worn ignition lock wafers on high-mileage trucks. The key sticks or will not turn. A new key sometimes helps, but often the cylinder itself is what is worn.
Worn or damaged key blades that no longer turn the locks. This is the plain case where cutting a fresh key solves it.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the cost of a 2004 Colorado key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the real cost depends on what the truck needs. These are the factors that move it:

Whether you need a copy or a key made with none to copy from. Having a working key is usually the more economical route.
Whether the problem is the key at all. A cut key is a lighter job than work on the ignition cylinder.
If the cylinder has failed, the cost of the part and the labor, plus the relearn afterward.
Where the truck is. A mobile call to your location differs from you coming to our storefront.
Time of day. We answer around the clock, and after-hours work is priced differently from daytime work.

One honest note, and why call Wilshire Lock & Key

The data for this model year is verified: no chip, no programming, mechanical key. Even so, we confirm by VIN and in person before cutting. That catches any truck whose ignition has been swapped or modified over the years, and it keeps us from guessing.

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans. You deal with one company, not a dispatch middleman, and David oversees the work as owner and lead technician. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start.

For the wider picture, see our Chevrolet Colorado key pages, the Chevrolet key overview, or all our car key services. If you want to talk it through, contact us or call (213) 577-1366 any hour.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado key have a chip?

No. The 2004 Colorado uses Passlock, and the security sensor is in the ignition lock cylinder rather than in the key. The key is a mechanical key with no transponder chip.

Does the key need to be programmed?

No. A correctly cut key starts the truck without programming. A relearn is only needed after the ignition cylinder or body control module has been replaced.

Can you make a key if I lost all of them?

Yes. All keys lost is possible on this truck, and you do not need an original key. We confirm by VIN and in person, then cut and fit a key.

My truck starts and then dies with the security light on. Is it the key?

Usually not. That pattern most often points to a failed Passlock sensor in the ignition cylinder, and a new key will not fix it. We check that before cutting anything.

Why does my key stick or refuse to turn?

On high-mileage trucks the ignition lock wafers wear down. Sometimes the key blade is the worn part, and sometimes it is the cylinder. We look at both to see which one to fix.

How long is the relearn after an ignition cylinder replacement?

The relearn takes 30 minutes, run as three 10-minute cycles. It is needed after the ignition cylinder or the body control module has been replaced.

Will you come to me, or do I have to bring the truck in?

Either works. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will tell you what fits your situation.

We cover all these cities

Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.