QUOTE(TheCabinetmaker @ Aug 24 2022, 06:02 PM)
QUOTE(arbitrary @ Aug 22 2022, 02:42 PM)
Curious what the format of a key code is and how that translates to the wafer sequence if you’re able to share?
It's not a secret. The 4 digit code doesn't really relate to the wafer size and location. The code is just a number you look up in a chart that gives the info on the key with the locations of the cut, and the wafer size for that cut. The# on the wafer gives the depth of the cut.
Thanks for the info Curt. Like
@arbitrary , I too have been very curious how the key codes map to wafer sequence. Always hoped it was some math puzzle and a fun challenge to find the solution. Read multiple sites referring to
the chart, but that's where information ends.
I don't want to sidetrack your thread, so if you think this doesn't belong here, I'll gladly delete, but wanted to share the following. Much of this I'm sure is obvious and repetitive to many, but maybe it can help a person new to keys. My hands-on data is limited to 3 vehicles and for none of them do I their key code, only wafer sequences, and info found online.
- There are 4 different wafer sizes (5 counting the valet)
- 10 wafers (5 on each side of a cylinder) are used on each lock cylinder
- There are 4^10 or 1,048,576 possible wafer combinations
- Key codes only appear to contain 4 numeric digits for 10,000 possible codes. Not 100% sure of this, but findings elude to this conclusion. Some codes even appear to be only 2 or 3 digits, but can only assume leading zeroes in these cases
- Even if key codes were hexadecimal, they would require 5 hex digits for all possible wafer combinations. FFFFFx = 1,048,576
- The valet wafer is a replacement for a #2 wafer that's halfway stepped for essentially 2 different possible depths. A slot in black keys allows proper wafer depth on a valet wafer at a #2 wafer position, but red (valet) keys have a different slot offset that doesn't allow proper depth. The valet key would have the proper wafer depth on a normal # 2 wafer, but not on a valet wafer at the same position
- For the valet idea to work, all locks must contain at least one #2 wafer and corresponding valet wafer on the appropriate lock cylinders. This limits the actual number of possible wafer combinations to less than 4^10. It hurts the brain too much to try to remember all the combination/permutation math, but it'd be 3 (#1, #3, or #4) possible wafers in 9 of ten possible positions with a #2 in the remainder.
- Of the 3 vehicles we own and I've examined, 4 of the 10 wafers on all are #2. Non-door and non-ignition locks unsurprisingly contained 4 corresponding valet wafers in those #2 positions. It makes sense that multiple valet wafers are used to help spread mechanical force if attempting to open a glove compartment or trunk with a valet key. Can't say for all cases, but speculation is at least 2, maybe 3, possibly even 4 is the minimum number of #2 wafers (and corresponding valet wafers) used on all cars. Again,
only speculation. If this is true, the possible number of different wafer sequences drops significantly and a 4 digit key code for all possible keys starts to make more sense
- The big question I still have; Are there valid wafer sequences (including proper valet wafers interspersed) that would not have a mapped key code in
the chart? I won't lose sleep over it, but it's one of those mysteries in life that would be very satisfying to learn the answer.
Dan