Hello! Just got my "new" car! A 1985 300ZX! It's in great condition and runs very well. I lucked out with this car. It was stored, heated, for 17 years. I have many questions but I'll start with keys.

Were there more keys besides the ignition? The T-tops take a key, why? I presume to lock them, but the ignition key doesn't do anything. Same for the glove box. It won't open and the ignition key doesn't open it.

That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Any suggestions for a new Z31 owner would be more than welcome.

Marshall

mac , they didn't just dropoff a HOT car and throw in keys for free?? My bad - sense of humor.Respect G 2/27/2018

The ignition lock cylinder may well have been changed on a car that old...............making the new key not match anything else. Will it open the doors?

The car came with 2 different keys, a master and a valet. the master works everything, the valet does not work the glovebox or t tops. It's not unusual with a car of this age to find that tops, doors etc have been changed over the years and the person swapping parts wasn't astute enough to swap over the key cylinder. It's not very expensive to have a locksmith rekey any mismatched cylinders if you take them out first, it's the labor to pull out the cylinders that gets expensive.

Thank you for the info!

Yes, the key for the ignition does unlock the doors.

Not too worried about locking the T-tops for now. Can't see any need. The glove box is another matter. It won't open at all.

Thank you again.

Mismatch cylinders can be re-keyed by locksmith.

Thank you for the reply. For now I’m going to focus on the engine and getting everything to run smooth.

I was curious about the locks mostly.

I’ll worry about lock cylinders next winter when it will go back in storage.

Could be that they bought some used T-tops and didn't bother swapping the cylinders.

Maybe. The previous owner didn't mention anything, and I'm guessing by the condition of the car they are original.

Could also be a key that is work enough it doesn't move all the tumblers in the lesser used cylinders in the glovebox and t tops.