Back story: Bought a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix in 2009 with only 1 key and a damaged key fob. Fast forward to 2014 and I lost the only set of keys for the car.
My Experience: So I find out that these cars have micro chipped keys that prevent just any copy from being able to start the car. So I contact a locksmith who advertises a capability of cutting and programming these types of keys. He comes out, unlocks the car, cuts a new key and "programs" it. I dish out $150 bucks and he goes on his way. I go out to the car later to drive it, put the key in start the car, and I notice the DIC displaying "Theft System Not Programmed". So I call the locksmith back and I am told that the system had to be disabled because I did not have a key fob. So I take the extra generic key blank that the technician cut first, that has no chip, and it starts the car just fine. This tells me that I essentially bought a generic key and a chipped key for $150; however, the chip isn't even being used. So the locksmith could have disabled the system, cut a $2 generic key and been done. Also, he could have been upfront, told me that I needed a key fob in addition to the new key and sold me both.
