Instrument Panel Compartment Door Lock Cylinder

The instrument panel (I/P) compartment door lock cylinder uses 4 of the 10 key cut positions, 7-10 when counting from the key head. The tumbler orientations alternate in adjacent locations with all 4 tumblers (3) located on the same side. A stainless steel retaining tumbler is used in the I/P compartment door lock cylinder to retain the lock cylinder in the latch assembly and does not move when the key is inserted. The retaining tumbler is located in the tumbler slot closest to the head of the cylinder assembly (1) and comes pre-installed in the cylinder.

Fig 1: View Of Cylinder Assembly, Tumbler Spring & Tumblers
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
1. Hold the uncoded cylinder assembly (1) positioned so the side with 4 tumbler spring holes is facing upward.
2. Insert one tumbler spring (2) each into the 4 tumbler spring holes.
3. The first tumbler to be loaded will be key cut position 7, the seventh number in the key code. Determine the cut depth at this position and install the corresponding tumbler (3) into the tumbler slot nearest the front of the cylinder assembly (1), the end where the key is inserted.
4. In the same manner, determine the cut depth and corresponding tumbler and install the 3 remaining tumblers (3) into the tumbler slots located at key cut positions 8, 9 and 10.
5. Snap the tumblers (3) into place with light hand pressure.
6. Check for correct tumbler loading by fully inserting the matching key into the cylinder (1). All tumblers (3) should be flush with the outside diameter of the cylinder.