Golf Cart Keys
 

Question: Are you all having your carts RE-KEYED since most of them have the same factory keying?

nope

Yes, and this can be a DIY project if you have some electrical experience. I have done this for several neighbors. A universal ignition switch goes for around $20 (locally or Amazon) these typically have 3 or 4 keys and usually take about 30 minutes to install. A word of caution, some carts have a 4 wire ignition switch I have not explored this type of installation, but the ones with 2 wires are very straight forward.

Yes, I did it myself. It was easy & cheap.

We have recently gone through the purchase process at the Villages Golf Cars. Carts sold through them are NOT using the common Yamaha key. They are already individually keyed. Same with the seller in Webster and Carts & Clubs in Ocala. Other sources may OR may not be common keyed. So before making any changes try some other Yamaha keys to see if they work on yours. Look on the key and see if it has a key code number. If it does it's likely NOT a common key. The common ones have NO key code.

I did the same thing as Villagetinker and replaced the OEM ignitions with unique keyed ignitions on both of our Yamahas. It’s a very easy and inexpensive project and well worth the peace of mind in my opinion. I was told by the dealer that our 2022 Quiet Tech was unique keyed, then I discovered by accident that the keys on our 2014 EFI and the new Quiet Tech were interchangeable. That’s when I decided to replace both ignitions.

2024
 

2024 carts are fairly unique I imagine even car keys repeat at some point

Thank for all your input !
 

Thank for all your input !

Yes, 6 minute or less job with uncommon ignition key set.

Polarlys is correct . Yamaha golf carts are NOT all keyed alike .

While working at a local ACE for 5 years, I cut dozens of Yamaha ignition keys .

Since there are 4 or 5 (I think 5) blanks, we had the customer get the CORRECT blank for their particular Yamaha from The Villages Golf Carts and then we would cut the blank that they brought in and charged a couple of bucks.

The ACE owner didn’t think it would be worthwhile to carry ALL of the Yamaha blanks and so this was our procedure…..

So, to the OP , I wouldn’t worry about it if you have a Yamaha.

Besides, it’s extremely easy for a thief to put your cart in neutral and simply roll it onto the back of a truck or trailer.

What I would suggest is for you to hide an Apple AirTag if you have an Apple smartphone or the Android Tile for the other phones using the Android format…..

I would worry more about having someone stealing my cart by pushing it somewhere and absconding with it. Seen a reputable golf cart company pick up a cart in a Country Club parking lot, he and his wife took only 2 minutes to lower the gate and they pushed the cart on the trailer behind their pickup, secured it and drove off. I made a lock system from brake to steering wheel.

Actually, when I was in the golf cart Biz, the Yamaha common key was coded 6000

Better off putting a hidden kill switch in your cart.

With two wire iginitions, all you have to do is touch the two wires and off you go.

I did that and replaced the ignition, both very easy. I think I did a really good job of hiding the switch on the Quiet Tech, but if I told you where I put it I’d have to kill you : )

Just joking, kill switches are a great idea, just don’t put the switch right below the ignition where just about everyone else does. It kind of defeats the purpose.

Your secret is safe with me....................there's probably a 1 in 52,000 chance I figure out which cart in TV is yours.

:jester:

Fair enough, I tapped into the solenoid under the seat (near the battery) and put a marine grade kill switch hidden behind the accessory basket. I highly doubt a thief would look around long enough to find it there.

So your suggesting to find your cart and confront the thieves?

Putting yourself in harms way isn't a great idea, call your insurance company.

I will say mine was stolen at about 3:30 AM, a neighbor happened to be up and saw it drive by, I would have thought the police with a good idea of the time would check the gate cameras.
Nope, no real interest in tracking down the creeps. :shrug:
Said most are loaded on a truck or trailer.
They took the report gave me a copy and that was about it from them.

They said about 5-6 are stolen every week.

Yes change the key, but more important is check your insurance

Nowhere did I say to confront anyone ..Anyone with half a brain would call the police and have them do their job . With the aid of the tracking device, it greatly increases the chances that the cart would be found and arrest made .

Once in a while you hear about a golf cart theft ring being arrested so yes, the police will do their job.

Go ahead and change your key multiple times if you believe that is the answer against theft.

Well, my was stolen at beef Brady in the southern trace plaza last week. Actually the cart was taken by a confused older man. He simply used his key.By luck, the police found it in the lot. I had to prove it was mine by having the officer pull my insurance card in my glove compartment. I believe the villages golf cart salesman said my key was unique.

Didn’t know that but good idea!

Worry more about someone stealing the cart by simply hauling it away

My thought and action taken
 

I use my system when ever I am not where I can see it.

I installed a "cut-out", an electrical switch, operated by a "barrel" key in the dash between the factory ignition switch and the gas gauge. A "barrel" key is metal tube with various cuts on the end that goes into the switch. They are commonly found on electrical panels, alarm boxes, and vending machines. I chose this instead of replacing the factory ignition switch as it is a simple installation and requires only one wire that leads to the factory ignition switch to be cut and the barrel switch installed between the two ends of the wire. A thief is unlikely to have a supply of "barrel" keys and, seeing the new switch in the dash next to the factory ignition switch, is likely to move on to another cart.

As one RP mentioned, a bigger problem is the likelihood that a thief will kick off the brake, push your cart out of its space, and push or pull it around the corner where it can be rolled onto a truck or trailer. To prevent this, I installed a brake lock. I used an eye bolt which I installed through the angled floor board below the brake pedal and drilled a hole in the brake pedal. With the brake pedal depressed and the brake set, I hook a padlock through the eye bolt and the hole in the brake pedal. This prevents the brake from being "kicked off".

I regularly use the ignition "cut out". If I have parked the cart in one of the lots behind the buildings at the town squares or in a parking lot at a grocery store or restaurant, I also use the brake lot, particularly at night. Anyone who parks a cart on their driveway overnight should install a brake lock.

The "barrel" electrical switch came from Amazon. It carries two kinds. Buy the more expensive one, which costs around $15 (the cheaper one is junk). The parts for the brake lock (eye bolt, two fender washers, two nylock nuts-one on each side of the floorboard-, and the padlock, will cost $21 at Home Depot or Ace.

We had unique keys made for our golf carts.

If you have fears of loss................BigBird's unit looks pretty cool.

Otherwise with a knife & screwdriver............your cart is mine........it's like a '65 Mustang.

:icon_wink: