Replacing Lock Cylinder

The other day, my dads car was having trouble starting. Battery works fine, starter is fine, all that good stuff. My thought is that its the lock cylinder, seeing as it will crank sometimes and sometimes it will just sit there and do nothing when the key is turned to anything but ACC.

My dads ignition key has this black plastic piece embedded into the shaft of the key and the sliver of metal inside/over that. First question, is this a special ignition key?

Second question, the column is tilt, and my Haynes manuals says you need a special tool to remove lock cylinders with a tilt wheel? If so, can I rent one from somewhere (eg Autozone), nothing against my local mechanic, but hes closed on the weekends :sly:

Third, I have replaced a lock cylinder before, one seriously screwed up on an older car, had to break the retaining pin just to get the old one out. Fortunately this key still turns and everything, but just wont engage the starter all the time. What sort of procedure should I expect? Do I need to watch out for airbags?

What year is the GP? I just did the same thing and misread the manual. Mine was a 2000 model. You can do it you self it is 2000 or newer.