Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I apologize for the inconvenience this situation has caused, and understand how important it is to have a properly working vehicle. If you would like for us to look into any recalls or Special Coverage Bulletins listed for your Saturn related to this matter please send us your VIN and current mileage. We can be reached by email at socialmedia@gm.com [attn Amber]. Please also reference your screen name.
Thanks
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
1. I atempted to start ignition...left in run position...the tell/tale signs never went out...so I just waited ten minutes
2. turned igntion off for 5 seconds
3. repeated 1&2 2 more times
4. left it off for 30 sec after the last time
5. then attempted to start again...nothing
Am I missing something? Need to do something else?
Thanks
Scott
I have had problems with my 2003 Ion Starting.I guess after reading your forum,I've been lucky until now-after almost 11 years my car has always started even in sub zero weather here in MN. I have been reading many of the comments and have found many helpful. I recently bought a new battery which I needed,and my problem has been that the battery has been draining( not starting with the recent cold snap)or even after driving the car it won't start even a half hour later.Now that it has been warmer I haven't had a problem so I haven't been able to to see if the engine lock light stays on. I had the battery tested and it is fine. It starts easily with a jump, the battery cables are clean and no corrosion(my husband tightened the bolts just in case)I should add that I had 2 keys made at Lowe's and somehow my drivers side lock was broken. I have been reading a lot about the ignition switch and cutting a white wire. I know not to take it into a garage/dealer for something as vague as this.I look forward to any insight you may have.
If your car starts easily with a jump in cold weather, then the battery is still too weak for the job. If the battery is mysteriously going dead on you then you may indeed have a parasitic drain. Check out this tutorial on how to track that down:
http://flashoffroad.com/electrical/Batteries/BatteryDrain.html
Hey guys,
Just want to chime in and let everyone know that I too have been plagued with this issue for 5+ years and I'm thankful for the information provided here and on YouTube (my only regret is not having searched the Internet for this problem sooner).
I own__**** a 2003 Saturn Ion and I replaced my ignition switch today (Dec 22, 2013). To my surprise, when I went to commence the relearn procedure, my car started right up. I let the engine run for a minute, turned it off, and tried it again - fired right up (and every other time since then).
I'd be curious to know if other 2003 Ion owners have experienced the same thing (not having to perform the relearn procedure). Granted, I live in northeast Florida and the temperature was 86' today, but when the temperature dips down to anything below 50' (despite what other posts say about this issue not being about temperature), the darn thing never starts.
There's a cold front moving in and it's supposed to dip down to 43' on Christmas eve. I'll try starting up the Saturn again Christmas morning and will post my results - but I'm hopeful and confident this will do the trick. Oh, and I did not cut the white wire.
Also, I purchased the part from my local AutoZone for $29.99 (I asked for an "ignition switch"), lucky for me they had one in stock. Total install time was 20 minutes from start to finish. Make sure you get the proper tools for the job!
Hey Scott,
Did you ever get this issue resolved? On your first attempt I noticed you said you left the key in the 'run' position. I saw various videos on YouTube that state you should return the key to the ACC position and then wait the 10 minutes (... and so on and so forth). Just worth a shot to try again if in fact you did leave the key in the run position versus clicking the key back to the ACC position.
Complete relearn procedures may be found here and the video series on YouTube depicting the entire process including the relearn procedure may be found here (6 part video series).
Hope this helps.
Thanks again to everyone's contributions and for those who are new and wondering if this really works, trust me it does - I am living proof. Just do it!
-RC
Hello all,
Well I have had the same issue as everyone else for about 8 years with my 2003 ION 180,000 miles...the no start thing. ( I have just dealt with it all along)I purchased the ignition switch today and will be installing in the next couple days.
I do have another issue I need some help with.
I was on vacation for 2 weeks and after week 1 I tried to start the car and got a click with no start or turn of engine, I Jump started the car and it ran fine. I parked it for about 10 hours and would not start again, jumped it and got it back home. Replaced 5 year old battery, still won't start.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi there, have just put in a new ignition switch to stop r
The starting issues. Have to program it but the pass code light went off. How do I go about doing so now since I can't follow the pass lock light. The switch is in place but since its not programmed the car won't fire up. My email dicxy_boo@hot mail.com if u can email me some steps or anything to help reset it thanks
Is the bulb burned out? Can you replace it?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
OK still no light on. Its almost like we would have to try and reactivate the pass lock to setup the ignition switch when we tried the first time, we probably did it wrong and now we can't properly program it. Thanks for the suggestion but do u have other ideas
You are saying that the light does not come on at all even just turning the key to "On."
I'd disconnect the battery for 30 minutes or more.
Then reconnect and see if you get the indicator light back. Then try the reprogramming cycle suggested by Saturntech9 in earlier posts here.
Saturntech9 has not logged on since the forum transferred.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Hey everyone, I recently purchased an 2006 Saturn ion, Now when i drove it home, It started fine, nothing was wrong with it. Now sometimes when i go to start my car the dash will just go out and nothing will happen.. It doesn't even attempt to start.. It just.. Well does nothing.
Any info would be much appreciated, I've been reading this thread for a while. And while everyone is suggestion the white wire trick, i just want to know if you guys had similar things happen to your car
Hi, Everyone,
I bought a 2003 Ion, standard shift last May and the next day it wouldn't start for me. Just dead. I was bordering on tears over whether I'd bought a big problem. I got the battery replaced but same thing next day, no starting, just dead. So, next they thought it might be the ignition switch. Well, I came on this forum and started reading some of the posts until I came upon one that said to press on the button on the clutch to release the security feature that locks the starter!! I checked the clutch pad with my hands and yes, there is a little button there and when I pressed it down and tried to start the engine, lo and behold it started right up. Wow! And the technician apparently didn't know about this button. I saved myself a lot of trial and error repair efforts that were not necessary. Now it starts right up no matter what the weather conditions are. It might take several taps on the clutch to get it just right, but what a relief to know that's the reason. So if you're stumped about intermittent refusals to start, this might solve the problem for you. And you don't have to use your hand of course, just hit the clutch a time or two until you get that security lock to release.
Thanks to this forum and hugs to the lady who posted that tip somewhere on one of these many pages for educating me on this little button!!
A reporter would like to speak with a GM owner whose vehicle has been subject to the recent recalls, and whose vehicle has experienced sudden stalling. If you and your vehicle fit this criteria, please contact us at pr@edmunds.com by Friday, March 21, 2014.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
A reporter would like to speak to a GM owner whose car was part of the latest rounds of recalls and had all necessary recall work completed. If this is you, please send your daytime contact information to pr@edmunds.com no later than Tuesday, 4/15/14 at noon PT/3 p.m. ET.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
We are looking to purchase a car for our 16-year-old daughter. We are currently looking at a 2004 Saturn Ion 3, one owner, 101,000 miles, in very nice condition. The recall has been completed on it, so it has a brand new ignition switch put in at the dealership. It appears that there is one more recall item that has not been done yet: Recall #2014115
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. I'm assuming we could take that in anytime after the purchase to have it fixed. Any cautions about making this purchase? All the posts here are leaving me a little nervous about the car. But if the ignition switch replacement truly takes care of the starting problem, then I'm thinking it will be a good little car for her. Thoughts?
It's been my experience that at 100,000 miles, any inherent "defect" in a car has already shown up, and that of more concern are normal wear and tear items associated with any car with over 100,000 miles on it. So a pre-purchase inspection is, in my opinion, a more productive place to put one's money and concern. These are pretty good little cars and if it's been well taken care-of, should give reliable service.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
I, too, have experienced the all too common problem of intermittent starting.The first time the car wouldn't start was a week out of the manufacturers warranty. It happened very rarely at first and never more than once in a row and it did not seem to matter if it was cold outside or not.
Now, seven years later, the no start problem happens at least half the time I try to start the car. It does not matter at all how hot or cold the car or outside air is. And it happens many times in a row. Sometimes I've tried for HOURS and not been able to get the car started. I've been stranded in negative temps, or in bad neighborhoods, and even lost my job for being late. I tried everything to fix it, but the problem keeps reoccurring.
I have replaced batteries, starters, ignition switches, you name it. This is an inherent design flaw. Replacing the ignition switch made absolutely no difference for me. The car still only starts about half the time I try.
Now that the recalls are coming out, I have tried to contact the GM dealer in my area. They will not call me back. I have left FOUR messages. GM doesn't care about this issue, although they are well aware of it. I'm posting this to warn everyone to never buy a GM vehicle and, if you are unlucky enough to own one, DO NOT let the dealer sell you a new ignition switch or any kind of diagnostics. You will be throwing away hundreds of dollars or more as it will not solve the problem... Not for long, at least.
The reason for this issue is bad design. The entire electrical system in these cars is screwed up. The circuit must complete in order to get the car started. If not, the antitheft system is triggered. You may have success replacing one piece of the puzzle (fuse, starter, battery, ignition switch, etc.) but eventually another of the defective parts will have problems. You are better off not spending any money on this car. Try all the least expensive options first and do the work yourself or have a friend help. If you can, sell this car or drive it into a lake. For all those, like me, stuck with this pile of plastic, good luck. Remember to keep survival items in the car in case you get stranded somewhere, especially if you drive in cold climates.
Screw you, GM. You'll never see another penny from me. I can't wait until you are bankrupt.