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Comments
i have been problem free for over a year since i cut the white wire
CUT THE WHITE WIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think people have found relief by using a Passlock bypass that I read about on Edmund's in the Cobalt forum.
Really stupid system in the first place: I left my keys in the trunk over night in Los Angeles and my car was still there in the morning. Not even the car thieves will steal em. Who needs Passlock ? {Or GM for that matter???}
thanks for replying.......yea they had to change out the ignition lock and switch. they both showed up on the bcm. it has 191,000 miles on it. i have owned it since i bought it new in may 2003. i have to say minus this problem it has serviced me very well over the years and havent really spent any money on it till now. so far everything seems to be working fine( for now that is). i also have another question. when i turn the blower on for air,it does not come out fast anymore but, the a/c does get cold and i had it checked for freon and was told its fully charged but its not coming out fast enough. any ideas as to what it may be?? thanks for all your help already as i read your posts quite frequently. by the way, the guy at the gm dealership is a saturn tech that worked on it and said the main cause of my problem was the ignition switch and it had an aftermarket part in it. so for once it wasnt GM's fault. let me know what you think the cause of the blower not blowing fast enough out of the vents is. my email address is adam271976hotmail.com if you want to email me. thanks so much for your help! adam
The yellow light is above the gas gauge and it has a picture of a car with a lock in it..... that's the antitheft passlock symbol. when its solid for a couple seconds after you turn the key on then it goes off, then the car should start.
If it blinks continously, then the passlock has enabled and it will not start. At least that was the case with my car. So, i left it sit for a half hour, then went back out and it started. Try having a garage replace the ignition switch like saturntech said. It costs about $150. It will more then likely work fine and there is NO WAY it is the starter and/or BCM. They tried to get me with that crap too. The guy at the dealership here in Harrisburg,pa where i live, was nice enough to knock some money off the price because he felt bad about the car not running the way it should. Let me know how it turns out. Adam
I checked the cabin filter. It was black. Apparently i haven't replaced it in quite some time. So i took it out and turned on the blower and it came out real fast!! I wish i knew that was the problem during the summer when i roasted my [non-permissible content removed] off.....lol Anyways i went to walmart tonight and bought one for $30. I think the price for a filter is a little salty but it works great none the less. Also, when i asked the garage what was wrong with the air flow they told me my mode actuator switch was bad and that would be $300 or more to replace which i knew it had to be a bunch of crap so i didnt replace it. I just wish i knew you over the summer otherwise i wouldnt of sweat to death but anyways thank you so much for all of your help. You definately have saved me alot of money!! If i come across anything else i definately will ask you before taking it to a garage! Thanks again, Adam
Can you send me instruction on how to do this, and exactly what the part # is for the switch. I would very much appreciate it.
Deborah
to y'all...anybody knows where i can get my car fixed in chicagoland?? thanks!
deborahblevins87@gmail.com
THANK YOU!!
nope you are not the only person that has this problem. I have had this problem over the years and have done the same things you have to figure out what the problem was. I decided it was best to leave my car overnight at the dealership on a super cold night so they can try to start it in the morning. That was the only way to find out what the problem was. Solution turned out they had to replace the ignition switch. I did not have any problems with it since then; however I am having alternator problems as of today. You cant win for loosing. I hope this helps you find the solution for your car.
I am just one of the thousands apparently that have the same problem with the Saturn Ion starting issue. My brother replaced the ignition switch today thinking that may have been the problem but unfortunately that was not it. The ignition is stuck in the "on" position. It will not go backwards and my brother had to pull the fuel pump fuse and unhook the battery to get it to shut off...What do you all think should be the next part to consider?? We have an '07 Saturn Ion..it only has 59,000 miles on it and I am seriously about ready to junk it.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Jennifer
Have you spoke with a dealer? If not, I would recommend doing so. Please keep me updated on your concerns and situation.
Christina
GM Customer Service
We did order a new lock cylinder and that fixed the problem. We had an automobile locksmith come out and replace it. So after about $400 later, we have an ignition that will finally turn. Is there a plan to have a recall on this? I am just curious as to what we can do since so many have had the exact came issue.
Thank you!
Jennifer McEwan
sorry to overwhelm you with this, but they sent me your post and i had to reply. Not to mention, b/f this I have never participated in anything like this.
Dream on! Just kidding of course. If GM had a plan to hav a recall, why did they then let this problem remain for all this time! We encounterd this specific problem in 2007 on one of our dozen plus ION's, less and one thousand miles out of warranty but still within 36 months. The dealership mishandled the repair, could never show what parts (lock-cylinder etc) they replaced but charged full service cost about $400. At that time we had another 7 ION's, still under warranty ... all 2005's some with the typical problem of key stuck, won't start etc. An independant lock-smith changed the lock cylinders and in a few cases we had to replace the start switch as well ALL AT OUR COST. Nedless to say, but the Saturn dealer got zero additional business from us ... NADA ... The GM dealership that today would be the place to take the few ION's we have left are of course clueless of this problem, just claim that they will do diagnostic's at our cost ... Spill of time and money ... Better off to continue our plan to replace all ION's with NON-GM vehicles, such as Ford, Toyota, Nissan or Honda - rather than the only GM product in that size, the Chevrolet Cruize. GM and their attention to the KNOWN problem with the ION (and Cobalt) has not earned our trust and do not deserve repeat business as far as we are concerned.
Good luck with the repair to yours, after spending $400 - Sorry but it will likely not end with just the lock cylinder.
Glad to hear that the concern was resolved. As far as your question on “is there a plan to have a recall?” we do document information from forums when we notice a widespread concern. I cannot speak to decision making on recalls, but I can say that we do take notice. If there were to be a recall on this concern, you would be notified.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to email Christina.
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Pamela
No this is a problem that GM (Saturn actually) should have corrected shortly after the ION's were first brought to the market. We have changed lock cylinders (helped on some for some time) and changed the BCM, same there worked on some. The problem is not on all ION's (strange) ... I have several 2005's and a few with 100k miles that are OK - At the same time one of our 2004's need repeated attempts to start almost daily - and this is in FLorida.
Good luck to you ... some day you will do just like us - move away from the non-supportive GM and select from several of their fine competitors ...
How have things gone with your vehicle since your battery replacement?
Sarah
GM Customer Service