Documenting my attempt to use a fix I found on the internet to resolve an issue that plagues 2003-2004 Saturn Ions. The models in this year can have difficul…
Documenting my attempt to use a fix I found on the internet to resolve an issue that plagues 2003-2004 Saturn Ions. The models in this year can have difficul…
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Thank You for a great video,was able to change the switch yesterday. The
Passlock took until today to sort through. The thought of not stressing
about being late for work,and getting up extra early in hopes of getting
the car started. To think like others I suffered through this for 3 plus
years.
Thanks! Just fixed my car today thanks to this video. That screw in the
back SUCKS.
i had this problem that my 2003 Saturn Ion wont start in cold weather had
the switch changed and now the Chevrolet place tells me it is the starter
can you tell me if this can be my problem i have had it checked so many
times and what you say in the video was finally fount to be the problem
paid over $300 to get this done and now back in the same boat as before
Chevrolet place said they can fix it for another $500 can you help
Thank you sooo much!!! This same things has been happening to me or 2
years!!! Finally fixed now!
Thank you so much. I have been dealing with this for two years. Now,
FINALLY it all makes sense.
This video was tremendously helpful and detailed! I was able to get the
correct tools ahead of time, and change this part in under an hour. (30
minutes was the waiting while I re-programmed the key.) Thank you so much
for your help! It’s predicted to remain in the teens over the next few days
so I will be testing out this new part every day. THANK YOU!!!
I had this same problem with my 2004 Saturn Ion about 4 years ago. Cost
me about $300 to get fixed at the dealership. I even showed them all the
documentation I had and he said well it isn’t a recall, but if it ever is
we will have this info to show you paid for it so you can get reimbursed!
Jerks!! Now I’m having the problem where my key is getting stuck. Just
found a video on how to fix that.
Matthew YES you are the man!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had been going thru this for
over 4years!! I did this just over a month ago & no problems start every
time. I got my ignition switch on sale for $21
1 thing I do have to stress is you have to follow the relearn procedure
exactly! Being very careful to only turn the key back to ACC & not all the
way back to off position. I goofed & did this a couple times on the 2-3
“relearn” & had to start over again. Also important to wait 30+ seconds on
the 3rd relearn
I cut the white anti theft wire and now the airbag light is on. Please
advise.
Trevor, to be honest I am not sure.
is it the same procedure for a manual? will the key go into lock position
without the white button while trying to install the new switch?
Dominique. Still starting just fine. I have not had this issue since I
swapped out the part.
I’m working on my Car right now, ask me for the code, i hope it start!
Thank you Matthew! I just went to o reillys and I order the switch, I cant
wait till arrives and change ir! (Sorry for may grammar, My iPhone corrects
the words in spanish and that drives me nuts haha)
Awesome 🙂
Hi Mathew, I just saw your vidio, o just wanted to ask you, after this time
how is si your Car running?
I did it! My Car its alive!!!
They are decent cars, the only problem is this passlock thing and if it has
this problem im sure the switch replacement would help. I have a 2004
Saturn so i would recommend it. How many miles are on this one you are
buying?
Has it given u problems since u changed it?
My sister is single and just bought one like this today, other then we
guess it will start all right. I like to know ahead of time if their is a
common problem and how to fix it as I seem to be the go to person in my
family, so thank you for your informative video.
Going on a year now and still starts up in the cold fine 🙂
When you say turn to start do you mean actually turning the engine on and
leaving it running for 10 min? or just putting the key to start?
With my experience with this Ion issue, I have discovered that there are
two issues, not just one! Some of these Saturns have the ignition switch
issue and others have a security issue. I learned the hard way! If you
replace the ignition switch and the issue is still there, make sure you do
a reset and then try cutting the security wire. Its usually one of two
things!
I have a 2006 had the same problem and this video was a great help for me
.. thank you very much man for those who are asking if buying a saturn is
recommended.. NONONO dont do it buy an older toyota better
Thanks so much for your video. I ordered the ignition switch from Advance
Auto and had Pep Boys intall it. At 0 degree weather, I couldn’t do it my
self. My daughter’s Saturn now starts up in cold weather! Your video really
helped me understand the root of the problem and I couldn’t thank you
enough. –John in Mars, PA
My husbands 2004 Saturn Ion gets great gas mileage. Its a fun little car.
Ours was a lemon and so it is hard to say if I would ever buy another or
not. They are not an expensive vehicle to maintain, they just have a few
known issues that mechanics are clueless of fixing because of them not
being normal issues to a normal car. I think 6k is a lot to spend on one
that is an 03. By now, you probably already own it and I hope its been
great so far!
Just did this on my 4 door 03 saturn ion, i had the pass code problem, but
this guys instructions worked to deal with the pass code. This video 10000%
helpful, just wish i saw this before i replaced the starter, as thats what
my mechanic said it would be
i dont seem to see a security light come on when i try, do you have to
replace air bag fuse before doing this?
I tried to go to the dealer too and they said it’d cost me $225 for my
diagnosis and wouldn’t even begin to try a repair until after the car had
been serviced, $300 bucks. From there they’d try and repair issue but also
said they had no idea what the problem was. I have three friends that also
own saturns from this year and two of them tried to take it to dealer for
repair. Theyre still having issues. Watched your video and CHEERED when it
started!! Glad I can fix this stupid thing myself now!
I just did this yesterday to my late dad’s 2006 Ion, and it started like a
charm this morning! I ordered the part on Amazon for $16+ shipping. It took
me around one hour total from start to finish (I had to to the pass code
reset thing which took 30 minutes). I have done other small repairs on cars
(replaced broken latches, batteries), but don’t have an excess of natural
mechanical ability. Thank you for the great instructions!
To be honest I am not sure. During my research on this the only thing I
know is that the manual doesn’t have that special button to push to release
the key that the automatics have.
Awesome video! Going to do this myself tomorrow…only part I’m not sure
about is the button to lock the keys only in automatics. Mine is a manual
so will the keys turn back and lock normally? Btw I’m a 24 year old girl
with my dad telling me to take it to the mechanic…think I got it though!
Haha looks too simple to spend any extra money on! 🙂
Agreed. I tried to make sure to specify that in the video description. The
symptom is you try to start, it turns once or twice and then dies. But when
you try again it won’t even attempt to turn over because the security
system has kicked in (you will see the lock light in the dashboard). You
have to wait 10 minutes for the computer to reset. The car will normally
start fine in warm weather. This symptom kicks in when it is cold.
thanks body i got my truck about 2 years ago wont start cold weather i
might change soon as possible thanks agian GOD BLESS
i have an ’04 Ion and been having the same problem with starting, i was
about to replace the igniton switch when my brother suggest me first to put
a can of Sea Foam in the gas tank and put a WD-40 by the switch igniton,
(where you put your keys at) and for some reason it works for me. even its
really cold outside i never have problem starting my car since then. please
let me know if someone try my method if it also works with you…thanks
Make sure the original problem is that it only “doesn’t start in cold
weather”. This vid is to fix that specific defect. if your car won’t start
randomly under other conditions the problem might be elsewhere.
I had this same issue with the car not starting when it was cold. When I
replaced my ignition switch it has not given me a problem ever again.
did you have a remote car started??
One would think that they could do a recall on this problem. I’ve own my 03
ion and it has all of the symptoms of this. Even though I live on the
sometime foggy coast north of Malibu, it still does it often enough. New
battery because it drained down, new starter and when it goes back to the
starting problem, I’ll try the advice in this video. Thanks.
I have a Saturn Ion 2004 and have had it since it was new. The ignition
swith was replaced like 5 years ago, but the last 4 years we have had
problems! Sometimes it will take an hour to get it started. Its only when
its cold out or cold and damp! I have left it for a week at the dealership
and they couldnt figure out the issue! This car had a hose issue with the
sunroof and so it has had a lot of water damage. All an issue of being
assembled wrong! I will try this today and see!
I had the same problem with my 2006 Ion back in 2010 when it got down to 23
below zero. So I let the car sit all night. I came back to it the next
morning and it was even colder and it started first crank. The Saturn
dealership new what it was..
Hey is there a type of ignition switch that works best?